Posted 22 March 2011
Major expansion of UCD and RCSI medical education programmes in Malaysia
Ministers from the State Government of Terengganu, Malaysia, were in Dublin to sign an agreement for the provision of medical education by University College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) here in Dublin and by the two colleges in the State of Terengganu in Malaysia.
RCSI and UCD already run the Penang Medical College in the NW State of Penang, in Malaysia through the medical colleges of RCSI and UCD. 130 students currently spend the first 2.5 years of their medical training in Dublin and return to Penang at the clinical stage to complete their undergraduate education for a further 2.5 years.
Pictured at the announcement: Dr Hugh Brady, President of UCD, YB Dr Jahi A Rahman bin Mokhtar, Terengganu State Executive Council, YB Haji Ahmad Razif bin Abd Rahman, Terengganu Committee Chairman on State Education, and Prof Cathal Kelly, Registrar and CEO of RCSI
Pictured far right: Malaysian students, Mas Qistina Saharudin, Nur Khairunisa Shazali and Abdul Salam Abd Manaff
The new agreement will involve establishing a medical college branch campus in Terengganu, on the East coast of Malaysia.
Building up to 150 students per annum, the Terengganu State Government will initially allocate 50 places for this coming September to students selected by academic merit and interview.
These students will come to Ireland to study at UCD and RCSI for 2.5 years and will return to the new medical school in Terengganu to undertake their clinical training and complete their medical degrees – which are awarded by the two Irish colleges.
Signing the agreement, the Most Hon Haji Ahmad Razif bin Abd.Rahman, the Chairman on State Education, stressed the long relationship in medical education between Malaysia and Ireland.
"Irish medical education has an excellent international reputation for training high quality, clinically skilled doctors and Terengganu welcomes this agreement with UCD and RCSI and to extend this education programme to our State."
The agreement was signed by YB Haji Ahmad Razif bin Abd.Rahman, Haji Aziz bin Mamat, Director of Terengganu Foundation, Dr Hugh Brady, President, UCD and Professor Cathal Kelly, Registrar and CEO of RCSI, in the presence of the Most Hon Dr Haji A Rahman bin Mokhtar, of the Terengganu State Executive Council.
"Since the original agreement with the Malaysian Government over twenty years ago, thousands of Malaysian doctors have received some or all of their training in Ireland," said the President of UCD, Dr Hugh Brady. "These students play an active part in campus life and are testament to the true value of internationalising our higher education sector."
Pictured at the announcement: Dr Hugh Brady, President of UCD, YB Haji Ahmad Razif bin Abd Rahman, Terengganu Committee Chariman on State Education, Haji Aziz bin Mamat Director of Terengganu Foundation, and Prof Cathal Kelly, Registrar and CEO of RCSI
Professor Cathal Kelly, Registrar / CEO of RCSI said: One of the main advantages of this programme is that Malaysian students undergo their clinical training in the environment in which they will later practice, while benefiting from a comprehensive grounding in the science of medicine in Dublin. We look forward to welcoming these new students to Ireland and to our College."
The Malaysian students will return home for their clinical training in Malaysian hospitals and under this new agreement, RCSI and UCD will apply to the Malaysian Ministry of Health for access to Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in the capital city, Kuala Terengganu for teaching and for delivering the necessary clinical training to these students.
The direct fee value of this new agreement to UCD and RCSI will be €11.6 million per annum and with additional living expenditure, represents considerable income generation for Ireland.
The Penang Medical College is a not-for-profit venture and any income is reinvested in the facilities and the programme in Malaysia.
In addition to the shared-education programme, UCD and RCSI educate a further 200 Malaysian students, who undertake their full 5-year degree here in Ireland.
The total value of these programmes to the two colleges is almost €20 million per annum.
UCD and TATI University College sign MOU for engineering education
In a separate ceremony, the President of UCD, Dr Hugh Brady, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rector of TATI University College, Tenengganu, Malaysia, Dr. Mohd Rozailan Mamat Ibrahim. Arising from this MOU, it is hoped that a number of TATI engineering students will be able to undertake some of their undergraduate or graduate studies at UCD. The MOU also aims to facilitate staff exchange programmes as well as collaborative research.
Pictured at the announcement (front row l-r): Prof David Fitzpatrick, Head of UCD School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Dr Hugh Brady, President of UCD, YB Haji Ahmad Razif bin Abd Rahman, Terengganu Committee Chariman on State Education and Dr Mohd Rozailan Bin Mamat Ibrahim, Rector TATI University College.
Back row (l-r) :
YB Dr Jahi A Rahman bin Mokhtar, Terengganu State Executive Council and Haji Aziz bin Mamat Director of Terengganu Foundation
With over 100 academics and researchers drawn from throughout the world, UCD Engineering has the most comprehensive array of engineering disciplines in Ireland. It is a leader in Energy Systems Engineering research, reflected by the fact that UCD received the highest energy funding by institutions in Ireland between 2004-2010.
“Great progress has been made in developing a long term strategic relationship between TATI and UCD Engineering and Computer Science and Informatics.” UCD College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Science Principal, Professor Nick Quirke said following a recent visit to Terengganu. Professor Quirke led the team, including Prof Chen-Ching Liu, Deputy Principal, Prof David FitzPatrick, Head of School of EEME, and Dr Henry McLoughlin, Computer Science and Informatics, that developed the agreement on academic issues with TATI.
TATi University College (TATiUC) formerly known as Terengganu Advanced Technical Institute (TATI) is a higher learning institution established by the State Government of Terengganu in 1993 with the mission to produce highly skilled technocrats in engineering fields with up to date technical capabilities and industrial competence.
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
