Students trained in-house
FOR more than 25 years, UCSI University has been challenging the idea of what education should be. The university was the first in the South-east Asian region to make it mandatory for students to undergo a co-op programme that required them to obtain at least two months of internship experience at the end of each academic year, regardless of their discipline.
Praxis is UCSI University’s current effort to blend both workplace and classroom sees the students being trained in-house. The Praxis model was designed for the workplace where the students can gain knowledge and be aware of industrial demand during their whole course. In order to make the Praxis model achievable, a few Praxis Centres have been set up such as a boutique hotel, a personnel training firm as well as a skin science and anti-aging firm. These centres are run by the university’s academic staff and adjunct professors who have years of industrial experience under the UCSI Group.
The Laurent Bleu Skin Science & Wellness Centre is one of the centres which have been developed to educate and train the students in Anti-aging, Regenerative Medicine and Medical Aesthetic.
The Centre aspires to be an excellent regional skin specialist centre. Since the beginning of last year, the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UCSI University has introduced the Master of Science (Anti-aging, Regenerative Medicine and Medical Aesthetic) programme where general practitioners and medical doctors could safely practise anti-aging, aesthetics and regenerative medicine in the country. This programme is the first to be approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, combining the three disciplines of antiaging, aesthetics and regenerative medicine into one degree.
According to School of Anti-aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine associate dean and head Dr Deepali Sharma, “The university’s aim is to develop a Centre of Excellence for Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine.
This will function as a world-class, institution affiliated research and treatment facility unique in its focus on the investigation and application of diagnostic and treatment protocols that extend the length, and enhance the quality, of the human lifespan.”
She adds that non-invasive procedures are the focus of the master’s programme at UCSI University.
Some of the non-invasive procedures that are taught in the aesthetic module of the master’s programme include botox administration, fillers, chemical peels, lasers and intense pulsed light technology, as well as medical micro dermabrasion. “These procedures are effective, with minimal risks and minimal down time,” Dr Deepali says.
UCSI University’s two-year master’s programme offers lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions by both local and international experts, and access to the latest publications, studies and research.
In addition, students would also benefit from seminars and workshops conducted regularly by field experts.
In-line with the Praxis concept, the faculty is in the midst of establishing a ‘Hands-on’ training programme, in which the candidates would have the opportunity to bring in their own patients to the clinic and decide on the treatment and medication on their own under the supervision of the specialists. They would be able to use the facilities provided by the faculty during these consultation sessions.
Besides that, some upcoming events which will be conducted under this programme this year are a Botox Workshop in April where UCSI University aims to be the centre of information which discusses anti-aging, an Aesthetic Lecture Series where experts from India are invited as guest speakers, a Medi-spa Course, as well as other beauty and slimming short courses.
“Aesthetic medicine has been gaining popularity over the past decade. Everyone, including beauticians, are practising some form of aesthetic procedures. It is therefore mandatory that doctors are well trained before they treat patients. Just attending a seminar is not good enough.
“The training should be structured and conducted by qualified specialists and accreditated with the governing bodies,” reiterated UCSI University School of Anti-aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine Adjunct Professor Dr Joyce Lim.
Dr Lim is a dermatologist at a private skin and laser clinic in Singapore and a visiting consultant dermatologist at the National Skin Centre, Singapore.
Professor Dr Michael Klentze, also an Adjunct Professor to the School of Anti-aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine, is Vitallife Corp Bumrungrad Hospital, Thailand’s international medical director.
He added, “Anti-aging medicine is a new specialty in the broad range of medical specialties, combining prevention, regeneration and management of age-related diseases. It is the application of advanced biomedical technologies focused on the early detection, prevention, and treatment of aging-related disease.”
To find out more about their Master of Science (Anti-aging, Regenerative Medicine and Medical Aesthetic) programme, pay them a visit during their Open Days from March 24 to 25 (between 9am and 6pm) or contact their counsellors at 03-9101 8880 or e-mail asknm@ucsi.edu.my for more information.
Otherwise, visit the UCSI University website at www.ucsi.edu.my for details.