Dato’ Peter T. S. Ng
Dato’ Peter Ng is the executive chairman and founder of UCSI Group. Hailing from humble beginnings in Linggi, Negeri Sembilan, he grew up believing that education would change his family’s fortunes. This led Ng to Canada, where he earned a double degree in computer science and psychology at Lakehead University in 1986. He earned his MBA from Heriot-Watt University in 1995 and was conferred an honorary PhD by the Tashkent Branch of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics in 2012. He was appointed as a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia in 2024.
After graduating, Ng returned to Malaysia and founded UCSI Group in 1986 with education as its niche. Determined to help young people improve their life chances, he worked tirelessly and transformed a small computer training institute into UCSI University - one of Malaysia’s foremost private universities, with campuses in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Springhill, and Bangladesh. Today, UCSI also runs a college, international schools, private schools and child development centres that cater to all levels of education and skills training.
After relinquishing the role of UCSI University vice-chancellor in 2010, Ng gave his undivided attention to formulate UCSI Group’s overarching growth strategy. Employing Blue Ocean Strategy to great effect, Ng ventured into many new markets. UCSI also contributed to Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programme, building a healthcare education cluster in Negeri Sembilan and leading a shared effort to upskill Malaysia’s hospitality and tourism workforce. Today, UCSI is active in seven business clusters - automotive, consulting, education, healthcare, hotels, properties, technology and F&B.
UCSI’s many initiatives are anchored on its ironclad commitment to value innovation, social change and sustainability. UCSI Hospital is the first private hospital in Malaysia to establish a public wing. Enhancing accessibility to quality healthcare, this initiative reduces healthcare costs by up to 40%. UCSI University is also the only private university in Malaysia that is entrusted by the United Nations University - the education and research arm of the UN - to establish a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE). UCSI presently operates two RCEs in Kuching and Kuala Lumpur.
Ever passionate about learning, Ng believes that leaders must be faithful, available and teachable. Committed to empowering tomorrow’s leaders, he makes time to nurture the next generation of leaders and high potentials. Mentoring sessions are frequently held and these are not limited to UCSI Group employees. Promoting a model of barefoot leadership, Ng believes that one should always lead by the power of their example and not the example of their power. He is often sought to speak at conferences and summits. He is also a board member of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific - an independent not-for-profit think tank dedicated to socio-economic wellbeing and public policy.
