First batch of students at new Monash campus

Monash University medical students posing for a group picture at the new campus.

Monash University’s new campus in Bandar Sunway recently welcomed its first batch of students with the start of the medical programme .

The medical students are the first to use the new campus, with the rest of the university shifting in phases by July.

The 61 new medical students were joined by over 40 second year students who’ve returned from Monash University’s Clayton campus to continue their studies here.

Present at the orientation event to welcome the students were Monash University Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Merilyn Liddell, School of Medicine and Health Sciences head Professor Dato’ Anuar Zaini, the school’s Director of Curriculum Development Associate Professor Shajahan Yassin, university staff and several parents.

Professor Liddell said the ceremony marked several firsts for Monash University’s new campus at Bandar Sunway.

“We have the first batch of students at the campus; they will be the first to complete a Monash University medical course taught fully outside Australia; and the course is the first ever fully taught outside Australia and New Zealand to be accredited by the Australian Medical Council.”

The Australian Medical Council accreditation provides an independent assessment of quality medical education provided by Monash University’s Malaysian campus and will allow graduates of the course to practice in Australia and New Zealand without additional examinations.

“The orientation programme will provide students with an understanding of the medical course and the route they will take to graduate as doctors,” said Professor Anuar.

The new Monash University campus is located over a 12-acre site across from its present premise.

It is the third largest of eight Monash University campuses in Australia, Malaysia and South Africa.

Built at a cost of RM200 million for   the first phase, the campus features sophisticated learning facilities to cater for about 4,500 students.

These facilities include a three-storey Learning Commons – which combines a library, work spaces and computer workstations to create a conducive learning environment for students to interact.

The Learning Commons will also offer students access to Monash University’s online digital library – which is one of the largest in the world.

Aside from additional space for teaching, the new campus will also provide the facilities to support the university’s efforts to intensify its research activities.

Later this year, a Brain Research Institute will be set up to carry out frontier research in neuroscience and explore the use of cutting-edge technology to broaden our understanding of the brain and develop new medical technology that will benefit not only neuroscience, but also medicine in general.

The institute will be led by Professor Ishwar Parhar, a School of Medicine and Health Sciences academic who is one of the world’s leading neuroscientists.

Several other research clusters will also be established at the medical school, covering areas ranging from obesity to cancer research.