The Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) — now known as the Pusat GENIUS@Pintar Negara — is the nation's single centre of excellence for gifted and talented students. The PERMATA@Pintar Negara programme was launched on 3 April 2009, with the PERMATA@Pintar Negara College beginning operations in January 2011. It identifies talent through three stages of testing (UKM1, UKM2, UKM3) and develops it through the PERMATA@Pintar Negara College, enrichment programmes, and the ASASIpintar foundation programme.
- The PERMATA@Pintar Negara programme was launched on 3 April 2009 at UKM, with the PERMATA@Pintar Negara College beginning operations in January 2011. The centre is now known as GENIUS@Pintar Negara.
- Talent screening takes place in three stages: the UKM1 Test (open to Malaysian students aged 9–15), the UKM2 Test, and the UKM3 Test during the School Holiday Camp Programme (PPCS).
- Three main tracks: the PERMATA@Pintar Negara College (secondary), enrichment programmes, and ASASIpintar (pre-university foundation with Perdana, Commercial and International streams).
- Its motto is 'TEROKA, CIPTA, BITARA' (Explore, Create, Excel) and it operates from the UKM Bangi and Seremban campuses.
Who this applies to: Malaysian parents, teachers and students aged 9–16 with gifted and talented potential, as well as SPM leavers who wish to enter ASASIpintar.
On this page
A 10-year-old who can solve Form Five mathematics does not always stand out in an ordinary classroom — and in Malaysia, the only national centre designed to find and nurture minds like these is PERMATApintar.
What is PERMATApintar?
The Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara is the national education centre for gifted and talented students, operating under Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). It is based at the UKM campus, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, with an additional college campus in Seremban. The centre is now also known as the Pusat GENIUS@Pintar Negara — a name that appears in UKM’s official pages and materials alongside the original PERMATA@Pintar brand.
The PERMATA@Pintar Negara programme was launched on 3 April 2009, and the PERMATA@Pintar Negara College began operations in January 2011 as its first secondary-school cohort. It is one of the components under the umbrella of the Malaysian Ministry of Education’s PERMATA programme, alongside PERMATA Kurnia, PERMATA Negara, PERMATA Insan and PERMATA Seni.
Its motto — “TEROKA, CIPTA, BITARA” (Explore, Create, Excel) — sums up its aim: to nurture the holistic development of talented students physically, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually and socially, with a special focus on STEM education and research.
How are students identified?
Talent screening takes place across three consecutive stages of testing. This allows the centre to filter a large population of students down to a small group with the greatest potential.
| Stage | Test | Who is eligible / when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UKM1 Test | Open to all Malaysian citizen students aged 9–15 |
| 2 | UKM2 Test | A second screening for students who pass UKM1, at designated centres |
| 3 | UKM3 Test | Conducted during the School Holiday Camp Programme (PPCS) |
Students who perform best after all three of these stages have the chance to be offered a place at the PERMATA@Pintar Negara College for their secondary education.
What programmes are offered?
PERMATApintar is not just a single school — it offers several pathways according to students’ ages and levels.
| Programme | For whom | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| School Holiday Camp Programme (PPCS) | Selected students aged 9–12 | A two-week camp during the school holidays; ~40 courses offered |
| High School Enrichment Programme (HSEP) | Students aged 13–16 | A two-week residential enrichment programme, each June and September; STEM courses such as Astrophysics, DNA Barcoding, F1 in Schools and Robotics; a 1:5 instructor-to-student ratio |
| PERMATA@Pintar Negara College | Selected secondary students | A residential secondary school on the Bangi and Seremban campuses |
| ASASIpintar | Gifted and talented students heading to university | UKM’s pre-university foundation programme; three streams — Perdana, Commercial and International |
Enrichment programmes such as PPCS and HSEP serve a dual purpose: enriching students’ experience while also acting as a field for observation and screening (including the UKM3 Test) before full admission.
Who teaches and mentors?
The centre applies teaching approaches tailored specifically for gifted students. Educators, teaching assistants and student assistants undergo special training, including preparation developed in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) — an international reference in gifted education.
Mentoring ratios are deliberately kept small. For example, HSEP 2025 maintained a 1:5 instructor-to-student ratio, enabling more personalised instruction than a mainstream classroom.
How does it differ from special needs education?
PERMATApintar and special needs education are two ends of the same spectrum of learning support. Special needs education addresses students who require additional support to access the curriculum; PERMATApintar addresses students who are far ahead of their peers and need greater challenge so that their potential is not stunted.
Both share the same principle: uniform education does not suit all students, and the system needs to provide pathways that match real needs.
What’s next
If you are a parent or teacher who suspects a child may have gifted and talented potential, the first step is to watch for the UKM1 Test registration dates announced through the official website of the Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara, UKM. Also check the schedules for the PPCS and HSEP enrichment programmes if your child is in the 9–16 age range.
For a complete picture of learning-support pathways in Malaysia, also read the companion article on special needs education and the structure of the national school system. Test details, dates and programme streams can change from year to year — always confirm the latest information directly from UKM’s official website before making decisions.
Who can sit for the UKM1 Test?
The UKM1 Test is open to all Malaysian citizen students aged 9 to 15. It is the first screening before the UKM2 and UKM3 Tests.
Where is PERMATApintar located?
The Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara (GENIUS@Pintar Negara) is based at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, with college campuses in Bangi and Seremban.
What is ASASIpintar?
ASASIpintar is UKM's pre-university foundation programme for gifted and talented students, offered in three streams: Perdana, Commercial and International.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Nama rasmi semasa pusat: laman UKM menggunakan kedua-dua 'PERMATA@Pintar Negara' dan 'GENIUS@Pintar Negara' (halaman sejarah bertajuk 'Sejarah Pusat GENIUS@Pintar Negara'). Sahkan penjenamaan rasmi terkini dan kemas kini tajuk/entity jika perlu.
- Tarikh 3 April 2009 ialah tarikh pelancaran Program PERMATA@Pintar Negara (sumber: laman 'Kenali PERMATA@Pintar', UKM). Sahkan sama ada tarikh penubuhan pusat/institusi berbeza daripada tarikh pelancaran program.
- Bulan kohort menengah pertama (Januari 2011) berdasarkan kenyataan 'Kolej ini mula beroperasi pada Januari 2011' di laman Kolej PERMATA@Pintar Negara UKM. Sahkan dengan rekod pengambilan pertama.
Sources
- Introduction – Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara, UKM — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Kenali PERMATA@Pintar – Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara, UKM — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Kolej PERMATA@Pintar Negara – Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara, UKM — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- ASASIpintar – Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara, UKM — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- PERMATA Pintar — Kerajaan Malaysia (MyGovernment)
- PERMATA Program — Kerajaan Malaysia (MyGovernment)
- Enrichment Programme – Pusat PERMATA@Pintar Negara, UKM — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- High School Enrichment Programme 2025 (HSEP 2025) — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 8 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |