Unique approach to medical studies
IN the last decade, Malaysia has witnessed tremendous progress in the field of medical teaching.
Today, there are numerous public and private medical colleges in the country catering to local and foreign students.
One unique collaboration in the teaching of medicine is the USM-KLE International Medical Programme, formulated by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and implemented at KLE University in Belgaum, India.
India’s medical programmes are internationally renowned. The country’s large population also provides medical students with excellent clinical exposure.
Many countries hire Indian medical faculty members to help teach medicine to students. India is also one of the few countries that still uses cadavers in its teaching of medicine.
Recognising the benefits offered by Indian medical colleges, USM – one of Malaysia’s top universities – collaborated with one of India’s leading medical universities to establish the USMKLE International Medical Programme in 2010.
It utilises the five-year MD programme offered by USM, but is carried out at its “offshore” campus in India. The programme utilises Indian faculties, hospitals and patients but is regulated, assessed and monitored by a Malaysian public university.
Students who enrol in this programme get the best of both worlds – a medical degree from a Malaysian public university and the excellent clinical and faculty exposure by an Indian medical university.
Medical students in USM-KLE are exposed to a constant stream of patients in two of its teaching hospitals – the KLE Centenary Charitable Hospital and the KLE Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre.
With a faculty strength of almost 200, the USM-KLE programme boasts one faculty member to six or eight students.
Great care is also taken to make students feel comfortable during their five-year experience at the USM-KLE campus.
Hostels with laundry facilities and pantries are available for the students.
A mass catering Malaysian food is also part of the hostel, while fast food restaurants are just a five-minute walk away.
The USM-KLE campus also has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a gymnasium, as well as badminton, tennis and basketball courts.
The Belgaum Stadium is located adjacent to the campus.
Students keen on applying for the USM-KLE International Medical Programme must have SPM qualifications or equivalent, together with a strong foundation in the English language.
Prospective students will be interviewed by the USM Faculty of Medicine at Kubang Kerian.
Nugrahan Sdn Bhd has been appointed by USM and KLE University to identify qualified and suitable candidates for this unique programme.
■ Interested candidates may contact Nugrahan Sdn Bhd at 1800 222 939 or Thiban (012-224 5649) or Hareen (016-377 2853).