Batterjee focuses on skilled potential of Saudi youth

Sobhi Batterjee, chairman, Board of Trustees of The Batterjee Medical College for Sciences and Technology (BMC) and chairman of Saudi German Hospitals Group, stated that BMC is working continuously through a strategic plan to develop its curriculum and to attract new outstanding faculty members to improve outcomes and achieve distinction in the field of teaching and scientific research.

Batterjee urged universities and community colleges to raise the bar of scientific and academic cooperation between them for the sake of development of college education, scientific research, and community service and to achieve the vision of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for building up a knowledge society.

Batterjee appreciated the continuous support the higher education receives from the leaders of this country. He said that the wise directives of Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari, minister of higher education and his deputy, Dr. Ahmed Al-Seif, as well as the advice from Dr. Mohammad Al-Ohali, undersecretary for educational affairs, Dr. Walid Al-Dali, general supervisor of private higher education and adviser Dr. Essam Matar were highly effective in the development of BMC. He added that the Kingdom urgently needs highly qualified medical staff in all medical specializations.

Excerpts from Khalid Batterjee’s interview:

Who founded BMC and when? And, why only medicine?

Our father, Sheikh Abdul Jalil Batterjee, may Allah rest him in peace, was a medical supplies merchant. Thanks to his wise vision, he perceived that the Saudi society needs a specialized medical education institution, taking into consideration that increasing numbers of Saudis are traveling abroad to study medicine. That is why he decided to participate in providing opportunities for the Saudis to study in their country.

How did you finance the foundation of BMC? What was the cost or the capital?

Guided by Sobhi Batterjee, chairman, Board of Trustees of The Batterjee Medical College for Sciences and Technology and chairman of Saudi German Hospitals Group, our family studied the project, and decided to finance it by all means, taking into consideration its major importance. The cost of the project exceeded 400 million Saudi Riyals.

What are the specialties at BMC?

Currently, there are seven major specialties at the college in the first stage, including medicine, dentistry, pharmaceuticals, physical therapy, and radiology, medical administration and nursing discipline. In the near future, we will introduce three new specialties including medical information technology, medical labs and clinical nutrition. In 2011, the first patch of physical therapy and medical administration was graduated.

What are the bases of your educational system? I mean which authority approves of BMC curriculum?

BMC is fully approved and supervised by the Ministry of Higher Education, represented in the National Academic Accreditation Commission. Our educational system is based on the semester system, with pre-determined hours.

What are the degrees that BMC offers? Do such degrees qualify the graduates to meet the local market demand?

BMC offers bachelor’s degree in all specialties, which we mentioned earlier. The college is planning to provide practical training for the graduates at the hospitals of the Saudi German Hospitals Group and the hospital of the ministry. In addition, we are conducting the Education for Employment (E4E) program to employee graduates at the Saudi German Hospitals.

Would you tell us about the enrollment system?

Any one can join BMC, either Saudis or expatriates. You may refer to admission requirements on our website, www.BMC.edu.sa.

It is widely believed that students who enroll with BMC are from the high income category, taking into consideration the high tuition fees.

On the contrary. BMC is taking into consideration the social factor, and provides opportunities for several students without making their deficient financial resources a barrier. BMC introduced “Firsan Al Tib” initiative to provide scholarships for students not capable of paying the tuition fees. In addition, we admit students through the Ministry of Higher Education and the Human Resources Development Fund. Not only that, but we offer up to 20% discounts to outstanding students to encourage them continue their excellent performance.

Does BMC offer scholarships for outstanding students? What are the rules adopted in this regard?

Sure we do. Through “Firsan Al Tib,” BMC offers several scholarships for good performers. This program was launched five years ago, and since then, the program is playing a social and humanitarian role, and supports BMC mission through a competition that could be reached through our website, www.BMC.edu.sa.

Tell us about the examination system in BMC.

At BMC, we have adopted a highly advanced online examination system. We are not using the traditional paper system. At BMC, we have to highly equipped examination centers, one at the male section and another at female section. Each center accommodates 200 students.

What are the most important agreements signed between BMC and other educational institutions and what are the prominent awards that BMC won?

BMC is proud with its scientific relationships with other educational institutions. We are accredited by WHO. BMC is listed in IMED-FAIMER, a US-based international agency concerned with development of medical education. BMC is recognized by GMC. We have several scientific agreements through which we exchange students academic expertise and visits with prominent universities. In addition, we cooperate with local universities. Recently, BMC won the Best Educational Project in MENA Award, 2010.

There is an urgent need for qualified Saudis to fill the gap in the local medial staff, specially in nursing and other medical specialties. As a dean of a Saudi medical college, how do you view that?

The shortage in nursing and medical staff is a global problem. Immigration of qualified staff from one country to another, such as in India, the Philippines and Egypt to the West has created this problem. In BMC, we are working to Saudize nursing to medical jobs. This is an strategic objective for us. We are planning to achieve this objective through qualifying nursing staff, taking social issues into consideration. Statistics indicate that shortages in nursing staff in the next 20 years will reach million male and female nurses.

Accordingly, we have launched our educational program, based on our experience and future vision, to meet labor market demand and achieve integration between the academic system and labor market demand.