March 17, 2021
Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College to join UOW Malaysia KDU
Virtual signing seals long term health education collaboration agreement
The Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College (RSDH College) is set to become a part of UOW Malaysia KDU, joining the University of Wollongong (UOW) global network of higher education campuses and benefiting from UOW’s internationally recognised nursing and health services education while continuing to provide professional outplacement training in Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care hospitals under an agreement announced today.
The transaction—which remains subject to Malaysian government approval—will see UOW Malaysia acquire 100 per cent ownership of Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare Educational Services Sdn. Bhd. to deliver its nursing and health services programs, including transferring appropriately trained staff and its current 360-strong student cohort.
The proposed acquisition would see the college’s nursing and health services programs be jointly branded, with Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care continuing to provide eligible students with enrolment sponsorships and internship placements at its three hospitals in Malaysia for the next five years.
The college’s existing agreements with other healthcare providers for enrolment sponsorships and internship placements will continue under UOW Malaysia ownership. UOW Malaysia is confident of the college’s capacity for sustained growth in future years and in helping Malaysia meet the growing demand for qualified health graduates.
Once approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, the agreement will pave the way for the college to be relocated to UOW Malaysia KDU’s Glenmarie campus and benefit from UOW’s domestic and international healthcare education experience.
In addition to UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College’s 13 years’ experience in delivering the Diploma of Nursing, UOW Australia offers highly-regarded undergraduate degrees in nursing, medical and health sciences, exercise science and rehabilitation, public health, nutrition and dietetics science, neuroscience and pre-medicine as well as postgraduate and PhD programs in medicine, health leadership and other health-related fields. UOW Global Enterprises (UOWGE), the parent company of UOW Malaysia, delivers the Diploma of Nursing at its UOW College in Australia and a Bachelor of Nursing (Bridging) and Master of Nursing at UOW in Dubai.
UOW Global Enterprises Managing Director and Group CEO, Marisa Mastroianni and RSDH Group CEO, Mr Raymond Chong, agreed the transaction brings together complementary strengths in a long-term partnership that will help supply the highly trained workforce needed in Malaysia’s rapidly expanding healthcare sector.
“By combining a world-class, top 200 university with an exceptional, pioneering healthcare provider in South-east Asia, we will be able to offer world-class health education that produces well-trained nurses and health service professionals Malaysia needs,” Ms Mastroianni said.
“We have been cognisant for some time of the education market dynamics and were looking for the right partner to carry forward the strong legacy of the college. This collaboration marks a new chapter for both RSDH and UOW that allows us to leverage on our key competencies and position the college for long-term success, while sharpening the focus of the RSDH platform on the delivery of award-wining private healthcare services in the region”, said Mr Chong.
Opportunities to offer degree level qualifications and pathways for international experiences for students and teaching staff throughout UOW’s global network will be explored in the years ahead.
Overcoming distance and COVID-19 travel restrictions to get the deal done anyway. UOW Global Enterprises and Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare CEOs seal a long-term agreement with a virtual signing event.
About UOW Malaysia KDU
UOW Malaysia KDU has a long history of providing accessible, quality, tertiary education to Malaysia and surrounding regions as KDU college and university colleges. Established in 1983, KDU was Malaysia’s first purpose-built private college that provided opportunities for Malaysian youth to pursue high-quality overseas tertiary education in a local setting. There are now four campuses: Damansara Jaya, Penang, Batu Kawan and Glenmarie.
In November 2018, KDU entered into a strategic partnership with UOW Global Enterprises, a wholly-owned subsidiary of University of Wollongong Australia (UOW). In November 2019, the college and university colleges became part of UOW’s global network of campuses and were renamed UOW Malaysia KDU.
About Ramsay Sime Darby health care
Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care (RSDH) is a 50:50 joint venture between Sime Darby Berhad and Ramsay Health Care formed in 2013. The joint venture operates three hospitals in Malaysia and Indonesia respectively, a day surgery centre in Hong Kong as well as a nursing college in Malaysia, Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College. RSDH focuses on providing first rate care to all its patients across its hospitals, providing world-class facilities, utilizing state-of-the-art medical technology combined with high quality clinical practices by a team of experienced doctors and medical professionals. As a testament to RSDH’s commitment to exceptional healthcare, the joint venture has won numerous regional accolades for its service and quality excellence.
About Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College
Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College (RSDH College) is one of the pioneers in healthcare education in Malaysia. The College has a track record of academic excellence since its establishment in 1995. Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College is registered with the Ministry of Higher Education as a Higher Education Provider and the programmes offered by the College are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). The College is a subsidiary of Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Group, which is a joint venture between iconic organisations namely, Ramsay Health Care Limited of Australia and Sime Darby Berhad of Malaysia.