(Kuala Lumpur, 29th) The University of Malaya has been accredited by the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) as a dental education centre, marking a milestone in the history of dental education development.
According to a press release from UM, the accreditation was formally awarded at a ceremony held on March 25 in London, attended by top leaders from both institutions.
At the ceremony, Dr. Eckhardt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, presented the accreditation to Professor Jamry, Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs), representing the UM Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Firdaus, Dean of the UM Faculty of Dentistry.
"This accreditation confirms that UM’s Doctor of Clinical Dentistry programmes meet the rigorous academic and clinical standards of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) of RCS England. This is the first such accreditation FDS has awarded globally."
The release pointed out that this achievement reflects the increasingly close educational ties between Malaysia and the UK, and further consolidates UM’s status as a leading institution for dental education in the region.
Master’s and Doctoral programme accreditations from the Royal College of Surgeons of England are granted to higher education institutions that excel in surgery-related education, aiming to foster collaboration and ensure high standards in surgical and dental education and training.
The accreditation awarded to UM covers eight doctoral programmes, including Doctor of Orthodontics; Doctor of Paediatric Dentistry; Doctor of Special Care Dentistry; Doctor of Prosthodontics; Doctor of Periodontology; Doctor of Restorative Dentistry; Doctor of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Medicine; and Doctor of Dental Public Health.
At the ceremony, Dr. Eckhardt also conferred the title of “Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Surgery” upon Professor Wan Norazrena, Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Programmes) of UM’s Faculty of Dentistry, in recognition of her efforts in initiating the accreditation process and leading dental masters and doctoral education; as well as Professor Siti Adibah, in recognition of her contributions to the faculty and academic development.
In the press release, Professor Jamry stated that being recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons of England is a tremendous honour for UM, and noted that this reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to excellence in education, research, and clinical training in line with international standards.
Additionally, Professor Firdaus emphasised that this accreditation affirms UM's dedication to providing high-quality dental education that meets international standards through rigorous academic standards, outstanding research, and patient-centred clinical training.
"We look forward to strengthening cooperation with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, advancing academic exchange, improving levels of clinical training, driving research innovation, and cultivating dental specialists with global competitiveness and ethical standards in order to improve oral health regionally and internationally."
Dr. Eckhardt stated that the Royal College of Surgeons of England is pleased to recognise that UM’s Faculty of Dentistry has met the demanding standards required for accreditation, and that this achievement reflects the strength of the faculty’s programmes and its commitment to excellence in dental education and training.