Broadening Horizons with a Global Educational Experience
A world-class university with a strong international community and reputation, Newcastle University is committed to providing its students with a global educational experience to do embrace boarder perspectives in a connected world. One such effort is an annual student exchange programme between Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed), its international branch campus located in Johor, Malaysia, and the UK campus.
The Newcastle student exchange programme offers students from both campuses the opportunity to acquire a global mindset, immerse themselves in a different culture, learn to become more self-reliant and adaptable to new surroundings and cultures, as well as gaining an international network of friends. Overall, it allows them to enrich themselves with an invaluable international experience.
The most recent student exchange saw 20 NUMed students heading to Newcastle University, UK, while 16 students from the UK campus made NUMed their home for an entire semester for the MBBS course. During this period, they lived and studied alongside NUMed students.
“Meeting the students and staff at NUMed has given me a greater perspective on my life. The world, like the human body, is a complex and beautiful thing, and I have thoroughly appreciated getting to learn about both during my time in Malaysia. I look forward to keeping every last bit of this experience in my mind and in my heart as I continue to grow as a person and a future medical practitioner,” said Joseph Crafton.
The exchange programme also reflects Newcastle University’s focus on internationalisation. Recognising that global problems require both a united global community as well as individuals with a global mindset, the university encourages both its students and faculty to gain cross-cultural understanding through active engagements between its campuses.
Connor Skuce, who is pursuing his MBBS degree, shared that the experience enhanced his understanding of the different regional approaches to medicine. “The opportunity to do placements in local healthcare settings provided me with a greater understanding of both the holistic treatment of patients and the wider challenge of managing resources,” he explained.
NUMed’s welcoming and diverse environment was greatly appreciated by the UK exchange students. “The hospitality of the students and staff there made it a very welcoming and enjoyable experience,” added Skuce.
Libby Emerson concurred, “I have had an amazing time getting to know the students here, and being able to appreciate cultural differences and the way that medicine is delivered.”
Just as important is how the programme provides a platform for students to boost their curriculum vitae. “Employers today have learnt to recognise the value of cross-cultural understanding, and this is where the student’s stint abroad could give them a competitive edge,” explained Prof. Chris Baldwin, the CEO and Provost of NUMed. Students will return to their home country with greater self-confidence, flexibility and willingness to learn, traits that many employers seek.
As an extension of Newcastle University, UK, NUMed actively promotes Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The university aims to create a positive and supportive culture for everyone to reach their full potential, valuing individual differences and appreciating the strength that diversity brings. In fact, the university has international students hailing from all corners of the globe, including Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, Canada, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
NUMed offers undergraduate degrees in Medicine (MBBS) and Biomedical Sciences (BSc) as well as opportunities for foundation and postgraduate studies. The university’s MBBS students have the option to study in the UK in their fourth year. Similarly, NUMed’s BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences is a 2+1 programme, where students spend their final year engaged in an intensive research project in the UK. All the programmes of study lead to the award of the same degrees as those studied at the parent campus in the UK.
To find out more about NUMed’s programmes, excellent facilities, and student life, visit: www.newcastle.edu.my.
