Sunway University’s Founder and Chancellor Jeffrey Cheah Receives Honorary Doctorate From Lancaster University

Bandar Sunway, Oct 11 ~ Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, AO, Founder and Chancellor of Sunway University, Founding Trustee of Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, and Chairman of the Sunway Group received an Honorary Doctorate from Lancaster University at Sunway University Graduation Ceremony today.

The well-known education leader, community creator, and social entrepreneur received the award of Doctor of Laws (LLD) to recognize his outstanding contribution in developing education internationally, as well as, making the collaboration between Sunway University and Lancaster University the growing success that it is today.

Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, Professor Mark Smith on behalf of Sir Christian Bonington, Chancellor of Lancaster University, presented Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, AO, with the honorary degree in a ceremony witnessed by more than 1,500 graduates, educators and parents.

Sunway University had first commenced its partnership with Lancaster University, UK, in 2006 to initiate an academic collaboration in the areas of business, psychology and computer studies. With the partnership, students who complete their Sunway University honours degree are awarded two scrolls – one from Sunway University and another from Lancaster University.

Lancaster University, founded in 1964 is one of Britain’s best research and teaching universities. The University is ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world, listed at 131 in the Times Higher Education International table and 163 in the QA World University Rankings. Lancaster University ranks the ninth in the world amongst universities younger than 50 years. Last year, Lancaster University had won the “Times Higher Education Business School of the Year Award in 2012.” Forbes magazine ranks the Lancaster MBA 7^th in the world and 3^rd in the UK in its 2011 ranking of the best non-US one-year MBA programmes.  

Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, is the visionary Founder and Chairman of the Sunway Group which has businesses across 40 locations worldwide. He has been conferred nine honorary Doctorates by leading universities worldwide including Lancaster University for his contribution as an education thought leader. He is also among the four notable givers in the country who made Forbes Asia’s Hero of Philanthropy 2009.

Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah is also one of the nation’s model social entrepreneurs, having transferred his equity of full ownership of the Sunway Education Group comprising Sunway University, Sunway College, Monash

University Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Sunway International School worth RM720 million to the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, including a personal contribution of RM20 million. In 2008, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) by the then Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd. The AO is one of Australia's most prestigious and highly respected awards conferred to a non-citizen of Australia. It is an order of chivalry first established by Queen Elizabeth II for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons, for outstanding achievement or commendable service.