Malaysia’s Prime Minister YAB Datuk Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak officially launched Perdana University (PU) on Monday, 12 September 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, with the proclamation of former Prime Minister YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the University’s first Chancellor.

Professor Eilis McGovern, President, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), was among those who travelled to attend the launch of the University which will be home to the new PU-RCSI School of Medicine.

The University will receive its inaugural class of first year medical students for its two medical schools: the undergraduate PU-RCSI School of Medicine and Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine (PUGSOM) in September this year.

77 students will register for PU-RCSI School of Medicine’s inaugural class this month. PU-RCSI’s undergraduate medical degree programme is identical to the five-year programme offered by the RCSI School of Medicine in Dublin. RCSI’s involvement with Perdana University is an extension of RCSI’s long standing educational involvement with Malaysia.

“The ethos of the PU-RCSI School of Medicine is founded on the principle that the patient’s interest is paramount in clinical teaching, medical practice and research,” said PU-RCSI Dean Professor Anthony J. Cunningham. “The admissions process was highly competitive and we are very impressed with the calibre of students who applied for entry to our school. We are looking forward to welcoming them on Registration Day on 19th September next, and we have planned a comprehensive week long programme of orientation activities for them from 19-23 September.

Highlighting the importance of the long standing medical education links between Malaysia and Ireland, Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciaran Cannon, who represented the Irish Government at the launch, said: “RCSI's major contribution to medical and surgical training in Ireland and abroad has been of huge economic benefit to Ireland and testament to the excellent reputation of Ireland's educational institutions worldwide and RCSI's in particular.”

“PU-RCSI’s Class of 2016 are pioneers and part of history as we transform the landscape of medical education, research and healthcare nationally, regionally and internationally,” said Perdana University Chief Executive Maj Gen Dato’ Pahlawan Dr R Mohanadas (Rtd). Students will be prepared to take progressively increasing levels of clinical responsibilities and to develop leadership roles for future healthcare needs in Malaysia.

The PU-RCSI School of Medicine state of the art teaching-learning facilities on campus include two auditoriums with a total capacity of 200 seats each, clinical skills labs, multi-disciplinary labs, an anatomy theatre and museum, e-learning studios, teaching labs, discussion rooms and library.