Perdana uni boost for education

PETALING JAYA: The country's education sector is set to chalk another milestone when Perdana University begins offering world class medical courses via collaboration with the renowned Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin said the university's inauguration marked another feather in Malaysia's hat as it would see collaboration between two world class universities and a local institution of higher learning.

“The opening of Perdana University will be a boost for our education sector as it will now be more competitive and be able to fulfil promises of quality education, particularly in the field of medicine.

“This certainly complements the Government's efforts to promote Malaysia as a hub of education. It gives us an advantage over other countries by offering multi-discipline programmes to students,” he said yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will officiate at the opening of the university today, which will see former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad appointed as its first chancellor.

The university is expected to start its intake of students this year.

The Government had announced the setting up of the Academic Medical Centre as part of its public-private partnership initiatives under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Najib, in his 2011 Budget speech, said the joint venture between Academic Medical Centre Sdn Bhd, Johns Hopkins Medical International and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland would involve a private investment of RM2bil.

There are currently more than 50 private higher learning institutes nationwide.