UOC Launches Rehabilitation Sciences School and Bachelor of Chiropractic Programme

New initiatives strengthen rehabilitation sciences education and support the development of Malaysia’s future healthcare workforce.

The University of Cyberjaya (UOC) today officially launched its School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Bachelor of Chiropractic (Honours) Programme, marking a significant expansion of its health sciences offering and its contribution to the development of Malaysia’s rehabilitation healthcare workforce.

The establishment of the School provides a dedicated platform for strengthening education and professional development in rehabilitation sciences, while the new Bachelor of Chiropractic (Honours) Programme introduces a new pathway for students pursuing a career in chiropractic.

Prof. Dr David Whitford, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cyberjaya, said the establishment of the School and launch of the programme mark an important step in UOC’s continued evolution as a health sciences institution: “The establishment of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences and the launch of our Bachelor of Chiropractic (Honours) Programme mark an important step in UOC’s continued evolution as a health sciences institution. As healthcare needs become increasingly complex, there is a growing importance in developing professionals who can contribute effectively across disciplines and work as part of a wider healthcare ecosystem.

“Our ambition is not simply to introduce a new programme, but to create an academic environment that supports the development of future-ready rehabilitation professionals through quality education, collaboration and a strong connection with the needs of the healthcare sector. Through the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, UOC hopes to contribute to the development of Malaysia’s rehabilitation workforce while strengthening dialogue and collaboration between academia, the professions, government and industry.”

The School of Rehabilitation Sciences strengthens UOC’s focus on rehabilitation education by providing a broader academic environment for professional development, research and collaboration. Its establishment reflects the importance of developing rehabilitation professionals who can work across disciplines and contribute to the wider healthcare ecosystem.
The Bachelor of Chiropractic (Honours) Programme forms part of this broader approach, preparing future chiropractic professionals within UOC’s health sciences environment and supporting the development of competencies relevant to contemporary healthcare and rehabilitation.

Prof. Dr Phelim Yong Voon Chen, Executive Dean, Faculty of Health, University of Cyberjaya, said quality education would be fundamental to the responsible development of chiropractic as a healthcare profession: “Quality education is fundamental to the responsible development of any healthcare profession. For chiropractic, this means preparing graduates with a strong foundation in knowledge and clinical competencies, while also developing an understanding of evidence-informed practice, professional standards, patient safety and the importance of working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.

“The Bachelor of Chiropractic (Honours) Programme has been developed within UOC’s wider health sciences environment for this reason. We want our graduates to understand not only their own professional role, but also how chiropractic can contribute appropriately within the broader rehabilitation and musculoskeletal healthcare ecosystem. In doing so, we hope to prepare graduates who are equipped to respond to the evolving needs of patients, communities and Malaysia’s healthcare system.”

The launch was accompanied by an Industry Forum titled “The Future of Chiropractic in Malaysia: Education, Regulation, Industry Growth and Public Health Impact”, bringing together representatives from the chiropractic profession, Ministry of Health, academia and industry.

The forum explored the development of chiropractic in Malaysia, including education and workforce readiness, professional standards, evidence-informed practice and collaboration across healthcare disciplines. It also considered the potential role of chiropractic within the broader rehabilitation and musculoskeletal healthcare ecosystem.

The establishment of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Bachelor of Chiropractic (Honours) Programme reinforces UOC’s commitment to expanding its contribution to health sciences education and supporting the development of a future-ready rehabilitation workforce in Malaysia.