The congregation ceremony saw over 150 students from NUMed’s Class of 2023 graduating.
NEWCASTLE University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) recently hosted its 10th Congregation Ceremony to celebrate the graduation of over 150 students.
Held at Holiday Villa Hotel in Johor Baru on July 15, the graduation ceremony saw 122 students from the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme and 33 from the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences programme complete their respective studies at the university.
Among the MBBS graduates were three students who obtained additional postgraduate degrees; two with a Master in Medical Education and one with a Master of Research in Cancer, via the university’s intercalated programme.
NUMed graduates join a global community of over 250,000 members, with over 100 of the newly qualified doctors heading to the UK for their Foundation training (housemanship) in the UK’s National Health Service.
The ceremony was presided by Newcastle University’s vice-chancellor and president Prof Chris Day.
Prof Day posing with the recipient of The Walton Prize, Shahla Riyaz Sangani.
A number of honourable guests were in attendance at the ceremony such as Iskandar Investment Berhad vice president Azizah Khalid Merican, University of Reading Malaysia registrar and director of student welfare and academic services Nandan Ramachandran, and University of Nottingham Malaysia interim provost and chief executive officer Prof Sarah Metcalfe.
Additionally, numerous NUMed academic, clinical and professional services faculty, including those from the UK and Singapore campuses, were also in attendance, such as School of Medicine head Prof Steve Jones, National Innovation Centre for Data strategy director Prof Barry Hodgson, Asean Strategic Development and Engagement director Jo Geary, Student Success director Naomi Oosman-Watts and Professor of Professional Learning and Leadership Prof Rene Kogbauer.
Prof Day addressed the Class of 2023 with an uplifting speech, commending them for having successfully completed their studies under extraordinary circumstances brought on by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This makes what you have accomplished all the more impressive. Your positivity, the resilience you demonstrated in the face of adversity, and your ability to adapt to circumstances outside your control, were admirable beyond measure,” he says.
“There are qualities that I am confident will serve you well as you embark on the next stage of your lives.”
During the ceremony, top-performing MBBS students were also awarded prizes for their achievements.
These students included Year 5 MBBS students Shahla Riyaz Sangani, who was awarded the Walton Prize, as well as Lim Jun Jie and Wong Jing Wen, who received the TM Teoh Prize.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia adjunct professor Datuk Ir Khairil Anwar Ahmad and avid author and business development strategist Nicholas Koh were respectively conferred the Doctor of Civil Law and Doctor of Engineering honorary degrees by NUMed for their significant contributions to society.
These distinctions were preceded by citations given by Prof Chris Baldwin and Jo Geary, and followed by moving speeches by both of the new honorary degree holders.
Before the ceremony drew to a close, student orator and MBBS graduate from the Class of 2023, Dr Imaad Ismail Amanulla, took to the stage to impart some words of wisdom, which included insights into lessons he gleaned from during his time at NUMed.
Student orator Dr Imaad Ismail Amanulla regaled his peers with a closing speech during the ceremony.
“We are the future leaders and change-makers of our world. We possess the potential to make a profound impact on the lives of others,” he says.
“So commit to excellence, believe in your abilities and work tirelessly towards your goals!”
NUMed celebrates its 14th anniversary this year. The institution is the first-fully owned international branch campus in Malaysia that offers MBBS undergraduate degrees, a foundation in Biological and Biomedical Sciences and opportunities for postgraduate studies.
NUMed draws on the legacy of its parent university – Newcastle University (UK) – which is internationally acclaimed as one of the best British universities for medicine.
Newcastle University ranks at 110th place in the QS World University Rankings 2024 and has the additional distinction of being awarded Five Plus QS Stars for overall excellence.
NUMed’s MBBS programme is ranked 17th in the UK (medicine category), while its Biomedical Sciences programme ranks eighth in the UK, according to the Guardian University Guide 2023.
To find out more about NUMed and its programmes on offer, visit https://www.ncl.ac.uk/numed/, call +607-555 3800, or WhatsApp +6011-1231 5411/+6012-784 9456.
