Russian medical degrees at SAITM

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The Russian University Nizhny Novogorod State Medical Academy, will have a twinning partnership with the South Asian Institute of Technology and Management (SAITM) in Malabe to conduct medical education for Sri Lankan students.

This is the first time that a Russian University is entering into a partnership with a Sri Lankan University. The Nizhny Novogorod State Medical Academy (NNSMA) was set up in 1920 and became a reputed educational institute in Russia.

"We are planning to accept the first batch of 100 students this month and the second batch in February 2010. The duration of the course will be five years. Students will be selected on the basis of the Advanced Level Z scores, with scores as close as possible to the cut off mark applicable for admission to the medical course at the State Universities.

Students with foreign qualifications will also be considered and their entry requirements decided on accordingly", said Head of International and Surgical Division and Professor of Liver and Pancreas Transplant Zagaynor Valdimir.

The partnership will be fruitful for the students and the medical profession. The degree awarded is recognized by the World Health Organization, American Medical College, Australian Medical College, General Medical Council UK, World of Learning UK and Sri Lanka Medical Council, he said.

Russia is well known for its quality education. Students who study in Russia could achieve many things in following the medical course for six years. There are two medium of instructions, English and Russian. Our university has signed up with 46 teaching hospitals in the city for clinical training, he said.

"We preserve old traditions, specially because the city has been named after Maxim Gorky. It is a historical name.

We have a population of 1.5 million. The city has 14 universities, higher educational establishments and schools. The city was opened to foreign students in 1991", he said.

In Russia there are over 600 foreign students from 26 countries. The high quality of our graduates enabled the Government to sponsor students from Malaysia, Tanzania, Kenya and other countries. Now we are beginning to run a twinning program in Sri Lanka, he said.