Sunway Education Group CEO, Professor Elizabeth Lee is no stranger in the Malaysian higher education arena where she has been actively involved in the industry for the past 28 years. Her latest milestone in her achievements was when she was recently celebrated as the award winner in the Leadership Commitment category at the UN Women’s 2021 Malaysia Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards ceremony. 

This award recognises corporate leaders who have been instrumental in setting strong corporate commitment including progressive policies, regulations or practices that aim to promote gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community. This includes taking on specific roles and responsibilities to promote gender equality within the company and making public commitments or delivering gender-sensitive messages to the public.

Professor Lee believes that men and women bring different strengths to the workplace and the university is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) especially in encouraging and promoting goals no. 4 – Quality Education, no. 5 – Gender Equality and no. 10 – Reduced Inequalities, through events, campaigns and on a daily basis. 

Professor Lee continuously advocates gender equality among Sunway Education Group’s employees and students and frequently participates in various local and international forums and conferences related to education, gender equality and women empowerment.

She elaborated, “I am proud to say that at the Sunway Education Group, women make up more than 65 percent of the workforce, including top management roles. To ensure both our female and male employees’ welfare and wellbeing, we have various policies in place including Flexible Work Arrangements for Mothers, Anti-Sexual Harassment, as well as Diversity and Inclusion.  

In accepting the award, Professor Lee credits the effort, commitment and dedication of her colleagues together with the firm support from the Board and Sunway Group Chairman, Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah himself, who greatly advocates education, gender equality, women empowerment and the SDGs.