Newcastle UniversityNewcastle UniversityMedicine MalaysiaMedicine Malaysia

Quality Assurance in Transnational Education:

Delivering Primary Medical Education Across Borders

2nd, December 2008

• In 2004, Newcastle University invited toconsider establishing an international branch campus for medicine and medical sciences in Iskandar Malaysia

• Now, integral to the institutional internationalisation strategy, and wholly owned by the University, NUMed Malaysia is set to open in 2009

Newcastle University Medicine Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed Malaysia)Malaysia (NUMed Malaysia)

• Internationalisation strategy:‘A few large flags, in a few strategic locations’

• Key features:– long-term initiative, based upon

acknowledged area of ‘excellence’– ‘not-for-profit’, but for reputational gain– extension of the institution’s global footprint,

and to act as a nexus for other interests in South Asia

NUMed Malaysia: Strategic PurposeNUMed Malaysia: Strategic Purpose

Iskandar Malaysia: Strategic OpportunityIskandar Malaysia: Strategic Opportunity

EduCityEduCity

NUMed Malaysia:NUMed Malaysia:Nusajaya and EduCityNusajaya and EduCity

NUMed Malaysia: NusajayaNUMed Malaysia: Nusajaya

NUMed Malaysia: the CampusNUMed Malaysia: the Campus

NUMed Malaysia: RationaleNUMed Malaysia: Rationale

• NUMed Malaysia will award Newcastle University degrees in medicine, i.e. UK Primary Medical Qualifications

• Newcastle’s Senate is paramount• Subscribe to the principles of the

OECD-UNESCO Guidelines for quality provision in cross-border higher education

• But we are where we are…..

NUMed Malaysia: Safeguarding NUMed Malaysia: Safeguarding AwardsAwards

• All national jurisdictions reserve theright to govern professional accreditation and recognition in medicine

• Therefore NUMed needs to comply with both UK and Malaysian regulatory jurisdictions

Current QA FrameworkCurrent QA Framework

NUMed is already engaged with both UK and Malaysian authorities for QA and professional recognition in medicine:– In the UK, the Quality Assurance Agency

(QAA) and General Medical Council (GMC)– In Malaysia, the Malaysian Qualifications

Agency (MQA) and Malaysian Medical Council (MMC)

QA and Professional Accreditation: QA and Professional Accreditation: StakeholdersStakeholders

• UK:– GMC: Quality Assurance of Basic Medical Education

(QABME)– QAA: Institutional Audit

• Malaysia:– MMC: Guidelines for the Accreditation of Basic

Medical Education Programmes in Malaysia– MQA– Ministry of Higher Education– Ministry of Health

NUMed Malaysia: External QA in NUMed Malaysia: External QA in PracticePractice

• Early engagement with QA essential• Political support does not abrogate need to work

through the system• Expect and respect cultural difference – each

national context will be distinct• Patience required – allow time• True costs of QA and professional accreditation

must be built into business plan and budget

NUMed Malaysia: Lessons LearnedNUMed Malaysia: Lessons Learned

‘‘ExcellenceExcellence

with awith a

Purpose’Purpose’

‘‘ExcellenceExcellence

with awith a

Purpose’Purpose’

NUMed Malaysia in a NutshellNUMed Malaysia in a Nutshell