KUALA LUMPUR: Goon International College (GIC) has partnered with Indonesia’s IPB University to offer Malaysian students a pathway to pursue a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine.
GIC director P. Prabagaran said the initiative aims to expand opportunities for local students to enter the veterinary profession through a university with expertise in the field.
The collaboration centres on IPB University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The five-year degree is described as equivalent to Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Graduates may apply to register with the Malaysian Veterinary Council, subject to its requirements.
Prabagaran said IPB University was selected for its academic standing, international recognition and clinical training facilities. Its veterinary school is ranked among the world’s top 100 for veterinary science in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, according to GIC.
Students will gain practical experience at the university’s Teaching Animal Hospital, where training includes surgery, internal medicine, diagnostics and animal health care.
Under the pathway, Malaysian students will first complete GIC’s Foundation Programme before continuing their studies at IPB University. The programme is expected to provide another option for students who face strong competition for places at local institutions.
GIC is offering RM1.2 million in scholarships to outstanding Foundation Programme students who meet the requirements for the 2027 intake. The scholarships are intended to help ease the cost of pursuing a professional qualification.
The initiative comes as Malaysia faces a shortage of veterinarians. Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Haron has said the country has about 2,600 active veterinarians, compared with an estimated national requirement of 8,500.
“Veterinary medicine is a profession in high demand, and Malaysia needs more qualified veterinarians,” Prabagaran said. “Through our collaboration with IPB, we want to make this pathway more accessible to students, while the scholarship supports outstanding students in pursuing that aspiration.”
GIC said the partnership is intended to help meet workforce needs across animal health, livestock and food safety.
