RCSEd committed to spurring medical education development in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) Vice President, Clare Mcnaught, has expressed that the prestigious college is committed to expanding internationally, especially in Malaysia, and hopes to establish more collaborations with local professionals and education boards in the country.

The RCSEd proudly stands as the world's oldest surgical college, with a rich history spanning more than five centuries. The institution has over 3,000 members worldwide, with 40 percent based internationally.

Mcnaught, who was attending the 2nd Diploma Ceremony in Malaysia at Park Royal Collection Kuala Lumpur, said that the RCSEd was initially solely based in the UK, but a significant milestone was achieved five years ago with the establishment of its first international office in Malaysia.

"This strategic move was motivated by RCSE's profound collaboration with Malaysian counterparts, aiming to forge stronger bonds and better serve the medical community.

"The success of this initiative has surpassed our expectations.

"We have fostered closer relationships, streamlined educational courses and examinations, and facilitated interactions with local educational bodies," she said.

Mcnaught noted that an integral outcome of the RCSEd Malaysian venture has been the initiation of the Tuanku Mukhriz Fellowship in Rural Surgery with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), "This programme sponsors skilled surgeons from the UK to work in Malaysia for a year, enabling them to witness diverse surgical practises in both urban and rural contexts.

"Through this initiative, RCSE not only enriches medical professionals' experiences but also promotes cross-cultural learning and innovation, especially in rural and humanitarian healthcare.

To date, two distinguished individuals have received the fellowship: Prof. Angus Watson and Prof. Andrew Kent. Both of these professionals have continued to accomplish high leaps in their fields and recently returned from setting up field hospitals in Ukraine as a part of a humanitarian effort.

The RCSEd Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Phillip Taylor, commented that Malaysia has always been a key geographic position for the college.

He added that, as part of its international strategy, the Royal College aims to identify strategic locations worldwide with state-of-the-art facilities to host its examinations.

"Traveling to Edinburgh is quite a journey and can be costly, so this strategy aims to facilitate easier access for students to our examination venues.

"We hope that by expanding our wings to Malaysia, it will ease the cost and attract more practitioners to join the college," he said.

Taylor also stated that he had recently visited the International Medical University (IMU) in Malaysia to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

"We had been working with IMU for a long time, as they serve as a centre for our examinations.

"There are very close ties between us and that institution, as we awarded the International Medal to its vice-chancellor, a prestigious recognition from the college.

"Right now, we are looking to accredit their training courses, ensuring that individuals who complete these courses are eligible for our examination.

"This accreditation guarantees that the course meets a certain standard, comparable to those offered internationally, and allows us to improve and elevate the standards of medical professionals," he said.

Taylor also added that on Aug 19, the RCSE Dental Faculty will host an undergraduate skills competition for the first time outside the UK. Eight dental schools from Malaysia will send 16 students to participate, offering them a chance to showcase their skills and win prizes.

Mcnaught stated that this competition has been very successful in the UK, attracting 1,400 applicants last year.

The competition aims to introduce professional development opportunities in their careers, potentially with the RCSE. While it resembles an exam, it's designed to be enjoyable.

Mcnaught also added that the RCSEd international office will be relocating to Putrajaya this coming January, and she hopes this will open new opportunities for the establishment in Malaysia.

"We are moving into a complex that houses various local medical professionals and associations.

"This relocation is anticipated to foster further interaction with colleagues in the area and provide state-of-the-art facilities for future medical conferences," she said.