As the only Royal-status institution in Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP) faces the significant challenge of maintaining its excellence as a premier medical higher education institution in the state.
For the past 25 years, UniKL RCMP has been consistently entrusted with producing skilled professionals in medicine, nursing, and pharmacy.
From its beginnings as a small medical college in 1999, UniKL RCMP has grown into a leading higher education institution in the health and medical fields. It now offers 17 academic programmes, ranging from foundation to PhD levels, with more than 3,600 students currently enrolled.
UniKL RCMP Chief Executive Officer, Mr Hisshamuddin Omar attributes this success to the institution’s unwavering commitment to providing high-quality education and its strategic collaborations with various stakeholders.
“In my 12 years here, I have witnessed many transformations, especially in student enrollment growth. From just 28 students in 1999, we now have over 3,600 students.
“Our target for the next three years is to reach 5,000 students,” said him as quoted in Sinar Bestari.
Mr Hisshamuddin also highlighted that the institution’s Royal status was awarded in recognition of its significant contributions to medical and health education, as well as the strong support from the late Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.
He further emphasised UniKL RCMP’s academic excellence, including international recognition received by its lecturers.
“One of our lecturers has been listed among the world’s top scientists for three consecutive years.
“This is a testament to our commitment to high-quality research,” he added.
On top of that, UniKL RCMP continues to record an impressive graduate employability rate of approximately 97%.
Mr Hisshamuddin noted that graduates in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and other health sciences are highly sought after by employers, with many receiving job offers even before graduation.
“Our medical programme boasts a 100% employability rate, as graduates immediately enter the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM) training system.
“The demand is also very high for our nursing and pharmacy programmes,” he explained.
To accommodate the increasing student population, UniKL RCMP is planning new infrastructure developments, including the acquisition of a former higher education institution premises in Greentown, Perak.
Additionally, the institution is set to introduce new programmes, such as a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, to meet the growing demand in the mental health sector.
“We are also planning to establish our teaching hospital to support clinical training for students.
“This is part of our effort to position ourselves as a leading healthcare education hub in Malaysia,” Mr Hisshamuddin added.
Sharing insights into UniKL RCMP’s resilience and success, Mr Hisshamuddin emphasised the institution’s commitment to the concept of barakah (blessings) in its operations.
This includes paying zakat (charitable almsgiving) and providing financial assistance to students through the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Perak (MAIPk).
“We believe that our success is a result of the blessings (barakah) we receive by fulfilling our social and religious responsibilities,” he said.
With its strong achievements and strategic planning, UniKL RCMP remains dedicated to becoming a premier healthcare education institution in Malaysia and globally, contributing to the nation’s advancement in the health and medical fields.
NOTE : This article was originally published in Malay by Sinar Bestari.
