(30 October 2012 - Hong Kong) Severe shortage of medical and healthcare professionals has always been Hong Kong’s challenge. This is mainly due to insufficient places allocated by the Government for these professional programmes. In medicine and pharmacy, only limited places are available for the first students each year. The number is inadequate to meet the rising demand in the healthcare professions in the aging population.
Tung Wah College announced its collaboration with the University of Sydney, a world renowned educational institution today, for teaching, research, and articulation of graduate education. Under the collaboration arrangement, the University of Sydney will give preference to the graduates of Tung Wah College for the postgraduate and Master’s degree programmes in healthcare related disciplines, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, rehabilitation, specialty nursing, etc.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Hong Kong between Professor Thomas Wong, President of Tung Wah College; Dr. Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney; and representatives of the two institutions. The ceremony was witnessed by Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, the Governor of the New South Wales and the Chancellor of the University of Sydney and Mrs. Viola Chan, Chairman of the Board of Directors 2012/13 of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Council Chairman of Tung Wah College.
Professor Thomas Wong, in thanking the support of the University of Sydney, reiterated the importance of the reform of the tertiary educational system of Hong Kong. "Local institutions need to put more emphasis on developing inter-disciplinary programmes with an aim to broadening students' horizons. I hope that the collaboration between Tung Wah College and the University of Sydney would offer ample opportunities for students from both sides to gain learning experience and enhance inter-institutional exchange. This would be beneficial to the long-term development of the youngsters." said Professor Wong.Dr. Spence said, "We are delighted to link with Tung Wah College in a way that will provide real health benefits for Hong Kong. Students coming to Sydney will find world class facilities and teaching, to which we will soon be adding a magnificent new centre for the study of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as our new multi-disciplinary centre for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases."
The four-year Bachelor of Medical Science (Hons) programme, with majors in Basic Medical Sciences, Forensic Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiation Therapy, and Veterinary Health Studies, will be launched by Tung Wah College by end of 2012. Students majoring in Basic Medical Sciences are required to study a variety of healthcare related courses to get themselves well-prepared for articulating to the professional graduate degree programmes offered by overseas institutions. Graduates of the Basic Medical Sciences Major are qualified to the graduate programmes in healthcare related disciplines offered by the University of Sydney. Through the collaboration programme, students would establish connection with students and alumni of the University of Sydney through different kinds of activities, as well as joining the network with the other healthcare professionals. They have competitive edge for those programmes of University of Sydney. Upon completion of the graduate degree programme, students may take the clinical practice programme offered by Tung Wah College to help them prepare for the licensing examination of the health care professional boards in Hong Kong to qualify as medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, rehabilitation professionals, or specialty nurses.
About Tung Wah College Established in 2010, Tung Wah College is a self-financing tertiary institution incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Taking advantage of the acknowledged strengths and expertise of TWGHs in health services and related disciplines, the goal of Tung Wah College is to become a renowned private tertiary educational institution which provides secondary school leavers with high quality programmes focusing on practical application for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
About the University of Sydney Established in 1850, the University of Sydney has a history of over 160 years. It is the oldest and largest university in Australia and is one of the most authoritative research universities. The University of Sydney is popular amongst students from Australia as well as from the Asia-Pacific region. Being one of the world’s prestigious universities, the University of Sydney has been ranked in the top three of Australian universities. According to the QS World University Rankings in 2011/12, the University of Sydney was ranked number 38.
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