Dr Saw Ohn Mar, Dr Fatehpal Singh Malhi, Dr Hakim Gharib Bilal, Dr Syed Rahim Syed Hamid, Prof Osman Ali,
Volume 17, Issue 54 (7-2024)
Abstract
Background & Objective: Cross-border medical student mobility and doctor migration have become global trends. The aim of this study was to explore Malaysian medical students’ attitudes towards studying and working overseas.
Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of the academic year 2018–2019 from University Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak, using a self-administered validated questionnaire that explored their opinions related to encouraging and deterring factors of studying and working overseas and their preferred destination for migration. All 569 students from years 1 to 5 were invited, and 505 completed responses were analyzed.
Results: Financial factors were rated as most relevant for not studying overseas by 81.6% of the respondents, whereas language barriers and racial discrimination were considered less relevant. Doing electives overseas was favored by 68.9%. Regarding the benefits of further study abroad, learning international standards and experiencing diversity are rated as “very important” by 75.4% and 62.7%, respectively. They rated better earning (63.2%) and further learning (30.7%) as the most relevant reasons for doctors working overseas, and family commitment (49.9%), Medical Licensing Examinations (MLE) (38.4%), and loyalty to their home country (34.7%) for not working overseas. Their most preferred foreign destinations for further study and working are the UK, Ireland, and Australia.
Conclusion: While appreciating the advantages of further study abroad, MLE was considered one of the deterring factors. As a result, consideration should be given to making changes to existing curricula to align with the expected standards of the destined countries.
Dr Saw Ohn Mar, Dr Fatehpal Singh Malhi, Dr Hakim Gharib Bilal, Dr Syed Rahim Syed Hamid, Prof Osman Ali,
Volume 17, Issue 55 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background & Objective: Developing a global mindset and cultural competency is an important component of Internationalization in Medical Education (IoME) to prepare graduates ready to serve in interconnected global communities. To understand students’ attitude towards IoME, this study explored their perceptions of international students, lecturers, and curriculum.
Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of the academic year 2018–2019 from University Kuala Lumpur, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Malaysia, using a self-administered validated questionnaire. All 569 students from years 1 to 5 were invited; out of 529 responses, 505 were eligible for analysis.
Results: The vast majority (85.1%) of the respondents agreed that all medical schools should have international students. The combined ratings of "comfortable" and "very comfortable" with international students as classmates, as friends, and with international lecturers were 62.6%, 70.3%, and 66.7%, respectively. The transnational curriculum was selected as most appropriate by 45%. Good perception towards IoME was exhibited by 52.2% and was significantly associated with students' intention to do elective overseas among female (P = 0.002) and year 3 (P = 0.038) subgroups. Their perception was positively linked with their perceived preparedness to study or work overseas among females (P = 0.004).
Conclusion: There is a positive association between the respondents’ perceptions of IoME and their perceived readiness to study or work abroad more. Therefore, the design and implementation of curriculum should be in line with international standards to deliver both clinical and cultural competency that could be enhanced by race diversification among local students and having international students on campuses.