Long standing partners Sunway and WMU strengthen ties

Sunway University was proud to welcome the President of Western Michigan University (WMU), Dr. John M. Dunn at a jointly organized WMU alumni dinner, recently as part of the Sunway Education Group’s 25th Anniversary celebrations this year. This was Dr Dunn’s first visit to Sunway University.

Sunway University and Western Michigan have been partners for 25 years and Western Michigan University was Sunway’s first transnational twinning partner in 1987. Five Resident Directors from WMU served at Sunway in the past, for a total of 16 years. Sunway was the only Malaysian institution at one time to have a Resident Director from an American University.

Dr Dunn with some of the alumni who attended the dinner

As a pioneer of twining programmes in Malaysia, the Sunway-WMU collaboration was the first to yield the 2+2 credit transfer mode. This 2+2 model saved 40% of the cost compared to four years of study in the US and went on to form the basis of the American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP) at Sunway University today which has been instrumental in transferring thousands of Malaysian students to more than 60 universities and colleges in the USA.

WMU today has earned the reputation as a US university of choice for Sunway students intending to pursue aviation, business, engineering and biomedical science programmes. Sunway students who comprise Malaysians and international students in almost equal numbers, opt for WMU not only for these programmes but also for the prestige and financial advantage of transferring to WMU on a WMU scholarship which they have a chance to attain as a Sunway student.

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Chancellor of Sunway University presenting a token of appreciation to Dr Dunn (left) at the dinner

This year WMU awarded scholarships to Sunway ADTP students totaling USD108,000. Dr Dunn said “We are happy to present these scholarships. We acknowledge the high standard of education offered by Sunway and Sunway students have demonstrated their academic abilities in their studies in WMU. I am proud to be continuing this mutually-beneficial partnership and I thank Sunway for co-hosting and organising this dinner especially during your 25th anniversary this year.”

Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director, Sunway Education Group said, “We have enjoyed building an educational and cultural bridge with WMU. I thank WMU for being our trailblazing partner and we look forward to experiencing many more rewarding years ahead with you”.