Summer Dental Training Camp at Xi’an Medical University in China for UiTM Undergraduate Dentistry students and faculty

By 2025, UiTM hopes to have established an international reputation as a leading institution. The Three (3) Strategic Thrusts of Quality Education, Global Excellence, and Value-Driven Performance serve as the foundations of this methodology. Each strategy thrust is linked to recognised Strategic Themes to guarantee the intended aim is met.

In keeping with UiTM’s goal of educating professionals of the most outstanding calibre, the Faculty of Dentistry has formed connections with higher institutional partners to extend student knowledge and offer them cutting-edge technical tools for employability.

Institutional exchanges take place between the faculty and staff of each partner institution; undergraduate and graduate students from each partner institution are accepted for study and research periods; scientific meetings, conferences, short courses, and meetings on research issues are organised; information about changes in teaching, student development, and research institutions is exchanged; and a visiting academician project is taught. To date, putting the earlier initiatives into practice has been a “Summer Programme” operated throughout the semester.

Delegates from the Faculty of Dentistry UiTM took part in a dental summer camp that Xi’an Medical University (XMU) planned as a part of the collaborative MOU effort, from May 18–24, 2023, at the Weiyang Campus in Xi’an, China. A total of six dental students, accompanied by the Dean, Associate Professor Dr Aida Nur Ashikin Abd Rahman, the Deputy Dean of Academic and International Affairs, Associate Professor Dr Siti Mariam Abd Ghani, the Deputy Dean of Clinical, Dr Aimeeza Rajali, the Liaison of International Affairs, Dr Fara Azwin Adam, and the Deputy Registrar, Martina Abdul Jalil.

Delegates from UiTM were given an incredible chance to participate in academic activities in the dental clinics, theoretical discussions, and collaboration between UITM dentistry and XMU. Malaysia’s Counsellor General saw the discussion in Xi’an. In addition, participants were taken on a day tour of the Terracotta Warriors, Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, renowned as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” They were able to travel to new destinations while displaying old architecture. The participants were also allowed to see the Air Force Medical University’s Dental Museum.

The Summer Program’s greatest desire is that it will deepen the newly formed link between XMU and UiTM and foster research collaborations, cultural interaction, knowledge, and ideas among participants. This programme will also serve as a platform to bring students from various countries around the world together and pave the way for UiTM students to reciprocate the exchange programme by visiting other countries, as it allows them to interact directly with different cultures while showcasing UiTM and Malaysia to their counterparts.