UNIVERSITY College Sedaya International (UCSI) is forging ahead with a plan to build a new education township in Negri Sembilan.
The proposed township, covering 65ha in Bandar Springhill, will feature a 500-bed hospital and a Faculty of Medical Sciences in its first phase of development.
The faculty will offer programmes in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, optometry and physiotherapy.
UCSI entered into an agreement with West Synergy for the establishment of the township in February.
The project comes on the heels of a medical campus in Bukit Khor, Marang, Terengganu, where the first batch of 40 UCSI medical students enrolled.
The students are undergoing their final three years of clinical studies at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu.
UCSI introduced the Doctor of Medicine degree programme in 2005, with the 40 students as the pioneer batch.
UCSI’s Faculty of Medical Sciences dean Professor Datuk Dr Roslani Abdul Majid said it was imperative that hospital facilities were available for students to do their practical.
At these hospitals, students are allotted hospital beds and they carry out a total patient work-up, which includes compiling information about patients and an analysis of the information.
At the School of Pharmacy, students are not only taught the fundamentals of becoming a pharmacist but also encouraged to expand their knowledge by carrying out research projects.
School of Pharmacy head Associate Professor Dr Yeong Siew Wei said the role of pharmacists would be expanded in the near future.
“Not only will pharmacists serve as a link in providing health information to the public, they will also be part of the process to conduct research and develop remedies for illnesses with other stakeholders in the health industry.”
School of Nursing head Associate Professor Jeya Devi Coomarasamy said the nursing profession had seen many changes.
She said nurses could upgrade their position by enrolling in a diploma or degree courses in nursing at the public and private institutions of higher learning.
Jeya Devi said one of the reasons UCSI offered the Bachelor in Nursing programme was because there was a demand for nurses.
“UCSI is the first institution of higher learning to obtain full accreditation for its nursing diploma and degree courses from the Malaysian Qualification Agency.”
Students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences organise health campaigns to educate the public on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
This year, the Health Campaign with the theme “Say YES to A Healthier You!” was held at at a shopping complex in Petaling Jaway in June.
For details, call 03-91018880, email [email protected] or visit www.ucsi.edu.my
(c) 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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