The Higher Education Review

Study aboard for a medical degree or other degrees is becoming a preferable option for students from India. More so in a globalized economy. It is because of the world-class learning facilities at certain International universities, Universities in Malaysia has become a viable option for students from India to study medicine and other disciplines. Ranked among the top 200 superior institutions with high standards of education, pursuing a Medical Degree and other degrees in Malaysia is one of the best choices. Malaysia is a multicultural land that delivers higher education at an affordable cost. Delivering to the needs of medical and healthcare-related learning supported by professionally designed learning facilities since 2011, Perdana University, located in Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia has been providing a laudable learning experience through classroom lectures, virtual learning tutorials and patient-centric teaching. This blended learning approach makes learning interactive for students. The medical degrees at Perdana University are accredited by the Medical Council of India and the Occupational Therapy degree is accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.

Healthcare Centric Programmes
Perdana University was established by the founder Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Mohan Swami, an initiative between Academic Medical Centre Sdn. Bhd. and the Public-Private Partnership Unit in the Malaysia Prime Minister's Department officially launched on 12 September 2011. YABhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad was installed as the Founding Chancellor. The university began with two medical schools and now has 6 Schools expanding to Occupational Therapy, Data Science, Business and Foundation Studies of the Medical Schools.

The Perdana University - Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine (PURCSI) was established to offer a five-year programme that is completed entirely in Malaysia. The programme mirrors and maintains a similar standard with that offered at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin. This programme is fully accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency and recognized by the Malaysian Medical Council, the Irish Medical Council, as well as the Medical Council of India.

The Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine (PUGScM) was established and is the first four-year graduate entry medical degree programme to be offered in Malaysia. The University has collaborated with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), a leading University in the USA for the delivery of the graduate medical programme. Besides sending senior staff for the teaching of the curriculum, UCSD currently assists in the preparation and training of students for the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE) in Malaysia and the USA. Students need to pass the USMLE to graduate as a doctor and they can practice in the USA. This programme is fully accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency and recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council and Medical Council of India. The School also offers a Master of Science in Public Health and Master of Medical Equipment Engineering programmes.

Perdana University grown rapidly over the last 9 years, the University has formed another four schools and few centres, from 2 medical degree programmes, today the University has offered 15 programmes.

The Perdana University School of Occupational Therapy (PUScOT) was established in February 2014 to offer quality and specialised programme in allied health areas namely Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Occupational Therapy, a four-year programme that is specifically designed to produce highly trained professionals in

that field. This programme is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) thereby allowing the graduates to be recognised internationally, work and further their studies overseas.

The Perdana University School of Data Sciences (PUScDS) was established in December 2014 to offer several educational programmes in data sciences, such as Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) in Data Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Bioinformatics, Master of Science (MSc) Bioinformatics and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

The School of Foundation Studies (PUScFS), established in April 2015, offers the Foundation in Science programme. It is a pre-varsity programme for medical and healthcare undergraduate programmes offered at Perdana University and other universities.

"Perdana University Began With Two Medical Schools And It Now Has 6 Schools Expanding To Occupational Therapy, Data Science, Business And Foundation Studies Of The Medical Schools"

In 2018, Perdana University embarked into new dimension of programme offering by establishing Perdana University School of Business (PUScB) focusing on providing programmes at the highest quality, wrapped around core and specific applied business management knowledge to equip business executives, as well as professionals from various background and job functions (such as medical and health, engineering, and others in services, manufacturing sectors) with the essential business administration, entrepreneurial and management skills which complement their current subject matter expertise. The programmes offered are Master of Business Administration (General Management), Master of Business Administration (Public Health Management) and Master of Business Administration (Health Care and Hospital Management).

In addition, Perdana University offers two (2) interdisciplinary programmes, namely Master in Translational Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health that are driven by all the Schools.

Besides, Perdana University also has few centres, namely Centre for Psychological Medicine that works in collaboration with Anglia Ruskin University of United Kingdom, Centre for Research Excellence works closely with Cochrane Malaysia, Centre for Global Mental Health and Social Change which will start soon, and last but not least, Centre for Examination that has hosted well-known professional examinations such as (i) Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP - Part 1), (ii) Licentiate of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (LFOM), (iii) Membership of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (MCAI), (iv) Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (FCAI), (v) Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) and (vi) Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS), from Ireland in the university. "The University has diversified with a healthcare-focused curriculum, which is the core of our strengths. An Industry Advisory Panel constantly makes our curriculum as relevant as it can be with the needs of the industry. So that's pretty much what we are," says Dr.Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek, Vice Chancellor and CEO of Perdana University.

Global Exposure for Perdana University Students
The mission of the University has always been to produce professionals who are able to think critically and able to serve the global population. Perdana University has multiple partners in Ireland and other countries fostering students in research or exchange programmes, exposing the students to the cultures as well as to the healthcare system in different countries.

Between 2012 and 2019, Perdana University signed Memorandums of Understandings with more than 100 collaborators, among others are Washington Medical Science Institute (USA), Anglia Ruskin University Higher Education Corporation (UK), Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences(Indonesia), National University Sudan, Hans

Raj Mahila Maha Vidyala (India), Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University (Thailand), Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNET) (Singapore), BGI-Shenzen, China (BGI), The Universidade Federal De Pernambuco (Brazil), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaya (Malaysia), Universitas Yarsi in Indonesia, the Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3L), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP).

Agreements were in place to jointly promote academic and cultural exchange through mutual assistance in the areas of teaching, training, and research. The collaborations will pave the way for Perdana University and partners to create a sustainable impact in the higher education landscape in Malaysia and beyond.

Easy Environment for India Students and Recognised by the Medical Council of India
The courses are all designed to support international students especially for students from India. Perdana University has ready Scholarships for students from India to apply. The University also has a diverse faculties mixture with foreign and local lecturers and English is the main language, and there is a big Indian population that speaks either Hindi or Tamil in Malaysia. Foreign students who wish to learn the local language, the University do provide local language course to help International students. "So, this is an easy environment for students to assimilate in a lot more contented way in new surroundings as they take on the challenges of studying in Malaysia. The Medical Council of India has given recognition to our courses. With this recognition, medical graduates can practice housemanship or residency in India. They do not need to sit for a national qualifying exam. In collaboration with the Swami Rama Himalaya University (SRHU) in Dehradun, Indian graduates who would finish their medical degree with Perdana University can go to SRHU to do their residency," explains Dr. Fadhlullah Suhaimi.

Perdana University focuses largely on the healthcare segment ranging from management to clinical studies. Perdana University also is one in many universities in the region where the University is running a School of Data Science, as well as one of the two universities in Southeast Asia that offers a four-year USA syllabus medical programme with the qualification that allows students to work in the USA. Faculties providing medical training hold headship positions of world bodies. The dean of PUScFS has won 2019 Young Researcher Award by ASEAN Young Scientists Network. The dean of PUScDS has been elected as President of the Asia-Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNET) and serves as the Honorary Director of the APBioNET Limited. One of PURCSI faculties has won 2018 Fellowship in Sports & Exercise Medicine awarded by The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. "From a total academic faculty of about 80, 45 of them are Ph.D. holders. One of the faculties has been a part of the team that recently won a Nobel Prize for identification of tumor genes for targeted treatment for cancer," states Dr. Fadhlullah Suhaimi.

Granting the students to participate in medical research, Perdana University has been able to forge a group of most excellent high fliers. One most notable achievement was made in 2017 when a student won Rob Clarke Silver Award when the student presented her research in Leeds, United Kingdom. We also have Master student won Student Travel Award and Ph.D Student was invited as Keynote Speaker to an international conference. Most of the students have won the Citizenship Award from the National University of Ireland due to their contributions to community works. In regards to job placement, all the graduates are fully employed. Indian students who feel that they would like to explore the market in the USA that they explored many years ago in Silicon Valley will get the opportunity in working in the healthcare sector after completing a degree from Perdana University.