The International Medical University (IMU) started as an exciting venture in medical education in 1991. A team of academicians led by Datuk Dr Kamal Salih, Dr Mei Ling Young, the late Dr Saidi Hashim with the help of Professor Ron Harden and Professor Ian Hart, two world-renowned medical educationists, conceptualised the International Medical College (IMC). Professor Ong Kok Hai joined the team later. This was a unique educational venture established in line with the Malaysian government’s objective of making the country a leading centre of educational excellence in the region and providing more Malaysian students the opportunity to achieve their aspirations to become doctors and healthcare professionals.

The calibre of the medical educationists and the reputation of the Board of Governors initially helped lend credibility to the project. But it was the progressive, systems based, integrated medical curriculum that caught the imagination of the Partner Medical Schools (PMS), which wanted to participate in this innovative although somewhat daring project. After 2 1/2 years of study in the IMC, students would be able to springboard to any of the reputable PMS in the UK and Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, the
USA and Australia and receive the degree from the respective university.

The College was officially launched on 13 April 1992 by the then Malaysia’s Education Minister, YB Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Haji Daud in Kuala Lumpur. This was a pioneering effort involving a private medical training institution representing a totally new and innovative concept of international partnership for the twenty-first century. The IMC had the full support of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. The institution also had the support of experienced and reputable members of the Board of Governors and members of the Academic Council which consisted of the Deans or their representatives from all the PMS which met at least once a year. With the help of Prof Ron Harden and Prof Ian Hart, an international search for the Foundation Dean started in 1992. An eminent professor of pathology, Emeritus Prof John S Beck from the University of Dundee was appointed the Foundation Dean of the IMC. Sir Patrick Forrest, Emeritus Professor of Surgery from the University of Edinburgh joined as the Associate Dean later. In 1993, the IMC took in its pioneer batch of 75 medical students.

In 1996, after the medical curriculum had run its full course and consolidated, the IMC felt it was timely to start a collaborative pharmacy programme with the University of Strathclyde, in response to the acute need of pharmacists in Malaysia. In 1998, the pioneer class of medical and pharmacy students graduated from the Partner Universities.

On 4 February 1999, the IMC was granted university status and became the International Medical University (IMU) thus providing an additional option for students to read the whole medical degree in Malaysia, the MBBS (IMU). The IMU Clinical School in Seremban took in its first cohort of 46 students in September 1999. The late YABhg Tun Dr Mohamed Zahir Haji Ismail, Speaker of the House of Representatives became IMU’s first Chancellor.

As the student population grew, the IMU moved from its campus in Petaling Jaya to a new and larger campus in Bukit Jalil on 1 January 2000. More PMS, particularly in Australasia and the UK then joined our consortium. Having established a reputation as a premier private medical university with high calibre international connections, the IMU strives to innovate in medically related education by developing novel curricula, new ways of delivery and assessment.

Since 1999, the University's growth and development has been in developing clinical schools in Seremban and Batu Pahat, and in establishing research as a core activity, together with development of postgraduate research Masters and PhD programmes. In 2004, we introduced our own Honours degree course in Pharmacy. The Honours degree course in Nursing was introduced in 2005. In February 2008, the degree course in Dentistry was introduced. Five other Honours degree courses in Nutrition & Dietetics, Medical Biotechnology, Psychology, Biomedical Science and in Pharmaceutical Chemistry were commenced in July 2008.

To remain the premier private medical university, the IMU must develop quality programmes and services of an international standard.