We are students currently studying in a private university, Unitar, in Kelana Jaya, Selangor. We wish to voice out our dissatisfaction with the management of our university.

1) The physical outlook of the university is pathetic because there isn't a feel of campus life. We don't even have hostels to at least house first-year students. It is stated in the university manual that size doesn't matter since it adopts a "virtual university" concept. This is utter nonsense. Maybe to the part-timers, this is true. But how can it be applied to full-timers? Obviously, they would want to experience life in campus.

2) The facilities provided are mediocre and do not fulfil our needs. The computer systems are lacking and the existing computers is always faulty and not well maintained. Mouses and keyboards always seem to go missing and the management does nothing to overcome these problems, turning a deaf ear to our complaints. Why are computers a scarce item here when they are supposed to be a core facility? The workstations are faulty most of the time.

3) Many have dubbed the premises as the "Shoplot University". It is considered a third-grade university in the eyes of the public. We feel ashamed to tell others that we are students from this university. What has been published about the university in the newspapers and other media are just advertising gimmicks.

4) The library for instance, doesn't house many books. It is unbecoming for a library to have o­nly four racks of books that are to be shared by students. A university should be well-equipped with all kinds of reference books. We don't see that here. When there are no references to subjects that require us to look up certain points, the lecturer even suggests that we pay a visit to the libraries of other universities. Why is that so? Can't we have a collection of references to call our own?

5) Student intakes are held three times a year. We can't understand how such a small place could afford to accommodate new students whose number possibly matches University Putra Malaysia's intake. Sometimes, students are o­n the verge of fighting for the facilities, especially the computers.

6) Most of the students are under the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan scheme. When new students apply for the PTPTN loan, their application is approved within two months by the PTPTN board but Unitar takes an extra six to eight months to disburse the money. When asked, they blame PTPTN for the delay and adds that the university needs to conduct some verification. We are reimbursed the balance for each semester after deductions of the course fees are done. Much to our dismay, we o­nly get our money in the next semester. Why does Unitar take such a long time to reimburse its students?

There were occasions when students still awaiting their loan approval have to pay up at least half of the fees due to Unitar. Failure to do so means they can't sit for the semester exam. But when students first joined the university, they were promised that they need to o­nly pay an initial registration fee and need not pay anything else till their loan is approved.

7) We feel very embarrassed that for certain exam papers, we are required to sit for them at the Angkasa Building here in Kelana Jaya. Why? This proves the scarcity of campus space. If this is so, then why the many student intakes per year? Is money the object here or is it the quality of education that is more important?

8) The lecturers are no better. Their incompetence in the English language is something that we are very ashamed to mention. Even the students have a much better command of English. When the government has clearly emphasised the use of English in schools, we think that they should also cast an eye o­n the standards here.

Furthermore, the lecturers seem to regard that the students have prior knowledge of the subjects they are taking. It is totally unfair as some of the students are working adults and some are fresh school leavers. They haven't a clue about what is being taught and are sometimes chided for their lack of knowledge. How can o­ne blame them? They are new. You can o­nly teach them in order for them to catch o­n later.

The lecturers and staff are also very sarcastic to students. When the lecturers are approached, the feedback received by the students is appalling. It is unbecoming for lecturers to chide a student who approaches them for advice. They shout at students and cast derogatory remarks o­n them. The students are here to study. Is this how students without basic knowledge are introduced to the subjects?

9) The system practised here is ambiguous. Subjects required to be completed in due time are sometimes not offered. A class is limited to o­nly 40 students and the sections open to students are very limited. Imagine this. How are the students to register for subjects if everything is based o­n a first-come-first-served basis? This is unfair.

Public universities have a planned semester system that requires them to sit for certain papers for that period of time. Even though such a system is difficult to implement in this type of situation, there are other ways to do it. And it would be fair to part-timers and fresh students, too.

The o­nline subject registration system is unreliable. At any time there is a fault in the networking system, it rejects the students' chance of registering for his/her planned subjects. Being too dependent o­n o­nline technology isn't a good thing either. Even the Internet facility in Malaysia is unstable.

10) Then there is the issue of counselling. We have no place to go to seek advice and clarify certain issues. When we go for help, we are told to come again as the counsellors are busy.

11) Now, about the parent company running this university, Kub.com. Why can't they see that the university is in terrible shape?

Finally, before ending this letter, we would like to mention that this is not written because we have a grudge against this university. We hope our dissatisfaction will be properly dealt with to ensure that the standards are maintained and the name "Pioneer Virtual University" is upheld. We would like to be proud that this is the best university o­ne could ever study in. We hope that day will come true.

This letter was penned after receiving feedback from many students.