The IMU University, (formerly known as the International Medical University) is a private, English language,

health sciences The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to health sciences: Health sciences – those sciences that focus on health, or health care, as core parts of their subject matter. Health sciences relate to multiple a ...

university in

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

. The university offers programmes in medical and other health sciences as well as MSc and PhD programmes.

History

IMU was established in 1992 and was the first private higher education institution in Malaysia that received the right to confer academic degrees, and it was granted full university status by the government in 1999. IMU was one of only three private universities in Malaysia which was awarded the "6 Star: Outstanding" SETARA ranking by the Ministry of Higher Education in 2017 and subsequently in 2020.

Ownership

IMU is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inbound Education Holdings Sdn Bhd (IEHSB), a consortium led by TPG's The Rise Fund,

Hong Leong Group Hong Leong Group is a prominent family-owned conglomerate under the Quek/Kwek family, with a strong presence in both Singapore and Malaysia. While the group shares a common heritage, it operates as two separate entities: Hong Leong Group Malays ...

and Employees Provident Fund. The current Vice-Chancellor and CEO of IMU is Professor Emerita Datuk Dr Asma binti Ismail

Campus

The main campus of IMU is located in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. As of November 2022, the university has 781 employees and 3,717 students.

Principal officers and management

The ceremonial head of the university is the

Chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

. Mohamed Zahir Ismail served as the first Chancellor (1999–2004), followed by Sulaiman Daud (2005–2010), T. Devaraj (2010–2013), Amir Abbas (2013–2018), Gan Ee Kiang (2018-2021) and

Yahya Awang Yahya bin Awang (born 7 September 1950) is a Malaysian cardiothoracic surgeon; born to the former state governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) of Pulau Pinang from 1981 to 1989, Awang Hassan and Khadijah Abdul Rahman, sister of Ismail Abdul Rahman ...

(since 2021). Currently Aini Ideris is the Pro-Chancellor. The university's effective head and

chief executive officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a chief executive or managing director, is the top-ranking corporate officer charged with the management of an organization, usually a company or a nonprofit organization. CEOs find roles in variou ...

is the

Vice-Chancellor A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth of Nati ...

, known as president before 2016. The first Vice-Chancellor was

Kamal Salih Kamal bin Mat Salih (1946 – 6 March 2025) was a Malaysian economist, physician, policy advisor, academic administrator and politician. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wangsa Maju from April 1995 to November 1999. He was a memb ...

(1993–2001),

Abu Bakar Suleiman Abu Bakar bin Suleiman (born 4 February 1944) is a Malaysian physician, academic administrator, business executive and former civil servant. He is currently the Emeritus President of IMU Health Sdn Bhd, the parent company of the International Med ...

(2001–2015),

Abdul Aziz Baba Professor Abdul Aziz bin Baba is a Malaysian medical doctor, haematologist and academic administrator. He is the former Vice-Chancellor (CEO) of the International Medical University (IMU), from 1 January 2016 to 31 July 2024. Career He attende ...

(2016-2024) and Asma Binti Ismail (Since 2024) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic is Ian Martin Symonds (2023-current) who succeeded Peter Pook Chuen Keat (2016-2020) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Development and International is Vishna Devi A/P Nadarajah (2023). Prof Datuk Lokman Hakim Sulaiman is Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research (2023-current). Winnie Chee is Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic (2023-current), succeeding Zabidi Hussin (2020-2022) and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education is Er Hui Ming (2023-current). Past Pro Vice-Chancellors includes Toh Chooi Gait (2016-2020) and

Victor Lim Victor Lim Kok Eow (also rendered ''Victor K.E. Lim'') is a Malaysian physician and microbiologist, specializing on antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases. He is Professor of Pathology and Pro Vice-Chancellor (formerly called Vice-Presid ...

(2016-2022). IMU's former Vice-Chancellor

is Emeritus President of IMU Group and co-founder, Dr Mei Ling Young was advisor to the Group (2018-2021).

Notable academics

, Professor and Vice-Chancellor *

, Senior Advisor *

Kew Siang Tong Dato' Kew Siang Tong, also rendered as Siang Tong Kew, is a Malaysians, Malaysian physician, academic administrator and health bureaucrat. She is currently Professor in Internal Medicine and was the former Dean of the School of Medicine at the ...

, Professor *

Ong Kok Hai Ong Kok Hai (born 1945 in Penang) is a Malaysian microbiologist and Professor of Microbiology at the International Medical University. He was one of the founders of the International Medical University in 1992 and also played a major role in the es ...

, Professor *

, Professor and Past Pro Vice-Chancellor

Partner universities

IMU has co-operation programmes with partner universities around the world, including the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

Queen Mary University of London Queen Mary University of London (QMUL, or informally QM, and formerly Queen Mary and Westfield College) is a public university, public research university in Mile End, East London, England. It is a member institution of the federal University ...

, the

University of Manchester The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The University of Manchester is c ...

, and the

University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949. The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...

Alumni

* Alumni Association of International Medical University (AAIMU) Alumni Association of International Medical University (AAIMU) was established in 2002 where the elected committee members will serve for two years. The AAIMU has set up Chapters to work with the IMU’s Schools and Centre to coordinate events and activities. * Alumni Relations Office (ARO) IMU Alumni Relations Office (ARO) was established in early 2016 with the aim to develop an international network of IMU graduates and to engage alumni through the exchange of knowledge, academic ideas and professional development. The Alumni Relations Office (ARO) serves as the point of contact for IMU alumni. The office is located at the Student Services Department, IMU Bukit Jalil Campus.

References

{{Authority control Universities and colleges in Kuala Lumpur Universities and colleges established in 1992 Medical schools in Malaysia Nursing schools in Malaysia 1992 establishments in Malaysia Private universities and colleges in Malaysia