A Brief History of the University

As one of the entities within the Sunway Education Group, Sunway University has rapidly grown into a leading brand name in Malaysia’s higher education sector, gaining a name for itself as a high-quality private not-for-profit institution. Here are some of the milestones along our journey since our initial foundation in 2004.
2021
- Business and Management Studies subject ranked in top 450 in the world
- Sunway University appoints President Sibrandes Poppema
- Sunway University ranked within the top 200 in the world for SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- The University steadily rises to #651-700 in the QS World University Rankings 2022
- The University emerged as a 5 Star rated (Excellent) institution for the second time in QS Stars Audit
- The University also received 5 Stars Specialist Criteria for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Actuarial Studies as well as 5 Stars for other categories: Employability, Academic Development, Internationalization, Facilities, Social Responsibility, and Inclusiveness
- Sunway University has risen from position #473 in 2020 to #280 in 2021 as the World's Most Sustainable University
2020
- Entered the UI Green Metric Ranking for the first time (#473)
- Student number passes 8000 for the first time
- Construction starts on the next campus building - a lakeside futuristic building providing new homes for the Business School and the School of Arts as well as a hub for community arts in Sunway City to feature a large concert hall and theatre
- Ranked #172 in QS World University Rankings 2021 edition for Asia region
- The University rises to 701-750 in the QS World University Rankings 2021
- Received a QS Subject Ranking for the first time in Business and Management Studies (#451-500)
- Awarded SETARA Tier 5 in the Emerging Universities category
2019
- Ranked #194 in QS World University Rankings 2020 edition: Asia
- Sunway University's Premier Digital Tech University status extended to 2021
- Sunway University enters the QS World Rankings 2020 for the first time and achieves a ranking within the range of 751–780
- Sunway University is ranked within the top 150 young universities in the world (under 50 years old) for the first time by QS
- Two international collaborative research centres launched (The Future Cities Research Institute with Lancaster University, UK, and The Joint Research Centre on IT with Huizhou University, China)
- Malaysian team won the World Pastry Cup 2019 led by Sunway University team
- Sunway University awarded honorary doctorate to Tan Sri Dr Teh Hong Piow
- Awarded Sin Chew Education Gold Award
2018
- Sunway University is placed 232nd in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings, placing it in the top 2% of universities in Asia
- Launch of Sunway University Press, the academic publishing arm of Sunway University
- Launch of iLABS Makerspace at Sunway University
- Sunway University becomes the first non-governmental linked private university to attain a 5 Star QS Rating
- Two Sunway University Professors named top 1% most highly cited researchers in the world in 2018
- Accounting and Finance subject rated 4 stars in QS Stars rating system
- Achieved Five stars overall rating in QS Stars University rating with five stars rating in individual categories of Teaching, Employability, Facilities, Inclusiveness and Social Responsibility
- Awarded PUTRA Brand Gold award for Education
- Malaysian team won the Asian Pastry Cup 2018 led by Sunway University team
- Top in Asia for campus buildings design and quality according to Student Barometer survey entry wave 2017
2017
- Sunway University gained its first international ranking in the QS Asia University Rankings, placing it in the top 2.5% of universities in Asia
- Sunway University became one of only eight universities in Malaysia to be awarded the status of Premier Digital Technology University
- Attained ISO 9001:2015 certification
- Awarded SETARA 5-star rating in the “Emerging University” category
- Awarded 1st Superbrand in education in Asia
- Top in Malaysia for Overall Learning Experience, Quality Lecturers, and Employability according to Student Barometer survey wave 2016
- Partnership with Lancaster University extended for further ten years
- The total number of enrolled students surpassed 7,000
2016
- Launch of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development at Sunway University
- Inaugural Cambridge-Oxford-Sunway Biomedical Symposium held at Sunway University
- Top in Asia for Employability and Overall Learning Experience according to Student Barometer survey wave 2015
2015
- Official opening of Sunway University’s new 12-storey campus building
- Sunway University achieved its first international rating as an overall 4-star university with top 5-star ratings for teaching, facilities and employability by the QS ranking and rating agency
- Top in Asia for Employability according to Student Barometer survey entry wave 2014
- The total number of enrolled students surpassed 5,000
2014
- Establishment of the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University
- Awarded SETARA'13 Tier 5 (Excellent) rating
2011
- Sunway University College officially upgraded to full university status by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia and renamed as Sunway University
- The total number of enrolled students surpassed 2,500
2010
- Launch of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, a charitable not-for-profit body taking ownership of institutions under the Sunway Education Group including Sunway University College
- Sunway University College established partnership with Le Cordon Bleu International, which grants professional certification to graduates from the former’s hospitality programme
2009
- Sunway University College received a 5-star “excellent” rating in the first official rating system for Malaysian universities and university colleges known as SETARA; the University continues to receive 5-star ratings in all subsequent SETARA exercises
2008
- First cohort of graduates with dual degrees from both Sunway University College and Lancaster University
2006
- Sunway University College established partnership with Lancaster University, UK, through which graduates can receive dual degrees from both institutions
2004
- The establishment of Sunway University College as an independent degree-awarding institution of the Sunway Education Group