International Medical University Scores Consecutive Outstanding 6-Stars in SETARA Rating

A seal of approval for its teaching, research and services quality and performance.

Kuala Lumpur, 21 December 2020 – The International Medical University (IMU) has once again achieved a six stars rating in the SETARA system for the assessment year 2018/2019. The rating system, developed and introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MoHE), once again places the IMU as the only local private university as one of the top eight ranking varsities in the country that includes Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) among others. The IMU achieved its sterling six stars debut under the Mature University category in 2016/2017 assessment year.

“We are very pleased to have achieved a 6-stars rating in the SETARA system once more. This further cement our position as well as our unwavering commitment to remain Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and health sciences university whose consistent quality in teaching and learning, research and services are recognised as highly competitive. All our students, current and future, can be rest assured to enjoy a fulfilling study career in the IMU with close to three decades of experience,” said Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Aziz Baba.

In 2017, the SETARA rating system metrics were improved to focus on four core functions of higher education institutions (HEIs) namely general, teaching and learning, research and services where their strength in diversity, as well as the strength in each core function are measured vigorously. Designed largely based on available trusted third-party data, such as MyMOHES, Scopus, QS and Webometrics, the assessment process also involves a verification and validation process conducted by professional auditors. Along with the outstanding SETARA rating, the IMU has also been rated a 5-star institution by Quacquarelli Symonds, QS Stars, the world’s leading provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector following a three-month audit programme. The QS Intelligence Unit has, through rigorous and independent data collection and analysis of performance metrics as set out in the QS StarsTM methodology, rated the IMU as a Five Star institution. The QS StarsTM rating system is operated by the QS Intelligence Unit, the independent compiler of the QS World University Rankings® since 2004. The system evaluates universities across a wide range of important performance indicators as set against pre-established international standards. By covering a broader range of criteria than any other world ranking exercises, QS StarsTM shines a light on both the excellence and the diversity of the rated institution. The IMU currently has over 4,000 active students in its School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, School of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, School of Postgraduate Studies, Centre of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Centre for Pre-University Studies. The IMU is also well known for its Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre and Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI). Prospective students have an array of programmes to choose from, ranging from pre-university studies including Foundation in Science to undergraduate studies including Biomedical Science, Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic, Dentistry, Dietetics and Nutrition, Medical Biotechnology, Medicine, Nursing, Nutrition, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacy and Psychology. Postgraduate students too have options ranging from Acupuncture to Public Health studies.

About International Medical University
Founded in 1992, the International Medical University (IMU) is Malaysia’s first full-fledged private medical and health sciences university. Today, the IMU offers over 20 health professional programmes at pre-university, undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Providing students the options to complete their degree in Malaysia or abroad, IMU has credit-transfer agreements in place with over 30 prestigious universities in the world. IMU has been a SETARA Tier 6 (Outstanding/Highly Competitive) university since 2017 –under the Mature University category by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, in addition to the Self-Accreditation status awarded by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA). The Self-Accreditation status entitles a higher education provider (HEP) to accredit its own programmes except for programmes that require accreditation and recognition of the relevant professional body. IMU is the only private Malaysian University in this category to attain these achievements. As part of IMU’s vision in the creation of the IMU Academic Health Centre (AHC), IMU has expanded its Healthcare arm from ambulatory care services including chiropractic and Chinese medicine services to building its own IMU Hospital. The IMU Hospital is targeted to open its services to the public by early 2022. The AHC’s vision is to integrate education, research and healthcare for better educators, better researchers and better healthcare professionals – which will translate into better-equipped students and graduates and ultimately better patient care. International Medical University is a medical education arm of IHH Healthcare Berhad (5225) (IHH), a leading premium healthcare provider operating in Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and India. The Group also has a growing presence in Greater China and an expanding network across Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (“CEEMENA”). IHH is listed on the Main Markets of Bursa Malaysia and the Singapore Stock Exchange. IHH presently operates over 15,000 licensed beds in 80 hospitals across 10 countries, is one of the largest healthcare groups in the world by market capitalisation.

About International Medical University

Founded in 1992, the International Medical University (IMU) is Malaysia’s first full-fledged private medical and health sciences university. Today, the IMU offers over 20 health professional programmes at pre-university, undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Providing students the options to complete their degree in Malaysia or abroad, IMU has credit-transfer agreements in place with over 30 prestigious universities in the world. IMU has been a SETARA Tier 6 (Outstanding/Highly Competitive) university since 2017 –under the Mature University category by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, in addition to the Self-Accreditation status awarded by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA). The Self-Accreditation status entitles a higher education provider (HEP) to accredit its own programmes except for programmes that require accreditation and recognition of the relevant professional body. IMU is the only private Malaysian University in this category to attain these achievements.

As part of IMU’s vision in the creation of the IMU Academic Health Centre (AHC), IMU has expanded its Healthcare arm from ambulatory care services including chiropractic and Chinese medicine services to building its own IMU Hospital. The IMU Hospital is targeted to open its services to the public by early 2022. The AHC’s vision is to integrate education, research and healthcare for better educators, better researchers and better healthcare professionals – which will translate into better-equipped students and graduates and ultimately better patient care.

International Medical University is a medical education arm of IHH Healthcare Berhad (5225) (IHH), a leading premium healthcare provider operating in Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and India. The Group also has a growing presence in Greater China and an expanding network across Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (“CEEMENA”). IHH is listed on the Main Markets of Bursa Malaysia and the Singapore Stock Exchange. IHH presently operates over 15,000 licensed beds in 80 hospitals across 10 countries, is one of the largest healthcare groups in the world by market capitalisation.