Sunway University: Collaborative Research for The Common Good
For today’s students, choosing a university is about more than just academic excellence—it’s about aligning with an institution that reflects their values and prepares them for the future. At Sunway University, sustainability is embedded into our very identity. From cutting-edge research in carbon capture, renewable energy, and microbiome science, to leadership in planetary health, governance, and digital heritage, our research centres embody a commitment to solving real-world challenges.
Our institution places the utmost importance on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which we realise through supporting the establishment of multiple collaborative research centres, such as the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development (JSC), the Future Cities Research Institute (FCRI), and many more.
The Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development (JSC) was established through a partnership between the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) as part of the global effort to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced in 2015.
Hosted at Sunway University, Malaysia, JSC serves as a regional centre of excellence for advancing SDG achievement in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The Center focuses on impact-driven research, policy engagement, and world-class educational programs to equip students, practitioners, and policy leaders with the skills needed to address sustainability challenges.
The Future Cities Research Institute (FCRI) is a joint research institute between Lancaster University and Sunway University. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it builds on existing strengths at Sunway and Lancaster. The FCRI complements the work of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development at Sunway University, and capitalises on Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah’s pioneering leadership in developing sustainable urban environments.
The Institute maximises the impact of the wide variety of relevant, world-leading research undertaken at Lancaster University, and builds on existing research collaborations between the two institutions.
Sunway University is committed to solving global challenges, particularly in the areas of sustainable development and planetary health, through building multidisciplinary research teams that focus on the following key research areas:
Sustainable Science & Technologies
Placed under the Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Sunway University’s Research Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Utilisation (CCDCU) is dedicated to advancing world-class research, training, and consultancy in CO₂ capture and utilisation technologies. By integrating advanced physics and novel approaches, the Centre addresses urgent climate and energy challenges while contributing to industrial decarbonisation. Through high-impact publications, strategic national and international collaborations, and translation of research into practical solutions, CCDCU’s work delivers environmental, economic, and social benefits, positioning Sunway University as a global leader in sustainability and the journey towards a net-zero carbon society.
Sustainable Business
The Sunway Centre for Environmental Social Governance (SC ESG), housed within Sunway Business School, reflects the University’s deepening commitment to sustainability, accountability, and governance research. Established in April 2019 as the Centre for Accountability and Governance Research, it was rebranded in June 2023 to reflect its expanded focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues. The Centre’s mission is to transform rigorous academic research into practical solutions that address real-world challenges, benefitting governments, businesses, and society while advancing sustainable practices.
SC ESG provides a dynamic platform for collaboration between academia and industry, enhancing student integration and employability while ensuring that research outputs are both relevant and impactful. Through workshops, training, consultations, and cutting-edge studies, the Centre promotes ESG awareness and capacity building.
Climate Change & Planetary Health Sciences
The Sunway Centre for Planetary Health (SCPH), led by Executive Director Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, is dedicated to addressing the urgent and interconnected crises that threaten both human and planetary wellbeing. Working in collaboration with Sunway University’s faculties, regional networks, and international partners, the Centre generates and communicates evidence-based research to advance solutions for a sustainable future.
Planetary health recognises that humanity must rethink how we produce food and energy, build cities, manage natural resources, and live alongside technology. Today, converging crises—climate change, biodiversity loss, unsustainable food systems, water insecurity, chronic diseases, and pandemics—are eroding global health gains and pushing us towards dangerous tipping points.
The Centre’s mission is to catalyse transformative change by promoting equity, responsibility, and collective action. Through research, advocacy, and education, it seeks to redefine what it means to live well within planetary boundaries, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.
Future & Emerging Technologies
The Research Centre for Nano-Materials and Energy Technology (RCNMET) at Sunway University is dedicated to pioneering sustainable energy solutions through advanced nanomaterials research. Under the leadership of Distinguished Research Professor Saidur Rahman—ranked among the world’s top 1% of highly cited researchers by Clarivate Analytics—the Centre brings together expertise in nanotechnology, materials science, and energy systems.
RCNMET focuses on the design, synthesis, and testing of advanced materials such as MXenes, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and their composites to improve the efficiency of energy production, conversion, and storage technologies. Equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and advanced computational facilities, the Centre fosters innovation and collaboration with leading national and international institutions, as well as industry partners.
Through cutting-edge research, training, and consultancy, RCNMET contributes to the development of sustainable energy technologies while producing highly skilled graduates who can drive progress in the renewable energy sector. Its mission is to advance knowledge, innovation, and impact for a cleaner and energy-secure future.
Creative Arts, Media & Culture
The Sunway Centre for Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage (SCDHCH) serves as a pioneering hub where digital technology, the arts and humanities, and cultural heritage converge. Established to strengthen Sunway University’s leadership in this growing field, the Centre brings together expertise in creative digital media, digital archiving, and cultural heritage research while collaborating with local and international partners across both physical and virtual platforms.
SCDHCH’s transdisciplinary team includes cultural heritage specialists, archivists, software developers, media researchers, audiovisual experts, education technologists, and creative designers with extensive industry and academic experience. Together, they design applications, content, and methodologies that advance digital humanities and support the preservation and revitalisation of cultural heritage.
Medical & Health Services
The Sunway Microbiome Centre (SUMC) is dedicated to advancing microbiome science to drive discovery, innovation, and solutions that benefit both human health and the environment. As a strategic hub within Sunway University, the Centre fosters an interdisciplinary ecosystem that catalyses impactful research while translating fundamental discoveries into real-world applications supporting healthcare, food security, and sustainability.
SUMC’s work is guided by six interconnected pillars: conducting cutting-edge discovery research in health, environment, and food; translating findings into diagnostics, therapies, and personalised medicine in collaboration with Sunway Medical Centre; fostering interdisciplinary and industry partnerships; nurturing the next generation of microbiome researchers; ensuring sustainability through resource generation; and advancing environmental microbiome research to develop solutions for agriculture and aquaculture.
Actuarial Science & Mathematical Modelling
The Centre for Actuarial & Analytics Research (CAAARE), established in 2019 under the School of Mathematical Sciences at Sunway University, is dedicated to advancing research, consultancy, and training in actuarial science, mathematics, and statistics. The Centre serves as a platform to promote impactful research, build collaborative networks, and provide expertise that supports emerging industries and applied economic research activities. By partnering with professional societies, industry stakeholders, and international collaborators, CAAARE accelerates knowledge and technology transfer for real-world impact.
Its research associates bring diverse expertise spanning actuarial science, statistics, optimisation, machine learning, operations research, mathematical modelling, graph theory, and mathematics education. This multidisciplinary approach enables the Centre to deliver practical solutions in areas such as manufacturing, logistics, operations, and statistical analysis.
With a vision to be a leading regional hub for actuarial and analytics research, CAAARE also offers short courses, specialised training, and outreach programmes, fostering talent development and advancing industry-relevant solutions.
Hospitality & Tourism
The Asia Pacific Centre for Hospitality Research (APCHR), housed within the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Sunway University, was established to advance research and strengthen collaboration in hospitality, tourism, leisure, culinary arts, and events. Serving as an interdisciplinary platform, the Centre fosters the exchange of innovative ideas, undertakes impactful research and consultancy projects, and contributes to sustainable industry development and community wellbeing.
With a vision to become a leading regional hub for hospitality and tourism research, APCHR is committed to applied, transformative, and theoretical studies that address both academic and industry challenges. The Centre places strong emphasis on sustainability, health, and wellbeing, aligning its work with global trends and societal needs.
Through strategic partnerships with local and international scholars, research institutions, and industry stakeholders, APCHR enhances knowledge creation and dissemination, positioning Sunway University as a regional and global leader in hospitality and tourism research.
Psychological & Neurological Sciences
The ASEAN Microbiome and Nutrition Centre (AMNC) is a pioneering research hub in Southeast Asia dedicated to advancing understanding of microbial mechanisms that regulate biological ageing and their impact on human health. Established as a strategic partnership between Singapore and Malaysia, the Centre engages leading institutions including the National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore and Sunway University, alongside an international network of universities and research institutes.
Under the leadership of Director Professor Sven Pettersson, AMNC focuses on identifying microbial mechanisms of ageing, validating these findings through proof-of-concept trials in animal models and human pilot studies, and translating insights into practical strategies for extending human healthspan. The Centre also plays an active role in educating healthcare professionals and students on the vital role of microbe–host interactions in shaping health and longevity.
With core research activities in both Singapore and Malaysia, AMNC represents a regional engine for innovation at the intersection of microbiome science, nutrition, and healthy ageing.
Interdisciplinary Pathways to Real-World Impact
By joining Sunway University, students gain access to vibrant, interdisciplinary environments where world-class research directly informs teaching, training, and industry engagement. They are mentored by leading academics and exposed to global collaborations that connect science, technology, business, and the humanities—all with the shared goal of building a greener, healthier, and fairer future.
Studying here means becoming part of a community that does not just imagine a sustainable world, but actively works to create it. After all, we are the Campus with a Conscience.
