PHD & Research

Living a Life of Purpose Through Education

Professor Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair’s journey is deeply rooted in the belief that education is the most powerful enabler against poverty, both economic and intellectual. Raised by a father who valued education immensely, Professor Mahendhiran found his ideals closely aligned with those of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO and the Sunway Education Group.

The establishment of Monash University Malaysia by Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO marked a turning point in Malaysia’s education landscape, offering quality higher education that was previously out of reach for many. This mission goes beyond profitability; it embodies the philosophy of “Return on Values” (ROV), where education and societal impact outweigh financial returns.Professor Mahendhiran’s commitment to these values has made him a driving force at Sunway University, helping to transform barren mining land into a thriving, green smart city — an inspiration for sustainable urban development worldwide.Sustainability: A Mindset, Not a Slogan

Sustainability is deeply ingrained in Sunway’s DNA, extending far beyond environmental care. Professor Mahendhiran speaks of sustainability as a mindset — a commitment to embedding planetary health and values-driven thinking into every decision and operation. Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, transformed from a barren mining land into a vibrant, smart, green city, stands as a testament to this philosophy. By integrating the SDGs into its corporate and educational frameworks, Sunway ensures that environmental stewardship, social inclusivity, and economic development are not competing objectives but complementary goals. Students across all disciplines at Sunway University are taught to embrace sustainability, community development, and entrepreneurship, forging a generation equipped to innovate solutions for the complex global challenges ahead.

Embedding Values in Education

Malaysia’s shift towards hyper-specialisation in education, according to Professor Mahendhiran, has sometimes come at the cost of holistic learning. Sunway University is reversing this trend by nurturing broad-based competencies such as philosophy, psychology, and civics alongside technical expertise.

Every Sunway student undertakes subjects on planetary health, community development, and entrepreneurship. Through real-world projects such as their engagement with the Desa Mentari community, students not only study theory but also apply their learning to uplift marginalised groups. This values-driven education model ensures that Sunway graduates are socially conscious, entrepreneurial, and globally competent.

Research-Inspired Learning: Building a Research Nation

At the heart of Sunway’s approach is research-inspired learning. With more than 500 researchers and academic staff and close to 200 PhD and Masters-by-Research students, Sunway University is fast becoming a hub for cutting-edge inquiry and innovation.

Students are encouraged from day one to undertake real-world projects and apply evidence-based, multidisciplinary research methods to societal problems. “Our goal,” explains Professor Mahendhiran, “is to empower students to become explorers and innovators, not just passive recipients of knowledge.”

Through partnerships with global institutions like Harvard, MIT, and Lancaster University, and with internal centres dedicated to areas ranging from behavioural sciences to carbon capture, Sunway ensures that research directly informs policies, improves lives, and contributes to global knowledge. The Desa Mentari Project: A Model for Community Transformation

An inspiring embodiment of Sunway’s commitment to community development is the Desa Mentari Project. Situated just two kilometres from Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Desa Mentari is home to a vulnerable B40 (bottom 40% income) community grappling with poverty, education deficits, and health challenges.

The project represents a comprehensive, research-driven, and long-term intervention model. Students and researchers work directly with residents to co-create solutions ranging from education support, micro-entrepreneurship training, mental health awareness, to employment pathways within the Sunway Group’s businesses.

Rather than providing piecemeal aid, Sunway is using a ‘quadruple helix’ model, bringing together the public sector, private companies, universities, and the community itself. It is a living laboratory for sustainable development and community empowerment, and a beacon of hope showing how local action can lead to systemic change.

Creating Opportunities Through PhD Research and Scholarships

Sunway University, supported by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, offers about 40 PhD scholarships annually, opening doors for talented individuals from Malaysia, the region, and across the globe. Many recipients come from humble backgrounds, often having benefited from JCF’s community scholarships.

Research students engage in projects that are deeply connected to the challenges of developing countries, ensuring the research produced is contextually relevant and impactful. Graduates go on to become academic leaders, policy influencers, and change-makers within their home communities and beyond.

“This,” Professor Mahendhiran shares, “is about creating a pipeline of next-generation leaders, discoverers and explorers who live by a values-driven, purpose-maximising philosophy.”

Why Public Support Matters: Investing in a Legacy of Values

In Professor Mahendhiran’s words, individuals, corporations, and industries must ask themselves: “What is my purpose here?” Supporting the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation is not just about charity, it is an investment in a movement that creates long-term societal value.

The Foundation’s model, whereby all profits from Sunway’s education arm are reinvested into scholarships, research, and community initiatives ensures that donations have a tangible, compounding impact. Every RM50 given can help fund educational resources, research projects, or livelihood initiatives that change lives. Every contribution plays a part in nurturing leaders, innovators, and changemakers who will build a more sustainable, equitable world.

A Call to Action

As Professor Mahendhiran eloquently puts it, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Through Sunway University and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, that fire is being lit in thousands of young minds, many from communities that would otherwise have been left behind.

We invite you to join this journey. Help us nurture future-ready leaders, advance sustainability, and build a legacy of values-driven impact. Support the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, and be part of a movement that is changing Malaysia, the region, and the world.

From PhD Curiosity to Global Relevance

When Professor Kheireddine first began his PhD, his research in electrochemical processes seemed disconnected from the world’s grand challenges. But his journey led him from niche specialisations to the heart of one of today’s most critical issues, the climate change. After moving to Malaysia in the early 1990s, he transitioned into carbon capture research, realising its potential not only for industrial applications but also for the environment. His early work in removing CO₂ from natural gas has now evolved into a multidisciplinary and socially impactful mission.

This transformation was not incidental, it was enabled by an academic environment that values purpose-driven research. At Sunway University, he found not just a workplace, but a mission aligned with his vision — research that solves real-world problems. Carbon Capture: A Response to Climate Emergency

Professor Kheireddine’s work revolves around carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and utilisation (CCU), a critical area in mitigating climate change. The Earth’s atmospheric CO₂ concentration, which remained below 350 parts per million (ppm) before the Industrial Revolution, has now surged past 420 ppm due to unchecked fossil fuel combustion. This increase is fuelling more frequent and severe climate disasters; floods, fires, and droughts among them.

Despite Malaysia’s relatively modest share of global CO₂ emissions, Professor Kheireddine stresses the need for every country to act. His research addresses both the immediate need to capture CO₂ and the long-term need to use or store it sustainably. His centre’s mission is to transform harmful emissions into value-added products that support the economy and protect the planet.

Translational Research: Turning Waste into Wealth

The Centre for CO₂ Capture and Utilisation at Sunway University doesn’t stop at theory. It turns science into tangible innovations. The team, comprising professors, research fellows, and PhD students, focuses on developing advanced materials derived from biomass and plastic waste that can efficiently absorb CO₂.

Palm shell waste from the palm oil industry and discarded plastics are transformed into porous activated carbon. These materials are then chemically treated to enhance their CO₂ absorption properties. In short, two environmental challenges — waste management and carbon emissions — are tackled simultaneously.Even more fascinating is the centre’s exploration into turning captured CO₂ into useful products such as carbon monoxide, methanol, ethanol, or even biodegradable paper-like materials. “Imagine CO₂ becoming wrapping paper,” says Professor Kheireddine. “That’s the future we’re building here.”

Global Collaboration, Local Application

Collaboration is at the core of Sunway’s research philosophy. Professor Kheireddine’s centre works with world-renowned institutions like MIT and Lancaster University, as well as with universities across Asia. Together, they are pioneering efforts to not only capture CO₂ but also utilise it for enhanced oil recovery, algae cultivation, and chemical synthesis.

Crucially, these innovations are not trapped in the ivory tower of academia. Research outcomes are designed to be scalable and transferable, with outreach to industries such as power generation, cement production, and food packaging. A recent initiative involves developing paints for buildings that can absorb atmospheric CO₂, an example of how science meets architecture to support sustainable living.

Empowering the Next Generation

Research at Sunway University is not confined to labs. It extends to classrooms and communities. Professor Kheireddine and his team actively engage students from various levels, including local and international undergraduates, A-level students, and doctoral candidates. Through projects and internships, students are involved in cutting-edge work and inspired to become future environmental leaders.

The lab has hosted students from France, Algeria, and across Malaysia. Many contribute directly to the centre’s key projects. Even secondary school students are brought in during Sunway’s Sustainable Development Week, exposing them early to the power of science in tackling global issues.

“We tell them plainly: no research, no technology. No handphones, no clean water, no vaccines,” says Professor Kheireddine. “Everything you value today comes from a research breakthrough.”

Building for the Community

Translational research at Sunway also meets local needs. One example is the Desa Mentari initiative, where Professor Kheireddine and his team aim to convert community food and plastic waste into useful materials. Involving the community in environmental science builds awareness, develops local solutions, and creates a model for sustainable urban living.

This integration of science, society, and sustainability is emblematic of JCF’s vision, a university that not only educates but transforms.

Funded by a Vision

Behind all of this stands the unwavering support of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. From funding student scholarships to supporting large-scale research initiatives, JCF enables impactful work that few other private institutions can sustain.

“What we do wouldn’t exist without the Foundation,” Professor Kheireddine reflects. “It’s not just about building labs, it’s about building futures.”

The Foundation’s unique model reinvests every sen of surplus from Sunway Education Group back into research, education, and scholarships. This ensures that every donation contributes to long-term social good.

The Path Forward: Research for a Sustainable World

Looking to the future, Professor Kheireddine believes that carbon capture and utilisation technologies, though costly today, will soon become mainstream. Like solar energy or water purification membranes, once deemed too expensive, CCU will become more accessible through continuous research and innovation.

Sunway University is positioning itself as a regional leader in sustainable research, supported by its community, backed by global partnerships, and inspired by purpose.

Why Your Support Matters

Supporting the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation means more than contributing to research initiatives. It means investing in solutions for climate change, empowering underprivileged students, and pioneering technologies that turn waste into opportunity.

Whether you are an individual passionate about the planet or a company exploring environmental responsibility, your contribution helps to drive research that directly improves lives, safeguards ecosystems, and builds a better world.

Let your donation be part of the solution. Help us keep the fire of curiosity and innovation burning — for our environment, for society, and for the generations to come.