QI Group’s Educational Investment: An Award-Winning Special Needs School and a Private University

Taarana School occupies a modest facility in Malaysia where children with learning disabilities receive specialized attention unavailable at most mainstream institutions. The school, which began operations in 2010, represents one strand in a broader educational strategy that spans special needs education and a separate comprehensive university program.

QI Group established Taarana through its RYTHM (Raise Yourself to Help Mankind) Foundation, the company’s social impact arm that channels 10% of annual revenues toward development projects. The school accepts students with conditions including autism, Down syndrome, and various developmental delays, providing individualized learning plans that conventional schools often can’t accommodate.

This commitment to inclusive education forms part of QI Group’s broader investment in learning institutions, which also includes Quest International University.

Award-Winning Special Education Center

Taarana School operates under the leadership of principal Dr. Sunitha Sivakumaran, serving students between ages 4 and 18 with special learning needs including autism, Down syndrome, and developmental delays. The school structures its programs around an Individualized Education Plan, which educators develop in consultation with families to create personalized curricula matched to each student’s needs.

Taarana earned recognition as the Best Special Education Centre of the Year at the 2024 PEEAM EduAwards, an event held by the Private Educational Entrepreneur Association of Malaysia. It qualified first in the general education category before judges elevated it to Elite Winner status, the highest distinction in the competition.

“We are deeply honoured to receive this award, which highlights our ongoing mission to provide quality education that is inclusive and transformative,” Dr. Sivakumaran said. “This achievement is a testament to our students’ progress, the hard work and dedication of our educators and staff, and the unwavering support of our community.”

Zero Waste Program Prepares Students for Green Careers

The school launched its Zero Waste @ Taarana initiative in May 2024, targeting environmental education and vocational preparation. The program established recycling collection stations throughout the facility and introduced waste sorting exercises paired with creative projects using repurposed materials.

“At Taarana, we believe in nurturing not only the intellectual and emotional development of our students but also their sense of responsibility towards the world around them,” Dr. Sivakumaran said. “This project is a testament to our commitment to creating a sustainable future for our students and community.”

Environmental training is aimed at equipping students with skills for careers in green industries, addressing a common challenge for individuals with developmental disabilities who often face limited pathways to employment after completing education. The program primarily serves pre-vocational students while introducing younger children to sustainability concepts.

Quest International University’s Growth and Accreditation

QI Group has also established Quest International University, which opened in the state of Perak, Malaysia in 2011 through a partnership with the Perak state government. Since then, the university has enrolled approximately 15,000 students from nearly 50 countries.

QIU operates across seven faculties. It offers more than 50 programmes across foundation, diploma, bachelor’s degree, postgraduate, and professional education levels in disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, life sciences, business, computing, engineering, and information technology.

The university received accreditation from Malaysia’s regulatory bodies and earned placement in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, joining only 12 private Malaysian universities on that list.

Financial backing for QIU’s planned expansion was structured through an Islamic financing initiative. In 2023, the university secured a 100 million Malaysian ringgit Sukuk Ijarah programme with Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad as the primary subscriber, marking QI Group’s first entry into Malaysia’s capital markets. The financing was intended to support the development of QIU’s upcoming campus in Gunung Lang, Ipoh. The Sukuk programme received recognition as the Islamic Finance News Deal of the Year 2023.

Specialized Facilities and Academic Excellence

Educational facilities at QIU include specialized infrastructure uncommon at competing institutions. The university maintains an on-campus pharmaceutical pilot plant where pharmacy students practice medicine creation, making it the only private Malaysian university with such a facility. Culinary arts students work in a full fine dining restaurant, bakery, and professional kitchen, learning farm-to-plate processes.

QIU’s academic staff includes industry advisors and adjunct professors from international companies including Universal Music, Leo Burnett Malaysia, Samsung, Grab and Intel. QI Group aims to connect theoretical education with practical industry experience.

The university serves as an official examination center for the United States Medical Licensing Examination in northern Malaysia, allowing international students to pursue residency and practice in the United States. QIU also functions as an education provider for the Malaysian Financial Planning Council in Ipoh.

Student outcomes at QIU include competitive performance in national and international competitions. The pharmacy program achieved Level 5 Excellent status from the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

From Special Needs to Higher Education

The distance between Taarana’s individualized classrooms and QIU’s pharmaceutical pilot plant illustrates the range of QI Group’s educational portfolio. Where Taarana addresses gaps in special education infrastructure, the university fills demand for international programs in professional fields.

But the schools share a philosophy and goal tied to RYTHM despite serving different populations. For those looking to invest in QI Group’s educational project, both Taarana and QIU emphasize practical skill development alongside academic learning, whether through vocational training for students with disabilities or industry partnerships for university students. Both represent long-term commitments requiring sustained capital and management attention.

The educational ventures now constitute a central component of QI Group’s operations alongside its businesses in hospitality, luxury goods, lifestyle and wellness, and retail.