KUCHING: At the Borneo Post International Education Fair (BPIEF) 2011, you’ll not only be exposed to the diverse world of education, but you’ll get to undergo a free basic health screening courtesy of one of its exhibitors, Masterskill College of Nursing and Health.
BASIC HEALTH SCREENING: BPIEF chairman Dorge Rajah undergoing a test for sugar-level conducted by a Masterskill nursing student as her coursemates look on.
“We will be performing a sugar-level test, blood pressure test, urine examination as well as taking down Body Mass Index (BMI),” explained Masterskill branch principal Anita Liaw during a meeting with the BPIEF committee at its Kuching Metro Campus recently.
The latest addition to the Masterskill campus, the Kuching Metro Campus was fully operational in Oct 2010 and is a comprehensive training facility that includes a mock ward (with life-sized human anatomical manikins), lecture rooms, medical library, medical labs, and a physiotherapy centre.
“At present, our Kuching branch offers four diplomas in Occupational Safety and Health, Medical Imaging, Environmental Health and Medical Lab Technology (MLT),” she said, adding that the Kuching branch’s long-term plan will be to include all 11 of the courses offered under the Masterskill’s umbrella.
Due to the increase in private laboratories nationwide, MLT is one of the fastest growing fields in the healthcare industry.
“Modern medicine could not function without medical laboratory professionals. As such, medical laboratory technologists are a vital part of the healthcare system as up to 70 per cent of physicians’ decisions regarding diagnosis and therapy are based on lab test results,” she said, adding that the nation was facing a great shortage of qualified personnel in this area of medical expertise.
The diploma in MLT is a three-year programme accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
“The placement opportunity provides students with hands-on training in the main components of Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion Banking, Haematology, Serology, Histopathology, Microbiology, Cytology and Parasitology.”
The comprehensive course structure, coupled with the practical aspects of the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology will prepare students as employable staff for many areas in the healthcare industry.
MLT diploma-holders can go on to be medical lab technicians in public or private laboratories, private universities and research institutions. Graduates may also find employment in pharmaceutical research, educational institutions and industrial firms as sales persons with scientific equipment supply companies.
They may also pursue a higher education in MLT, Medical Science, Bio-medicine, Bio-technology, Bio-informatics or Forensic Science. A degree in Biomedicines and Lab Management would be an excellent platform for career advancement.
The entry requirement for a Diploma in MLT is credit in BM, credit in General Science or any one Pure Science subjects and one other subject.
Students will be provided with free accommodations, transport and uniforms. School fees are fully covered by the government loan and the college’s Employment Placement Unit assists its students with job placements within both government and private medical sectors after graduation.
Masterskill also offers programmes in medicine, nursing, healthcare management, environmental health and safety, biomedical science, healthcare, health informatics, physiotherapy, medical imaging and radiotherapy, paramedic sciences, occupational therapy, child development and pharmacy.
The college’s January and April 2011 intakes are now open. For more details, please contact student recruitment and marketing department at 082-688 777. Interested candidates can walk in to Kuching campus located at Batu Kawa for immediate interview and registration.
Held from Feb 19-20 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, BPIEF 2011 will feature a diverse array of public and private education providers worldwide. For more information on the BPIEF and its exhibitors, contact the secretariat at 082-330213, log on to www.bpief.com <http://www.bpief.com> or check them out on facebook.