Ajman, November 6: The Gulf Medical University (GMU), the biggest private medical university in the Middle East region, celebrated its 20 years of excellence in education, healthcare and research with seven colleges and 26 accredited programmes. The university celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 5.

Participating in the programme, GMU founder and president of Board of Trustees Dr Thumbay Moideen said that the completion of 20 years marked an important milestone in its pursuit of growth and success. “From humble beginning as the region’s first private medical University, today, two decades since its inception, GMU is standing tall as the region’s only private academic health system, delivering futuristic medical education besides playing an important role in providing state-of-the-art healthcare and promoting innovative research. The evolution of GMU as one of the most popular destinations of advanced medical education, healthcare and research in the region, is the result of dedication and hard work, not to mention GMU’s philosophy of constant innovation and above all, the grace of the almighty. We have received excellent support from the government throughout this journey,” he said.

GMU Chancellor Prof. Hossam Hamdy said that GMU has built a unique model in the form of the Gulf Medical University Academic Health System (GMUAHS), showing the world that the future of medical education is ‘systems’ linking education, healthcare and research. “We now have 7 colleges and 26 accredited programmes, with many new programmes expected to receive accreditation soon.” he said, adding admissions for the academic year 2018-19 are now open for various courses.

Thumbay Group Healthcare Division vice president Akbar Moideen Thumbay,  Vice Provost and Deans of the colleges of the University as well as other staff and students participated in the event.

GMU enjoys a robust collaboration with a number of prestigious universities around the world such as the University of Arizona, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee - USA, University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy in Connecticut, German Heidelberg University, American University in Cairo, University of Ghana, Medical University of Lublin, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, etc., as well as research institutes such as the Gustave Rossi Cancer Research Institute – France. GMU uses the latest technologies like Virtual Patient Learning (VPL), its own simulation programme,  in teaching and training students across all majors, to ensure their workplace readiness once they graduate from the GMU.

Research is an important strategic direction of GMUAHS. The Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine leads research in the field of cancer biology and immunology, with international collaboration with France, Poland and Korea. In terms of advancing healthcare in the UAE and globally, GMU has launched three medical researches: Cancer Immunology and experimental oncology; tumor genetic instability and immunogenicity; and biomarkers and functional genomics.

GMU attracts students from new countries each year, and the University’s student community is approximately 2000-strong today, hailing from more than 80 countries. The student population is growing every year.  GMU has been ranked among the top 50 medical universities in the Middle East by US News, bagged gold at the prestigious Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Awards, 2018. GMU also secured top positions in e-learning regionally and globally at the Wharton QS-Stars  Reimagine Education Conference & Awards 2018 in the USA, in addition to obtaining 5 stars in teaching and community engagement by QS. The University also received the prestigious Dubai Quality Appreciation Award this year, for the 2017 assessment cycle.

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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Apr 4 (PTI): Seven women farm labourers, two of them aged 18, died and three others were rescued after a tractor-trolley ferrying them to an agriculture field plunged into a well in Nanded district of Maharashtra on Friday morning, an official said.

The accident occurred at around 7.30 am in Asegaon village which lies under jurisdiction of Limbgaon police station when the vehicle veered off the road and fell into the well filled to the brim with water, said District Information Officer (DIO) Pravin Take said.

Police and local administration officials immediately launched a rescue operation and pumped out a large amount of water from the well, he said.

At the end of the operation, bodies of seven women were fished out of the well, while three others were rescued, said the DIO.

"The woman were on their way to harvest turmeric at a farm. All those who died hailed from Gunj village under Vasmat tehsil in Hingoli district," the official said.

The deceased were identified as Tarabai Satwaji Jadhav (35), Dhrupata Satwaji Jadhav (18), Saraswati Lakhan Burad (25), Simran Santosh Kamble (18), Chaitrabai Madhav Pardhe (45), Jyoti Irabaji Saraode (35), Sapna Tukaram Raut (25), he said.

Three other women farm labourers - Parvatibai Burad (35), Purbhabai Kamble (40), Satwaji Jadhav (55) -- were rescued from the water body.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PM's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased.

The injured will be given Rs 50,000 each, he said.

"Saddened by the loss of lives in an accident in Nanded, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected," the Prime Minister said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the death of farm labourers and separately announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the family of each deceased.

"Some women died in an accident in Asegaon, Nanded district, this morning when a tractor trolley carrying 11 women labourers fell into a well. I pay my heartfelt tributes to them. These women were from Gunjgaon, Hingoli district, and were going for agricultural work," he posted on X.

"The families of the deceased will be given a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," he declared.

"Three women were rescued safely. We are in touch with both Hingoli and Nanded administrations," the CM said.

Later, talking to reporters, Fadnavis said an inquiry has been ordered into the accident and steps will be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur.