Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Dublin Malaysia Campus
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Dublin Malaysia Campus (RUMC), formerly known as the Penang Medical College, is a private medical university within George Town, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang. Established in 1996, it is wholly owned by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and University College Dublin (UCD).[2][3] The institution was granted university status in 2018 and to date, it is the only branch campus of an Irish tertiary institution within Malaysia.[4]
 | |
Former names | Penang Medical College (1996-2018) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | Irish Education, Global Recognition |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1996 |
| Affiliation | Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University College Dublin |
| President | Professor David Whitford |
| Students | 660[1] |
| Address | Sepoy Lines Road , , , 5°25′11.3982″N 100°18′24.8034″E |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | rcsiucd |
RUMC offers both undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses, each of which are split into two sessions. Students spend the first half of their courses in Ireland, before completing the second half at RUMC.[3]
Notably, the current President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, is also the patron of RUMC.[4]
History
The Penang Medical College (PMC) was founded as a private medical school in 1996, in response to concerns over the relocation of Universiti Sains Malaysia's medical faculty to Kelantan; it was felt that the State of Penang should also have its own medical school.[1] Geoffrey Geh Sim Wah, a surgeon by profession who had been trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), approached his alma mater to gauge the latter's interest in setting up a branch campus in Penang.
The Penang Development Corporation (the PDC), the economic development agency of the State of Penang, at that time was also interested in setting up a medical college. It had earlier negotiated with Monash University, Australia to set one up. The negotiations with Monash failed over prospects of obtaining recognition for students graduating in Malaysia to be recognised as doctors in Australia. Mr. Geh then teamed up with the PDC to negotiate with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). RCSI then bought in University College Dublin (UCD) as a founding member. PMC was subsequently established with equal ownership held by PDC, RCSI, UCD and Geh Sim Wah Sdn. Bhd. (Mr. Geh's investment vehicle). The first intake consisted of 14 students, all of whom were sent to Dublin, Ireland for medical training.
In 2012, the PMC became fully owned by both the RCSI and the UCD when the PDC and Geh Sim Wah Sdn. Bhd. disposed their stakes in the college.[3][1]
PMC was accorded University status in 2018 by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education.[4] With the upgrade in status, the institution was renamed as RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC).
Academic programmes
Undergraduate
- Medical Degree[7]
Postgraduate
- RCSI Masters of Science in Health Research (Part-time)[8]
- UCD Masters of Science in Public Health (Full-time)[9]
- RCSI or UCD Structured MD (Full-time)[10]
- RCSI or UCD Structured PhD (Full-time or Part-time)[11]
Aside from these courses, other examinations organised by the RCSI Surgical Training Office are also conducted at RUMC, as per listed below:
- MRCS – The RCSI Membership Examination is an intercollegiate exam consisting of two parts: MRCS Part A and MRCS Part B. The Intercollegiate MRCS Examinations are held at RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus several times a year, with Part A held worldwide simultaneously.
- FRCS – RCSI collaborated with sister Royal Colleges to offer the Joint Surgical Colleges’ Fellowship Examination (JSCFE) in response to the growing need for an international examination that marks an endpoint of surgical training for doctors and certifies their capacity to act as independent practitioners.
- BSSC – The Intercollegiate Basic Surgical Skills Course is usually held 2-4 times a year at RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus and at other venues around the country. Certification and quality assurance is by RCSI.
Affiliations
RUMC is fully owned by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the University College Dublin (UCD). In addition, graduates of the RUMC are conferred degrees awarded and recognised by the National University of Ireland.[12]
References
- "What makes a PMC doctor?". What makes a PMC doctor?. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "About Penang Medical College". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "College's largest batch of 150 medical students receive their scrolls - Metro News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "Penang Medical College receives university status". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "Foundation in Science". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 7 January 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "Pre-Medical Foundation Year Programme". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "Medical Programme". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 9 November 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "RCSI MSc in Health Research". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 22 March 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "UCD MSc in Public Health". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 29 April 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "Structured MD - RCSI or UCD - RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- "Structured PhD - RCSI or UCD - RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- "In News: Penang Medical College granted "Foreign University Branch Campus" status – MIMS". RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (formerly Penang Medical College). Retrieved 20 July 2018.
