Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is Malaysia's 17th public institution of higher learning. Approved by the Malaysian Cabinet in May 2001, it started off as a university college - Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan Utara Malaysia (KUKUM). The institution’s first intake comprised 116 engineering students who began classes in June 2002. In February 2007, KUKUM was upgraded to a full-fledged university and renamed Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP). The university is one of only four technical universities in Malaysia.