ALOR STAR: The state government today brushed off claims that state-owned Kolej University Insaniah’s (KUIN) medical programme has been outsourced to Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS).
State education committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between KUIN and CUCMS was part of a smart partnership initiative between the two institutions.
Tajul added that the collaboration was aimed at empowering KUIN’s medical programme through academic collaboration and not to outsource the programme to CUCMS.
“The MoU was signed by KUIN rector Prof Datuk Dr Fakhruddin Abdul Mukti on behalf of KUIN while CUCMS was represented by its president Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Razak,” he said on Thursday.
Tajul said there were106 students in KUIN’s medical programme, including Year 3 and Year 4 students, who were undergoing clinical training at three government hospitals in Alor Star, Sungai Petani and Kulim.
He said another 26 students from the first group in Year 5 had just completed their clinical training and professional examination.
“The MoU inked between KUIN and CUCMS will pave the way for both institutions to collaborate in a clinical training smart partnership for the Year 3 and Year 4 students at the three hospitals.
“Through this smart partnership, CUCMS will share its medical expertise to add value to KUIN medical programme students,” he said.
Tajul added that the collaboration would benefit KUIN students as CUCMS was accredited with Tier 5 (Excellent) under the Discipline-Based Rating System (SETARA) 2017 by the Higher Education Ministry.
“KUIN medical programme students stand to benefit from the Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP) initiative in the Setara assessment by the ministry.
“In fact, this collaboration will be extended to pre-clinical once KUIN secures the accreditation from the Malaysia Quality Assurance (MQA) for its medical programme new intake next year,” he said.
As such, Tajul said claims on social media and blogs that KUIN’s medical programme was outsourced to CUCMS with a 70:30 profit sharing ratio was inaccurate and misleading.
He said claims that outsiders would intervene in KUIN’s medical programme and that its Year 3 and Year 4 medical programme students would be transferred to CUCMS were baseless.
He also brushed off claims that the Islamic elements integrated in the KUIN medical programme would be abolished.
“These allegations were made with the intention to tarnish KUIN and the image of its medical programme.
“There is no such thing as students’ parents organising a gathering to protest against the transfer of their children to CUCMS,” he said.
Tajul also reiterated the BN state government’s commitment to support KUIN in complying with the MQA and Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) accreditation requirements.
“Students in Year 3, 4 and 5 of KUIN’s medical programme have outstanding fees amounting to RM3.4 million but they are given the leeway to repay the debt to KUIN after their graduation for a period of eight years.
“Based on the rules, they cannot proceed with their studies but KUIN’s management is kind enough to allow them to begin paying their outstanding fees only after their graduation,” he said.