KUALA LUMPUR – Sunsuria Berhad (“Sunsuria”) has announced the signing of a Territorial Exclusivity Agreement with Concord College International Limited (“CCIL”), through its subsidiary Sunsuria Education International, catalysing the expansion of the Concord College brand of British international education in key markets across Asia.
Under the agreement, which was officialised at a signing ceremony in Shrewsbury, the UK on September 27, CCIL grants Sunsuria Educational International the exclusive rights to establish and operate new British international schools in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, India and other regions across Southeast and South Asia.
CCIL is the subsidiary of The Bell Concord Educational Trust Limited, a UK-based educational charity that owns and operates Concord College UK, a leading independent international day and boarding school in Shropshire, the UK.
The agreement represents both parties’ commitment to sharing resources, expertise and knowledge to deliver premier British education across Asian markets, with the option of extending the term through mutual consent.
This comes after Concord College International School commenced operations in Sunsuria City in September, under Sunsuria’s partnership with CCIL and Concord College in the UK. Concord College International School is the first international school in the ASEAN region to be modelled after Concord College UK.
Founded in 1949, Concord College UK is one of the top ranked independent co-educational international schools in the UK, with a diverse student cohort comprising 40 nationalities and a stellar track record in academics, consistently outperforming the country’s independent schools in GSCE and A-level results.
In 2023, over 100 students were accepted into the World’s Top 100 universities, with the students earning 12 spots at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
In the same year, the school produced nearly 1% of England’s triple A* A-level (Advanced Level) scorers; 90% of Concord College UK students’ GSCE and IGSCE grades were in the top tier of 7, 8 or 9; and over 80% of AS (Advanced Subsidiary) students scored the highest grade of grade A.
In May, Concord College International School signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Xiamen University Malaysia to collaborate in the development and implementation of super curriculum activities – as part of the school’s ongoing efforts to foster intellectual curiosity and academic excellence.
Moving forward, Sunsuria plans to establish another two Concord College International School campuses in Malaysia.
“We are pleased to announce this exciting new chapter with Concord College International. Expanding our business footprint in education across Asia and Southeast Asia, we are able to diversify into more overseas markets and extend our Sunsuria brand further into the region. Having a good education is foundational to building a brighter future for all; together with Concord College’s ethos of rigour, kindness, and creativity, we believe we can positively impact our world, one student at a time,” said Tan Sri Datuk Ter Leong Yap, Executive Chairman of Sunsuria Berhad and Chairman of the Board of Governors at Concord College International School.
“With over 2,000 Malaysian students gaining entry to the top British universities through Concord College UK over the past 60 years, many potential partners had approached CCIL to open a school in Malaysia – but none shared the same attitudes towards education until Sunsuria came along,” said Dr. Iain M. Bride, Chairman, Concord College International.
“Seven years ago, we met with Tan Sri Ter Leong Yap, and immediately recognised that Sunsuria’s approach to education was similar to that of Concord College – that the facilities had to be of the highest standard, and that the teaching should be based on the Concord model of high academic rigour combined with developing the students’ creativity and kindness. I am confident that both the Concord College International School Malaysia and other schools to be developed in the coming years will provide outstanding educational opportunities for students in Malaysia and in other Southeast Asian countries,” said Bride.
