Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) hosted its 10th Congregation Ceremony on Saturday, 15 July 2023, celebrating the graduation of over 150 students, including 122 from its Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme and 33 from its BSc (Honours) Biomedical Sciences programme. Among the MBBS graduates were three graduates who obtained additional postgraduate degrees: two with a Master in Medical Education and the other a Master of Research in Cancer via the University’s intercalated programme. NUMed’s new graduates join a global alumni community of over 250,000 members, and over a 100 of the newly qualified doctors are heading to the UK for their Foundation training (housemanships) in the UK’s National Health Service.
Held at the Holiday Villa Hotel in Johor Bahru City Centre, the auspicious occasion was presided by Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University. In addition to numerous NUMed academic, clinical, and professional services faculty, guests-of-honour in attendance were, to mention a few, Azizah Khalid Merican (Vice President of Iskandar Investment Berhad), Nandan Ramachandran (Director of Student Welfare and Academic Services & Registrar of University of Reading Malaysia), Professor Sarah Metcalfe (Interim Provost and Chief Executive Officer, University of Nottingham Malaysia) as well as Newcastle University staff from the UK and Singapore campuses – Professor Steve Jones (Head of School of Medicine), Professor Barry Hodgson (Director of Strategy, National Innovation Centre for Data), Ms Jo Geary (Director for ASEAN Strategic Development and Engagement), Professor Rene Kogbauer (Professional Learning and Leadership), and Ms Naomi Oosman-Watts (Director of Student Success).
Professor Chris Day addressed the Class of 2023 with an uplifting speech, commending them for having successfully completed their studies under extraordinary circumstances brought on by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This makes what you have accomplished all the more impressive. Your positivity, the resilience you demonstrated in the face of adversity, and your ability to adapt to circumstances outside your control were admirable beyond measure. These are qualities that I am confident will serve you well as you embark on the next stage of your lives,” he added.
During the event, top-performing MBBS students were also presented with prizes. These included Shahla Riyaz Sangani, a Year 5 MBBS student, who was awarded the Walton Prize, and Lim Jun Jie and Wong Jing Wen, also Year 5 MBBS students, who received the TM Teoh Prize.
Besides that, Adjunct Professor of University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) Datuk Ir Khairil, Anwar Ahmad, and avid author and Business Development Strategist, Nicholas Koh, were respectively conferred Doctor of Civil Law and Doctor of Engineering honorary degrees by the University for their significant contributions to society. These distinctions were preceded by citations given by Professor Chris Baldwin and Ms Jo Greary, and followed by moving speeches by both of the new honorary degree holders.
Before the ceremony drew to a close, Student Orator and MBBS graduate from the Class of 2023, Dr Imaad Ismail Amanulla, took to the stage to impart some words of wisdom, which included insights into lessons he gleaned from his time at NUMed. “We are the future leaders and change-makers of our world. We possess the potential to make a profound impact on the lives of others. So commit to excellence, believe in your abilities, and work tirelessly towards your goals!” he concluded.
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) – the first fully-owned international branch campus in Malaysia offering Medicine (MBBS) and Biomedical Sciences (BMS) undergraduate degrees, a Foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences and opportunities for postgraduate studies – celebrates its 14th anniversary this year.
NUMed draws on the legacy of its parent university, Newcastle University (UK), which is internationally acclaimed as one of the best British universities for Medicine. Newcastle University ranks at 110th place in the QS University World Rankings 2024, and has the additional distinction of being awarded Five Plus QS Stars for overall excellence. NUMed’s MBBS programme is ranked 17th in the UK (Medicine Category), while its Biomedical Sciences programme ranks eighth in the UK, according to the Guardian University Guide 2023. To find out more about NUMed and its programmes on offer, visit https://www.ncl.ac.uk/numed/, call +607-555 3800, or WhatsApp +6011-1231 5411/+6012-784 9456.
