Speaking to reporters after signing contracts to establish the university, Prince Miteb said the king would also attend the graduation ceremony of medical students who have obtained master's and bachelor's degrees. He praised King Abdullah for approving the university, which is the first of its kind in the region, adding that it would focus on providing manpower for the Kingdom's National Guard hospitals.

The university comprises a college of medicine, a college of nursing and allied medical sciences, a college of public health and health informatics, in addition to departments relating to academic affairs, training and development.

"King Abdullah instructed the National Guard Health Affairs to promote medical education to meet the manpower requirements of National Guard hospitals, including qualified doctors and nurses," the prince said. Spread across an area of five million square meters close to the King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh, the new university campus will also accommodate the King Abdullah International Research Center, a children's hospital, a medical museum, a conference center and an academic district for girls.

Prince Miteb said the project would be completed within three years. "The National Guard Health Affairs will continue its expansion projects to meet future requirements," he added.

Asked whether non-Saudi students would be allowed to study at the university, Prince Miteb said: "The university is designed to meet the Kingdom's requirements. But this does not prevent us from studying this matter, especially considering that King Abdullah intends to provide such services to everybody. I would like to point out here that there will be scholarships for such foreign students."

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, executive president of the National Guard Health Affairs, described the international university as the first of its kind in the Arab world. "We have signed agreements and alliances with a number of international universities," he added. The university will have three nursing colleges. The College of Public Health and Medical Informatics aims to merge health systems with concepts of public health and demographic studies, analytic potentialities of epidemiology, medical economics, health awareness activities, and health environment campaigns.

"This integration is innovative in itself. Based on concerted efforts of all health organizations, this integration is expected to produce excellent results," Al-Rabeeah said.

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in a health related subject obtained from an accredited university, or its equivalent, two years experience in the health field, a minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 5, or its equivalent, and a minimum score of 550 in a TOEFL examination. Applicants are also required to pass an exam administered by the department as well as a personal interview.

By P.K. Abdul Ghafour

© Arab News 2008

 

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