By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Batterjee Medical College (BMC) is offering bachelor’s degree in nine different medical fields and has recently introduce a new program (Occupational Therapy) according to curricula to meet the requirements and standards of the ministry of education and at the highest level of quality to graduate cadres qualified to work in the field of medical care.

Speaking to Saudi Gazette here recently, Dr. Ikhlas Abdulaziz Sindi, vice dean of the female section and asst. professor of molecular genetics at the BMC, said the college has also obtained academic accreditation from the National Center for Academic Accreditation Assessment which indicates the quality of its output and ensures the quality in its departments and scientific programs and in the methods of performance and administrative procedures.

In addition to the college's eagerness to develop curricula and support scientific research, the BMC has signed several international cooperation agreements with Harvard University in the United States and Maastricht University in The Netherlands, she said.

BMC is cooperating with private and government hospitals in the Kingdom to train its students in leading hospitals to obtain high-quality skills through agreements with the Ministry of Health, military and private hospitals. Students are also trained in hospitals and centers around the world, including the United States, Britain, Dubai, Greece and Nigeria, Dr. Sindi added.

Dr. Sindi elaborated that the college also offers a wide range of community services in and outside campus, to contribute to educating the community and instilling the principle of community service among students, making it a leading college in the services of the community.

She stated that in light of the social responsibility and support for Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the college has adopted several scholarships for young men and women who wish to complete their education and support in the achievement of their aspirations in the medical field and the provision of grants and financial facilities in their career.

The college supports the students to complete their bachelor degree studies and provides support in all medical programs. BMC had introduced (Tamouh) program which is a qualitative leap in the higher education in the Kingdom. It gives students an opportunity to study for free and pay the cost in installments after graduation with years of study without financial benefits. For example, the duration of studying in the nursing program is five years and thereafter the fee is paid within 5 years after graduation. The program includes the following specialties: nursing, radiology and healthcare administration program.

BMC has announced the extension of (Daeem) program in order to support the youth in their educational journey and to merge the vision of the college in service of the community by raising the level of education and preparing specialized cadres in the medical field compatible with the needs of the labor market by paying 35% during the study of the program years and 65% after graduation with non-financial benefits.

In addition, the college offers more than eight programs of full or partial scholarships and charitable support program in partnership with charities and sponsors of businessmen to provide opportunities for the largest mass of young people to benefit and complete their education.