Full steam ahead for medical degree

Star: MONASH University Malaysia’s medical course has received accreditation from the Australian Medical Council (AMC), making it the first medical course fully conducted in Malaysia to be accredited by the AMC offshore.
The Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme is also the first medical course taught outside Australia and New Zealand to be accredited by the AMC.
Its graduates can practise in Australia without having to take an additional examination.
The accreditation, which will attract a significant number of students from the Asia Pacific and beyond, also adds to Malaysia’s attractiveness as a destination to study medicine.
“We are very proud of this recognition at Monash University Malaysia and thankful to the AMC for the trust that has been placed in us,” said Monash Malaysia’s pro vice-chancellor Prof Merilyn Liddell.
She said the AMC accreditation, which is effective till 2012, also marked another external recognition of Monash University’s success in ensuring that quality standards are the same at all its eight campuses in Australia, Malaysia and South Africa.
Monash University is part of Australia’s Group of Eight universities recognised for excellence in teaching, learning and research outcomes, and the university has also been ranked within the top 40 in the world by the recent Times Higher Education Supplements from 2004 to 2006.
“Operating campuses in other countries has been a challenge for Monash University and we’re proud to have been able to meet this challenge without compromising quality,” said Prof Merilyn.
“The accreditation is another boost for the School of Medical and Health Sciences,” said the school head Prof Datuk Dr Anuar Zaini.
He said the school would move into the new RM170mil campus in Semester 1.
The Clinical School in Johor Baru has also been completed for third and fourth year medical students to undergo their practical training at the city’s Sultanah Aminah General Hospital.
A number of research programmes will also begin in 2007 and a world-class Brain Research Institute led by renowned neuroscientist Prof Ishwar Parhar will be set up at the new campus in Bandar Sunway.
There are now 43 students who have completed Year One of the course and another 51 have completed Year Two of the MBBS programme. All are studying at the Monash University’s Clayton campus in Melbourne, Australia, pending the building of new facilities in Malaysia.
These students will proceed with their medical education at the Malaysian campus in February next year, when the second year students begin studies in Bandar Sunway and the third year students start their clinical training in Johor Baru.
The university expects to take in another 70 students next year, with intakes progressively increasing to a maximum of 160 students.
Among the key strengths noted by the AMC during its accreditation process was Monash University’s experience in the education sector in Malaysia.
The AMC also recognised Monash University’s processes and policies for the management of multi-campus operations and its high-calibre staff.