Malaysian entrepreneur Vijay Eswaran has a bold vision for QI University in Malaysia, as part of his personal mission to improve the standard of higher education in South East Asia
IPOH, MALAYSIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 15, 2017 / Vijay Eswaran is the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the QI Group of companies, and has used the success and influence of this immense business empire to found a world class University in Malaysia. He has been one of the leading voices in the drive for better higher education in South East Asia, and six years after he began his mission, he has announced his vision for the university: to be known as the "Harvard of the East".
This ambitious undertaking is underpinned by full commitment from Eswaran, who was ranked #25 on the Forbes Rich List for Malaysia a few years ago. The Quest International University in Perak state has already begun to attract the foremost minds in academia from across South East Asia, and is now looking to attract world-leading researchers and lecturers from overseas, to inspire a new generation of Malaysian entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals and more.
Eswaran understands the power of education as a progressive and modernising force, essential to the continued prosperity of the region.
His declaration for the university is similar in stature to that of the great Indian philosopher, Swami Vivekananda's vision - "man-making is my mission". Eswaran too believes that education is the manifestation of perfection already present in men. This belief drives him to contribute towards making the idealized future a reality.
As part of the idealized future, Eswaran has committed QI Group to creating Qi Edu City – a move that has made waves throughout South East Asia. Qi Edu City is a RM 1.2 billion commercial and residential development with the University at its heart.
The city will include a hospital, shopping mall, apartment complexes, a convention centre, hotel suites and more. This ground-breaking ceremony for the project took place in September 2016. Once completed, the teaching hospital alone, home to 800 beds for the public and 200 private beds, aims to become a centre for health tourism, and contribute to an eco-system that will stimulate the local economy.
Eswaran's roadmap for QIUP includes formidable plans. Some of the key differentiators of this university include having a carbon neutral, environmentally friendly campus that harnesses solar energy and uses a proprietary water-from-air technology. He is in the process of setting up mentoring labs on campus, which will include chairs for distinguished senior professionals from around the world who have made their name in their respective fields — science, technology, business, creative, public service, et al.
The university is also setting up incubators and tying up with promising start-ups in a unique partnership that will allow students to intern with exciting young companies, while giving these start-ups a support system and manpower.
"Ultimately, I am an entrepreneur, and I want to develop an institution that gives birth to more entrepreneurs," says Eswaran.
Other unique initiatives already in place include mandatory English language proficiency training and testing for all faculty and administrative staff which helps strengthen its position in the competitive international education arena. The University has also moved away from an exam centric assessment approach to a moderate continuous assessment plan that allows students to apply what they learn instead of memorization and rote learning.
QIUP also has industry partnerships for many of its programmes to ensure relevancy of its curriculum and provide students with hands-on learning and training opportunities.
Research is central to QIUP's vision of making an impact on society. An important project underway includes a potential cure for diabetic gangrene wounds, which currently has no cure. Another significant project includes the use of biotechnology and tissue culture to increase crop yields for farmers in Cameron Highlands in Malaysia and promoting greener methods of farming. This includes using fewer chemicals and producing more vegetation per hector of land to help alleviate the problem of diminishing farming land.
The medical program offered by QIUP is in the process of being included in the WHO directory of medical schools, which will enable students to appear for the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE) and the MRCP exams of Ireland.
In a nod to the quality of students, teams from QIUP have already started bringing in accolades in national and international competitions in science, technology, medicine and humanities.
As a new University, Eswaran has uniquely positioned QIUP to be forward thinking in its approach to business, entrepreneurship and the real-life application of academic studies. To achieve his vision, he wants to attract a brand of students who value intellectual curiosity over pure academic excellence.
"The kind of students we want at QIUP must have three important qualities. You love learning. You are driven by more than just academic success and care about a cause that's bigger than you. You are ready to grow. We will provide you with a place with incredible opportunities and support to pursue your passion, surrounded by inspiring students and faculty," concludes Eswaran.
Students from 28 countries are currently enrolled at QIUP, inching closer to Eswaran's dream of making this a truly international university.
In order to make QIUP "The Harvard Of The East", the QI Group will continue to be closely involved with the development and evolution of the university and its growing community, providing support and resources wherever possible. At the moment 1600 students are registered with QIUP.
Contact Info:
Name: Sheena Flannery
Email: [email protected]
Organization: QI LTD
Address: QI Tower, PJ8, No. 23, Jalan Barat, Section 8, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Malaysia
Phone: +66 89 675 7865
For more information, please visit http://www.qiup.edu.my/
SOURCE: QI LTD