From its humble beginnings in 1971, commencing as an agricultural-based university, UPM has expanded its frontiers in various disciplines such as engineering, medical, sciences, economics, management, education, languages, communication and other fields. These fields have synergized and complemented the university's focal area, namely, agro-bio, which encompasses related areas of agriculture and science. Indeed, the field of tropical agriculture has gained the most prominence. Today, the university has gained international reputation and has become an acclaimed international institution of higher learning in the region.