I have always wanted to see a twoway flow of scholars, researchers and experts between Sunway and worldrenowned institutions including Harvard, Cambridge and Oxford to advance the education and healthcare standards in this part of the world.
Sparking change for the future
With Sunway University, Monash University Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences as well as 13 other educational institutions under its purview, Sunway is very much aligned with SDG 4: Ensuring inclusive and quality education for all and promoting lifelong learning.
Dr Cheah is a proud advocate of quality education, saying, “I view education as a calling and I believe I have a higher purpose in life, which is to do good and give back to society. Education is a not a profit-driven business, but of course, we must ensure that this initiative is sustainable.”
As such, any surplus generated by these educational institutions is ploughed back into the institutions and foundation for the benefit of students in the form of scholarships, expansion of faculty and facilities, and research grants.
Through the JCF, Sunway has, to date, contributed RM330mil in scholarships, including a generous allocation of RM60mil to more than 4,000 deserving students this year alone.
Among the various scholarships offered was the Sunway Sports Scholarship that was disbursed to Sunway University and Sunway College students who have demonstrated great potential in becoming top athletes, representing Malaysia in international sports meets. This year, Sunway University’s Julian Yee became the first ever Malaysian figure skater to qualify for the Winter Olympics.
Up to 31 students were awarded this valuable scholarship this year, in the hopes of developing more world-class athletes.
Besides that, 185 students from disadvantaged backgrounds have received the JCF Community Scholarship since 2002 while three high achievers have been sent to the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford to pursue their tertiary education.
As testament to Dr Cheah’s firm belief that education is central to changing lives and that a fulfilled life is one filled with purpose and meaning, he pledges, “My goal is to give out more than RM1bil in scholarships in my lifetime.
“I think the most persuasive way is to lead by example. My personal motto is ‘I aspire to inspire before I expire’. The best way to inspire is by example.
“So many of our graduates at our institutions personally thanked me for the scholarships that made it possible for them to acquire quality higher education. I always Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (left) and Dr Cheah (centre) at the launch of the Sunway Clinical Research Centre, which will become a Regional Site Partner of the University of Cambridge's School of Clinical Medicine. remind them that they should now do their part and give back to society.”
Collaborating with Cambridge
Besides building on the academic relationship between JCF and renowned international universities such as Harvard, Oxford and Monash, Sunway has also made inroads in the areas of public health.
Its latest collaboration with the University of Cambridge last month further solidified Sunway’s commitment to excellence, giving back to society and SDG 3: Good health and well-being.
It includes the establishment of a joint programme between the University of Cambridge’s School of Clinical Medicine, the Royal Papworth Hospital, Sunway Medical Centre, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Sunway University.
Representing the English university’s first such initiative in Asia, the Sunway Clinical Research Centre was established as part of the collaboration and will become a Regional Site Partner of the University of Cambridge’s School of Clinical Medicine. The research centre is poised to tackle some of the world’s major medical challenges.
This collaboration paves the way for regular academic visits and exchanges as well as scientific and clinical training opportunities at Cambridge for outstanding postgraduates from Sunway.
Dr Cheah, who is confident that this research centre will be a game changer, says, “At Sunway, we are determined to raise standards in healthcare and education, providing the best possible to not just Malaysians but the 630 millionstrong population of the various members of Asean.
“Making people’s lives better is fundamental to what we do here, because we are passionate about sustainable development.
“I have always wanted to see a two-way flow of scholars, researchers and experts between Sunway and renowned institutions including Cambridge, Harvard and Oxford to advance the education and healthcare standards in this part of the world.”
Projects and research arising from this collaboration will ultimately bring about a better integrated approach to healthcare, clinical trials and research in Malaysia on matters related to the prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved treatments for a range of diseases that are unique to the Asian genetic composition.
The signed agreements also allow for Sunway Medical Centre to collaborate with two of the hospitals that are part of the Cambridge University Health Partners, namely the reknowned Royal Papworth Hospital and Addenbrooke's Hospital. This will help Sunway Medical Centre become Malaysia's first private teaching hospital.
Sunway University also played host to 13 internationally acclaimed experts in the fields of stem cell science, technology and application on Nov 21 and 22.
These distinguished guests were part of the 2nd Cambridge-OxfordSunway Biomedical Symposium aimed at exploring recent advancements in stem cell research and how these breakthroughs were being exploited to transform patient care.
Other initiatives by Sunway include hosting an annual training seminar of the International Society for Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, and setting a target of investing more than RM1.2bil over the next five years to build another five hospitals in Malaysia.
For more information on Sunway Group’s efforts in sustainability, visit www.sunway. com.my/group/social-responsibility