2009 Press Releases
Medical Agreement announced between Irish Universities and Malaysia
23.01.2009
On Thursday, January 22nd 2009, the Presidents of UCC and NUI Galway signed a Co-operation Agreement in Penang, Malaysia with Allianze College of Medical Sciences (ACMS).
23.01.2009
On Thursday, January 22nd 2009, the Presidents of UCC and NUI Galway signed a Co-operation Agreement in Penang, Malaysia with Allianze College of Medical Sciences (ACMS).
The agreement provides the legal framework for a new twinning medical programme between UCC/NUI Galway and ACMS which will see a cohort of some 120 Malaysian and other south-east Asian students studying medicine in Galway and Cork for the first two-and-a-half years and completing their degree in Malaysia in the second two-and-a-half years. Hospital based clinical education will take place in Malaysia. On successful completion, students would be awarded the NUI degree of MB, BAO, BCh. The first students will be admitted in September 2009.
The agreement will initially run for 15 consecutive years of student intake but with the potential to be extended beyond that. During the period of the agreement, other health profession programmes may be developed by mutual agreement.
The programme is being developed within the context of ongoing bilateral links between Ireland and Malaysia, particularly the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding between the Irish and Malaysian Ministries of Education, and the Malaysian Government's invitation in 2004 to the Irish universities with renowned medical schools to develop a campus in Malaysia. In 2003, UCC conferred an honorary degree on the King of Malaysia who is also the King of the State of Perlis where the clinical school will be based. In 2005, the Crown Prince of Perlis paid a visit to UCC. It was this visit that led to the start of active discussions.
During the signing ceremony, the President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy said “All the Irish medical schools owe a debt of gratitude to the government of Malaysia over the past 20 years because Malaysia more than any other single country enabled the medical schools to invest in medical education to the benefit of Irish and international students and to the enhancement of the reputation of Irish medical education. In the course of those years, we have all come to respect and value the economic energy, the commitment to multiculturalism, the honouring of all religious traditions of the Malaysian people”.
The President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, spoke of “documented records of Malaysian students studying in Ireland in such subjects as Medicine, Commerce and Engineering, since just after the Second World War, and increasing rapidly since Malaysian independence in 1958. In 1988, Trinity College Dublin, UCD, UCC and NUI Galway established the Irish Universities Medical Consortium with the purpose of developing Irish medical education links with Malaysia and placing them on a firmer footing. Ten years later the Penang Medical College was established by UCD and RCSI. These Irish Malaysia links in the field of medical education have to date led to somewhere in the region of 3,000 to 4,000 Malaysian doctors with Irish medical qualifications.”
Up to now, NUI Galway and UCC have only accepted Malaysian students into the Irish five-year medical programme. This initiative shifts the clinical training of the students to their home country where they will develop their clinical skills and knowledge in the context of their own culture, traditions and health needs. However, they will still obtain an Irish medical qualification that will be approved and accredited by the professional accrediting authorities of Ireland and Malaysia. Steps to obtain this accreditation have commenced. A full application has been made to the Malaysian Quality Agency. Both presidents acknowledged the help received from UCD and RCSI who have already successfully developed the Penang Medical College along similar lines. Dr Murphy stressed that “it is important to both governments that Irish education in Malaysia is seen as operating consistently and to the highest standards and that any elements of competition are managed within the overall national interest. In Ireland in recent years, universities are developing strategic partnerships in many areas of graduate education and research. In NUI Galway and UCC we welcome this opportunity to work together as a single team to deliver a programme of which both universities can be proud.”
959MMcS
The agreement will initially run for 15 consecutive years of student intake but with the potential to be extended beyond that. During the period of the agreement, other health profession programmes may be developed by mutual agreement.
The programme is being developed within the context of ongoing bilateral links between Ireland and Malaysia, particularly the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding between the Irish and Malaysian Ministries of Education, and the Malaysian Government's invitation in 2004 to the Irish universities with renowned medical schools to develop a campus in Malaysia. In 2003, UCC conferred an honorary degree on the King of Malaysia who is also the King of the State of Perlis where the clinical school will be based. In 2005, the Crown Prince of Perlis paid a visit to UCC. It was this visit that led to the start of active discussions.
During the signing ceremony, the President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy said “All the Irish medical schools owe a debt of gratitude to the government of Malaysia over the past 20 years because Malaysia more than any other single country enabled the medical schools to invest in medical education to the benefit of Irish and international students and to the enhancement of the reputation of Irish medical education. In the course of those years, we have all come to respect and value the economic energy, the commitment to multiculturalism, the honouring of all religious traditions of the Malaysian people”.
The President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, spoke of “documented records of Malaysian students studying in Ireland in such subjects as Medicine, Commerce and Engineering, since just after the Second World War, and increasing rapidly since Malaysian independence in 1958. In 1988, Trinity College Dublin, UCD, UCC and NUI Galway established the Irish Universities Medical Consortium with the purpose of developing Irish medical education links with Malaysia and placing them on a firmer footing. Ten years later the Penang Medical College was established by UCD and RCSI. These Irish Malaysia links in the field of medical education have to date led to somewhere in the region of 3,000 to 4,000 Malaysian doctors with Irish medical qualifications.”
Up to now, NUI Galway and UCC have only accepted Malaysian students into the Irish five-year medical programme. This initiative shifts the clinical training of the students to their home country where they will develop their clinical skills and knowledge in the context of their own culture, traditions and health needs. However, they will still obtain an Irish medical qualification that will be approved and accredited by the professional accrediting authorities of Ireland and Malaysia. Steps to obtain this accreditation have commenced. A full application has been made to the Malaysian Quality Agency. Both presidents acknowledged the help received from UCD and RCSI who have already successfully developed the Penang Medical College along similar lines. Dr Murphy stressed that “it is important to both governments that Irish education in Malaysia is seen as operating consistently and to the highest standards and that any elements of competition are managed within the overall national interest. In Ireland in recent years, universities are developing strategic partnerships in many areas of graduate education and research. In NUI Galway and UCC we welcome this opportunity to work together as a single team to deliver a programme of which both universities can be proud.”
959MMcS