The Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (English: University of Malaysia, Terengganu) or UMT, formerly known as Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (English: University College of Science and Technology Malaysia) or KUSTEM was officially chartered on February 1, 2007. It was formerly known as the University College of Terengganu (Kolej Universiti Terengganu, KUT) in 1999. The founding of the university can be traced back to 1979 when the Centre for Fisheries and Marine Science was founded in Mengabang Telipot, Terengganu. Over the years the Centre has moved on from its original role and diversified to become the centre for maritime and oceanography research and development. It was later renamed University Putra Malaysia Terengganu (UPMT). The Incorporation Order of KUT (Perbadanan) 1999 (PUA 292) was passed by the Parliament on July 27, 1999, enabling the inception of KUT, which was in consistent with the ever increasing need for higher education in Malaysia especially in the fields of maritime science and technology. The Malaysian government has agreed to rename KUSTEM to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in 2007.