Prof Dr Chai Lay Ling

Professor Dr Chai Lay Ching is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education, Employability and Alumni) at Sunway University, Malaysia, where she leads institutional strategies on future-ready education, graduate employability, lifelong and lifewide learning, and industry-integrated curricula. She is a Professor of Microbiology with expertise in food safety and microbiological risk assessment, and an active researcher with extensive experience in regional and international collaborations. Beyond the university, Professor Chai is a recognised science leader in ASEAN, serving as Co-Chair of the ASEAN Young Scientists Network and contributing to science policy, capacity-building, and talent development initiatives across the region. She is a recipient of the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Award and has been invited frequently to share insights on education transformation, research leadership, and workforce development. Her work bridges academia, industry, and policy to advance reskilling and upskilling for an evolving global workforce.