Gulf Medical University celebrates 20th anniversary
2 decades of excellence in education, healthcare and research
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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Karnataka Assembly passes bill on Palace Grounds amid opposition protest
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, reaffirming state ownership over 472 acres and 16 guntas of land here, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
During the discussion, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state government would have to provide Rs 200 crore worth of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for each acre of land, which means that for 15 acres, Rs 3,000 crore worth of TDR would be issued.
“If we accept it, then this 2-km stretch of road will become the costliest road in the world. If we accept it then how are we going to develop the city in later stages? How will you carry out development works?” asked Patil.
He also pointed out that this question was raised not only under the Congress government but also during the previous BJP regime.
However, the BJP-led cabinet has opposed the project.
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“Suppose we agree to it then, what will be the valuation of the 472 acres? It will be lakhs and lakhs of crores of rupees. Can we accept?” Patil wondered.
The Minister said the government had previously exercised its executive powers to issue an ordinance, which was approved by the Governor. Now the government is bringing a bill with two amendments.
“In this bill, we have made provisions either to develop or drop the road development work,” Patil explained.
However, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad opposed the move, alleging that the government was targetting Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, and the BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency out of political vendetta.
“We talk of 472 acres of Mysuru Maharaja but here there are many Maharajas who too own 400 acres, 500 acres and thousands of acres of land, which is known to everyone,” Bellad said.
He slammed the Congress government, saying political power should not be misused for personal vendetta.
“Why (the then Deputy Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah brought the law in 1996 pertaining to the Bangalore Palace? Why are you setting eyes on the Bangalore Palace?” he asked.
Vijayendra charged that Wadiyar won the election on BJP ticket so the state government realised that it should acquire it.
“This bill has been brought for political vengeance. We are not discussing whether Rs 3,000 crore is exorbitant or not but the moment Yaduveer became MP, the state government woke up. You should be ashamed. This house should not be used for political vendetta,” he said.
Intervening, Minister Priyank Kharge said Vijayendra should not have raised it because the intention behind building the road was noble.
According to him, the BJP too had the same plan when it was in power.
He sought to know whether thousands of crores of rupees be spent on a road which should have cost significantly less.
In response, BJP MLA B A Basavaraj (Byrathi) said issuing TDR will not be a burden on the state government and appealed to the ruling Congress to reconsider its stance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy too explained that the Karnataka government acquired the entire land way back in 1996.
The Mysuru royal family went to the High Court, which gave ruling in favour of the state government. The royal family then approached the Supreme Court, where the case is still going on, the Minister pointed out.
“The final judgment is pending in the SC to decide whether the acquisition was right or wrong. If the SC says it’s the royal family’s property then let it be so. If the order is in the state government’s favour then we can take a decision. The bill is only about it,” Reddy explained.
Speaker U T Khader then called for a voice vote and the bill was passed by the Assembly amidst opposition BJP’s discontent.
