KPJ Healthcare Berhad

KPJUC offers ENT specialist programme

KPJ Healthcare Bhd's education arm and wholly-owned subsidiary, KPJ University College, achieved a remarkable milestone

KPJ Healthcare Bhd's education arm and wholly-owned subsidiary, KPJ University College, achieved a remarkable milestone recently when it became the first private institution to offer a medical specialist programme in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) in the country.

The university college also officially changed its name to KPJ Healthcare University College (KPJUC) from the former KPJ International University College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

The new specialist programme, Master in Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, is a joint effort with medical specialist at KPJ Croup of Hospitals. KPJUC is also embarking on three other specialist programmes; Master in Radiology, Masters in Paediatrics and Masters in Orthopaedics, expected to be offered next year.

Being the subsidiary of KPJ Healthcare Bhd, KPJUC has become a progressive and entrepreneurial institution of higher learning with an international vision. Students experience clinical practices at an extensive and comprehensive network of KPJ hospitals.

With the commitment of KPJ's 22 state-ofthe-art hospitals comprising more than 3,000 beds, more than 900 medical consultants and 9,000 staff, it adds value and gives KPJUC the competitive advantage.

Since its establishment in 1991, KPJUC is not only the first private nursing college to initiate the Diploma in Nursing but also the first to have the programme accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

KPJUC has maintained its tradition of academic excellence with 100 per cent success rate in the Nursing Board Terminal Examination. It now offers 18 programmes, ranging from diploma to postgraduate.

Among the programmes are three new homegrown programmes which are Masters in Othorhinolaryngology, Masters in Pharmaceutical Technology and Foundation in Science.

KPJUC also offers post-basic programmes that cater to those who are in service, enabling them a better future in the healthcare industry.

The number of programmes is expected to grow up to 50 by next year and more focus will be placed on research and development.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who launched the new medical specialist programme and inaugurated the new name, said by producing more medical experts in Malaysian, the country's does not need to depend on foreign experts who are now serving in most of the medical faculties in the country.

"Malaysia today is seeking experts mostly from Myanmar and India, for example. To make Malaysia a healthcare hub as well as a destination for health tourism, local medical experts are critically needed," said Khaled.

In his speech, Khaled said KPJ, as an industry player in the healthcare sector, had a direct impact in this sector's development and having KPJUC under its wing enabled it to develop skilled workforce and experts in fields of medical, healthcare and health sciences.

KPJ Healthcare Bhd managing director Datin Paduka Siti Sadiah Sheikh Bakir said KPJUC was determined to produce high quality graduates for healthcare sector in the country as well as other countries in need.

"To date, our graduates are serving in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Australia and few other countries," she said, adding that the new programme proved KPJ's commitment in developing and advancing the quality in healthcare sector.

At the event held recently, Johor Corporation (JCorp) also handed over RM250 million worth of higher education fund called Dana Waqaf An-Nur to KPJUC.

The event was graced by the corporation's Property and Amal Business division vice president, Yusof Rahmat.

The fund was generated from the JCorp shares that were endowed in both listed and non-listed companies and was a new initiative to provide financial assistance to students, apart from the existing sponsorships and loans by KPJ Healthcare. For details, call 06-7942 629 or email to: pnc@pnc.kpjhealth.com.my or visit: www.kpj health.com.my

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin inaugurating KPJ Healthcare University College's new name at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre recently. Receiving the certificate is Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Saint (second from right), the president and dean of the medical school, KPJ Healthcare University College.