Kuala Lumpur, 19 May 2026 – KPJ Healthcare University (“KPJU”), Malaysia’s only private healthcare university backed by a network of 30 specialist hospitals, formalised a strategic collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England (“RCS England”), one of the world’s most respected professional bodies for surgical standards, education and research.

The collaboration brings together KPJ’s integrated academic health system – spanning postgraduate medical specialist training, allied health sciences and a network of teaching hospitals – with RCS England’s globally recognised surgical curricula, assessment frameworks and faculty expertise. Together, the two institutions will co-develop structured pathways to strengthen surgical competency, expand access to internationally benchmarked qualifications and accelerate the translation of research into improved patient outcomes across the KPJ Health System (“KPJHS”).

**Dr Nik Fawaz Nik Abdul Aziz**, Chief Operating Officer, Group Allied & Retail Health Operations, KPJ Healthcare (seated, second from left) signing the MoU agreement with **Tim Mitchell**, President, Royal College of Surgeons of England (seated, second from right), as witnessed by **Dr Mizarina Dato' Abu Bakar**, Chief Executive Officer, KPJ Healthcare University (seated, left), **Prof. Naeem Soomro**, Council Member, Royal College of Surgeons of England (seated, right) and representatives from the KPJ Group and Royal College of Surgeons of England.

The Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) was signed at Damansara Specialist Hospital 2, in a ceremony officiated by Prof. (Hon.) Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, President and Chief Executive of Johor Corporation (“JCorp”) and Chairman of KPJ Healthcare University Sdn Bhd (“KPJUSB”) and the KPJHS Governing Council, alongside Mr. Tim Mitchell, President, Royal College of Surgeons of England. Also in attendance was Chin Keat Chuan, President and Managing Director of KPJ Healthcare Berhad.

**Tim Mitchell**, President of Royal College of Surgeons of England (second from right) giving his speech at the MoU signing ceremony with KPJ Healthcare University.

Speaking at the event, Prof. (Hon.) Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim said, “Today is not simply about formalising a collaboration. It is about advancing a shared ambition to strengthen surgical education, elevate surgical standards of care and build future-ready capabilities for surgeons and surgical teams across our system.”

He added, “We have developed a strategic plan and implementation roadmap for the KPJHS, guided by health system convergence and shaped by the forces that will define the future of care, including artificial intelligence, genomics and value-based care. Our ambition is clear: to build a world-class, integrated health system that brings together clinical excellence, education, research, innovation and system intelligence in one coherent model.”

**Prof. (Hon.) Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim**, President and Chief Executive of Johor Corporation and Chairman of KPJ Healthcare University Sdn Bhd and the KPJHS Governing Council at the MoU signing ceremony with Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Vice Chancellor of KPJU, Professor Dr Tunku Kamarul Zaman Tunku Zainol Abidin, an orthopaedic surgeon, said, “This partnership strengthens KPJU’s role in developing structured surgical education pathways and supporting postgraduate progression and fellowship development, while aligning education, training and research with evolving clinical practice and international standards.”

With this collaboration, KPJU is on track to further expand its international education and research network, building on partnerships with leading institutions including Mayo Clinic, University College London and the University of Melbourne, with upcoming engagements such as Imperial College Healthcare. All these partnerships advance executive education, structured fellowship pathways and joint research, positioning KPJU as a regional hub for healthcare education and research excellence.

This collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of England reinforces KPJ’s commitment to building a fully integrated, future-ready health system that aligns education, clinical practice and research to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes at scale. It also marks the start of a long-term partnership that will strengthen surgical capability and improve patient care across the region.

This content is provided by KPJ Healthcare Berhad

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