+60142521561
Malaysia is stepping up its efforts to redesign higher education, focusing on bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world application. This new strategy is built upon four strategic pillars—personalised pathways, industry as a classroom, global excellence with local impact, and future-proofing through sustainability.
At the forefront of this transformation is Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Chai Lay Ching of Sunway University. Through initiatives such as Career Xcellerator and Career FleX Pathways, students embark on a structured journey from day one, blending traditional education with industry-driven learning, integrating career-focused content, live projects, and hands-on experiences to shape their own career paths.
The enhanced coaching model ensures students receive mentorship throughout their studies. From their first year, they are guided by a success coach, and in their final year, an industry leader steps in, leveraging Sunway Group’s network to unlock career opportunities.
Titled as Sunway Signature Collection, this portfolio of programmes integrates industry-driven learning across all disciplines, featuring live projects and case studies. Students also participate in industry experiences lasting two to nearly four months, gaining practical skills and real-world exposure before graduation.
As part of its global outlook, Sunway University maintains strong academic collaborations. Through its long-standing partnership with Lancaster University, students can gain a UK education experience locally or use it as a pathway to study in the UK. The university also partners with Harvard, MIT, Cambridge, Le Cordon Bleu, and Arizona State University, further expanding opportunities for global engagement.
“We have created a pathway for students to engage with the rest of the world, by bringing that world to them here on campus. This relationship extends to students crossing borders, and having lecturers come in. We have global online classrooms where students can learn and engage,” says Professor Chai.
The University campus serves as a dynamic hub for innovation and collaboration, featuring AI-enabled labs, co-learning spaces, and over 100 student-led clubs and associations. This supports the final pillar of future-proofing through sustainability and innovation.
Students also engage with urban poor communities, applying their skills to address planetary health challenges such as climate change and overpopulation. These real-world experiences foster problem-solving skills and ethical leadership.
Professor Chai emphasises that while the journey may take unexpected turns, the outcome remains the same: “You come here to Sunway University to explore your life, to explore who you really are, and get to know and improve yourself, and are ultimately given the freedom to design your career path. When you eventually do leave Sunway University, you ultimately leave as a leader.”