Medicine in Poland

Higher Education
At home in Warsaw

2009/11/27 [New Straits Times]

Malaysian medical students adapt to life in Poland with aplomb, writes DAVID BOWDEN

WHEN Malaysian students Wan Atiqah Wan Abdul Rashid, Muhammad Saifullah Shaarani, Mohd Hamdan Mohd Ibrahim, Mohd Khairul Hanan Mohd Wajiah, Hadi Naqiuddin Subhi and Nursofia Diana Azmi received their tertiary studies appointment notices, it was an atlas that they first went to as a reference.

The students, along with some 60 other Malaysians, were being sent to a specific overseas destination to study medicine. The excitement mounted every day as they awaited their appointment notice but they were surprised when they saw that the university was in Warsaw.

Most scratched their heads and quickly looked at a map to find out just where this remote place was that they had heard of but knew little about.

They quickly discovered that Warsaw is the capital of Poland and the university they were to enter soon is the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW), the largest medical school in the country.

The students quickly made Google searches for information about the place that was going to be their home for the next six years.

The good news for the Malaysian students is that the faculty has an English Division where the lessons are conducted in English. Medical studies in English are available to those who aren’t Polish citizens.

Each year, approximately 120 students are enrolled on the English programme with undergraduates coming from some 26 countries but mainly from Europe, the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia and now Malaysia. Successful students are admitted on the results of their high school grades, especially those in Chemistry, Biology, Physics and English.

There are now more than 100 Malaysian students studying Medicine in three Polish universities with the Malaysian programme having been in operation for three years. The course started as an initiative of the Polish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. All students receive government scholarships although fee-paying ones can apply to be admitted to the course.

The Malaysian students welcome the opportunity to have immediate contact with patients which is something that isn’t possible for undergraduate doctors locally. Most feel they are receiving a more rounded education as a result of this immediate patient contact.

MUW has 16 affiliated hospitals where students are trained in almost all fields of medicine. There are some 130,000 inpatients in these hospitals every year and the figure doubles when outpatients are also included.

Dean of Medicine Professor Jerzy Polanski claims that three times more students than can be placed apply for positions at MUW.

“Our degrees, which are recognised the world over, offer better value than in most other countries as they cost between Euro 11,000 (RM55,663) and Euro 14,000 per annum.

“While we still need a few additional facilities to make us truly world-class, the university and its teaching hospitals provide an excellent learning environment. We also train our overseas students in Polish as they have to communicate with patients while on the wards during their practical classes,” says Polanski.

Faculty of Medicine (English Division) deputy dean Professor Kazimierz Szopinski speaks emotively of his Malaysian students.

“I would gladly accept a whole intake from Malaysia as the students have been absolutely outstanding and highly motivated,” he says in an interview in Warsaw.

“They have fitted well into university life and have even injected new life and colour into the community. The employees and fellow students eagerly anticipate their annual cultural show which they put on for our benefit.”

WUM has more than 10,000 students and a staff of almost 1,600 academic teachers including 150 professors and 600 lecturers. The university offers nine principal subjects and in four specialties as well as postgraduate education (specialty training and refresher courses).

There are two main medical degrees offered with a four-year plan available to students who already have a relevant primary degree.

For many years, MUW has collaborated in research with centres all over the world including France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the US. There are 16 formal agreements on scientific cooperation which involve exchange of research workers, joint research projects and publications.

Most Malaysian students interviewed at MUW like the weather despite it being different to what they are used to at home. Despite it getting quite cold with snowfalls in winter, most have learned to adapt especially as central heating is installed in all buildings.

They are all impressed with the friendliness of Polish people and they can even purchase halal food in some markets as well as in a few restaurants. Nursofia Diana, who grew up in Gombak, says many strangers greet them in the streets and make them feel welcome.

Wan Atiqah commented that there is a shop next to a mosque near the university that sells halal food and her Polish friends respect her religion and avoid serving food and drinks she can’t consume.

Mohd Khairul Hanan, from Kota Jembal in Kelantan, the president of the Malaysian Students’ Society of Poland, likes Warsaw’s public transport system because it is punctual and cheap. Students use it to travel to and from the university and around the city.

Hadi Naqiuddin from KL is one of the Malaysian students who is studying Medicine as a second degree to supplement his first bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine attained from Malaysia’s Management and Science University. He especially likes the relaxed learning environment at MUW.

It won’t come as any surprise to Malaysians to know that the students miss home with family, friends and food high among the things they miss most. Nursofia Diana misses her family and friends most of all and intends to catch up with them when she returns to KL. Mohd Hamdan misses nasi lemak, mee goreng and bihun sup but knows that when he returns to Malaysia as a fully-trained doctor, he will be able to enjoy these dishes and many more as often as he likes.



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