UTAR and Care Concierge renew MoU to strengthen collaboration in elder care and health sciences

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between UTAR and My Care Concierge Sdn Bhd (Care Concierge) was held on 18 August 2025 at UTAR Sungai Long Campus. The MoU was signed by UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat and Care Concierge Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Martin Yap Lu Hoong.

UTAR and Care Concierge previously signed an MoU on 1 April 2019. The renewal of this MoU signifies a continued commitment to strengthen strategic collaboration in education, training, and healthcare. The partnership will focus on joint research projects, specialised training programmes in caregiving and therapy, industrial attachments for students, and curriculum development, with the aim of addressing the growing needs of Malaysia’s ageing population.

 You can read about the previous MoU here.

Present at the event from Care Concierge were General Manager of Care Concierge Academy Mr Keegan Lim, Head of Brands & Growth Ms Jayme Lee, and Senior Marketing Executive Ms Rachel Chua. Welcoming them were M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS) Dean Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong, Office of International Affairs (OIA) Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, Centre for Corporate and Community Development Director Ms Lim Guat Yen, MK FMHS Department of Physiotherapy Head Dr Muhammad Noh Zulfikri bin Mohd Jamali, and OIA Manager Ms Liu Dan.

Prof Dato’ Ewe highlighted the productive collaboration since 2019, stating, “We have worked together on various initiatives including specialised training programmes such as the ‘Specialised Eldercare’ courses and the ‘Fundamentals of Caregiving’ programme. These initiatives have successfully combined theoretical learning with practical, hands-on training.” He added, “This MoU paves the way for us to conduct joint training initiatives, leveraging the facilities and expertise of both institutions to enhance the educational experience. Together, we are realising our mission to produce holistic, competent, and compassionate graduates equipped to serve the needs of society.”

Mr Martin Yap emphasised the growing need for professional caregivers to meet the demands of an ageing population both locally and internationally. He said, “Our collaboration is built on a shared vision: to raise the standard of care for older adults and to invest in the next generation of professional caregivers, whether in Malaysia or abroad.” He further elaborated, “Training Malaysians to be professional caregivers provides a new career pathway for those affected by the changing job market, which comes at a crucial time with the emergence of AI and job replacements.”

The event concluded with a discussion on future training initiatives and collaborative projects, setting a clear and actionable path for the next phase of this impactful partnership.