S'gor Govt-funded University To Offer Medical Degree Courses From 2008

BANGI, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (Kuis), one of two institutions of higher learning set up by the Selangor government, will offer medical degree courses from 2008 as part of its expansion.
Its rector, Datuk Haji Mohamed Adanan Isman said the state government, Kuis and the Health Ministry were in the midst of identifying the most appropriate site for a teaching hospital, which is a must for a university to offer a medical degree course.
In an interview, he said the state government had pledged to provide a piece of land measuring about 12 hectares either in Sungai Besar near Tanjung Malim or in Sepang for the teaching hospital project.
Sungai Besar, he said, was located near the automotive hubs of Tanjung Malim and Serendah while Sepang was close to the KL International Airport and Putrajaya.
The decision on the location would also depend on the Health Ministry's future expansion with regard to the setting up of new hospitals.
"It is crucial to have a teaching hospital in place to enable our medical students to have plenty of clinical experience," said Adanan, who has been the rector for the past three years following his secondment from the Selangor government.
The provision of medical degree courses is under the third phase of the development of Kuis, whose establishment was conceptualised in 1996. It started operations from its present campus in Bandar Seri Putra, near the KLIA and Nilai town, in 2000.
To date, the state government has spent about RM107 million for the infrastructural development of Kuis -- RMRM83 million in phase one and RM24 million in phase two.
Adanan said the move was part of the state's contributions towards developing human capital for the country's requirements.
Kuis, whose campus covers about 40ha, presently has 3,200 students studying in five faculties offering four degree courses and 17 diploma courses.
The degree courses offered are in syariah law, business management with e-commerce, information technology and multimedia and network technology. The diploma courses include Islamic studies like theology and syariah law, Islamic banking, business management, human resource management and language and communications.
Adanan said that besides the medical degree course, Kuis would also be offering degree courses in dentistry and pharmacy from 2008.
For a start, a diploma course in pharmacy would be offered from next year.
"One of our most popular diploma courses is nursing and our students have their practical training at Universiti Sains Malaysia's hospital at Kubang Kerian in Kelantan," he said.