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KBU International College has been elevated to First City University College.

KBU International College has been upgraded to university college status by the Higher Education Ministry. It is now known as First City University College.

“Our founder had the foresight and vision 25 years ago to set up the college which has now developed into a full fledge university college,” said First City University College vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ho Chee Cheong after the official launching ceremony last week.

KBU founder, the late Tan Sri Teo Soo Cheng, was committed to promoting affordable quality education.

He subsequently set up the Teo Soo Cheng Foundation to support deserving students.

He also pioneered twinning programmes with foreign universities to open doors for local students to attain foreign degrees at an affordable price.

Puan Sri Cheng Gek Hong who is the wife of the late KBU founder, made a special appearance at the launch.

Also present at the launch were First City Corporation Sdn Bhd director Tan Sri Teo Chiang Liang and KBU Board of Governors chairman Tan Sri Dr Yahaya Ibrahim.

Prof Ho said that the university college has already started implementing its phase two expansion plan to provide state-of-the-art facilities.

He said graduates will be well equipped with technical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills minds, adding that they will be able to have their own business start ups.

First City University College deputy vice-chancellor Dr Chee Choong Koi said the expansion plan will be bigger than the current building.

He said the university college has plans to increase its intake.

“With the new building, we can take in more students,” said Dr Chee.

“It will be a green building,” he said. The use of green technology, he added, means they are able to save electricity by harvesting rainwater which would then be chilled to ice water during off peak hours.

“During the day, when air conditioning is needed, this chilled water which is kept underground will run as a cooler to the air conditioner for the building.”

He also said that the building will have natural lighting.

The expansion of the current campus also means students will have access to a bigger library and computer centre as well as sports facilities such as indoor futsal and basketball, student lounges and dance studios.

First City University College has 2,000 students, of which 400 are international students.