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- The partnership builds on the longstanding collaboration between the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and UKM to advance innovation in medical and healthcare education and research, support student and staff development, and organise initiatives with strong community and social impact.
- The endowed professorship will appoint a pre-eminent scholar to advance research in medicine and public health, as well as contribute towards knowledge sharing between UKM and Sunway University.
In an effort to foster excellence in academic leadership, medical research, education, and community impact, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) have formalised a landmark collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), to establish the Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah Distinguished Chair (Kursi Kecemerlangan Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah) at the Faculty of Medicine, UKM.
Held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Auditorium Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, the signing ceremony was observed by YBhg. Professor Dr. Sufian Jusoh, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO, Founder and Trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation as well as the Founder and Chancellor of Sunway University.
The agreement marks a new chapter in JCF and UKM’s longstanding institutional collaboration, leveraging both parties’ strengths to drive local and regional innovation in medical, healthcare education and research, in advancing Malaysia’s national ambitions.
This partnership will see the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation contribute RM5 million to encourage the production of joint research outputs in medical and healthcare, the establishment of incubation centres and advanced instrumentation provision. Furthermore, the collaboration will support initiatives focused on student and staff development, such as student mobility programmes, staff exchanges, online learning opportunities, and scholarship offerings.
Beyond research and academia, programmes related to social welfare and sustainability will be developed alongside initiatives to promote public knowledge through workshops, lectures, short courses and publications.
Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Founder and Trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and Founder and Chancellor of Sunway University said, “This is a truly meaningful occasion for Sunway University and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. UKM is the first Malaysian public university where we are endowing a Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah professorship. It is my hope that by doing so, we can pave the way for UKM to become a valued member of the many active partnerships we have established with world-renowned universities. The more educational institutions that we can incorporate into this ecosystem, the more profound the benefits for our nation and our Malaysian students and researchers.”
During the event, Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah also hosted an exclusive lecture with valuable insights and reflections on education and philanthropy, emphasising their important societal roles, and how they can work together to build a stronger and more resilient nation.
“This collaboration does not only broaden the visibility and effectiveness of our research activities, but it also enhances the quality of teaching and learning, and the university’s engagement with communities in need,” said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Sufian Jusoh, later adding that this initiative will not only reinforce UKM’s role as a national university with a global impact, but also equip our students to thrive in the evolving job market of today and the future.
This collaboration represents a firm commitment to creating long-term impact in Malaysia’s higher education and healthcare landscape, and is a significant step forward in building a healthier, more informed and more resilient society.