Kathmandu University (KU) is a

• not-for-profit
• privately managed
• public oriented

academic institution of higher learning.

Established in 1991 by an act of the Parliament of Nepal, KU has been providing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in

• Engineering
• Management
• Arts
• Education
• Natural Sciences
• Medical Sciences

Within a short period of a decade, the University has already been recognized for its commitment to academic excellence.

       

KU and Medical Education

In the years before it was able to establish its own facilities, KU maintained an affiliation with private medical schools in Nepal.

The idea of starting its own medical school took form in December 1999. Discussions and reflections among potential faculty led to a concept paper on the proposed Kathmandu University Medical School (KUMS) in January 2000. The concept paper was endorsed as the guiding document for KUMS project.

It was at that time that KU made the historic decision to start its first undergraduate medical program from August 2001.

A planning committee along with a steering committee and a project management committee were formed to implement this decision.

Vision:

Achievement of national self-sufficiency in providing high quality, comprehensive and cost-effective health care to the people of Nepal, using innovative approaches in the acquisition, generation, dissemination and application of medical science and technology as it relates to the specific needs and national context of Nepal.

Mission:

To establish and maintain a national academic medical center of excellence capable of providing effective technical leadership in health profession education, patient care and research in biomedical and public health issues of national relevance.

Goals:

1. Starting with the undergraduate medical program, to train various levels of health care providers who are not only technically competent and socially responsible but are also willing and able to effectively deal with the existing and emerging health needs of the Nepali population.
2. Through the use of innovative approaches, to make Nepal's medical education system more rational, effective and relevant in the national context.
3. By developing the appropriate facilities and systems, to provide high quality, comprehensive and cost-effective health care to the maximum number of people.
4. Through biomedical and public health research of high scientific quality, to identify and resolve the health problems faced by the nation
5. By interacting proactively with the national health system, to make health care more relevant, effective, accessible and affordable for all people in Nepal.

The Degree Awarded:

MBBS - Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (equivalent to MD in North American context).

Duration of Course:

5½ years including one year of compulsory rotating internship.

Curriculum:

• Endorsed by the Nepal Medical Council (the national accrediting body for medical education)
• Heavy emphasis on public health (about 20% of total curriculum)

Pedagogic Strategy:

• Problem based learning (PBL) comprising small group tutorial sessions followed by self-directed, independent learning and supplemented by laboratory experiments and lectures on selected key topics
• Community based learning (CBL) using the community and its educational resources for student's learning as far as possible

Admission Criteria/Process

The candidates aspiring to the MBBS program must at least:

• have 10+2 years of schooling or equivalent (or above) with Biology, Chemistry and Physics as the major subject of study and securing at least 50% of total marks in the current Nepali education system
• pass Kathmandu University Medical Entrance Test
• go through personal interview

While academic performance is important, it is not of and in itself sufficient basis or guarantee to get admission into KUM's MBBS program.

Due consideration for admission will be given to members of a socially disadvantaged group of Nepal such as:

• female
• permanent resident of remote rural areas
• marginalized ethnic group

KUMS will attempt to provide financial aid to up to 10% of those students who are academically and socially eligible to enter into the medical school but are not able to attend for economic reasons.

What Has Been Achieved So Far

1. Acquiring 27 hectares (67 acres) of land for building the medical school complex including the University hospital and living quarters for faculty and students.
2. Affiliation with the following hospitals for use as teaching hospitals:
   • Dhulikel Hospital, Dhulikhel
   • Scheer Memorial Hospital, Banepa
   • Kathmandu Model Hospital, Kathmandu
   • Tilganga Eye Hospital, Kathmandu
   • National Kidney Center, Kathmandu.
3. Development/renovation of the physical infrastructures within Sheer Memorial Hospital to begin the basic science part of the MBBS program.
4. Training of KUMS faculty on PBL methods with expert assistance from faculties from University of British Columbia, Canada and University of New Mexico, USA.
5. Commitment from faculty at Harvard Medical School, USA to come to KUMS to teach basic science course for at least the next few years.
6. Several other faculty members from different medical schools in Canada/USA and belonging to different disciplines are also likely to join KUMS as short term visiting faculty, complementing the Harvard faculty's support. In addition, various organizations, such as LDS Charities, UMN-Nepal, etc., have been approached to provide volunteer faculty for KUMS.
7. A support grant of US $15,000 from Pettus-Crowe Foundation (USA) to develop the medical ethics curriculum for KUMS. The work is in progress.
8. Several colleagues in Canada and USA have collected medical books for the KUMS library which are being shipped with support from the America Nepal Medical Foundation (ANMF). Additionally, the Harvard faculty has launched a campaign to collect educational resource material for KUMS.
9. With active support from a group of Swiss physicians, a volunteer faculty with extensive experience in PBL and CBL will be joining KUMS.
10. An assistance grant from the Canadian Government to enable a three-member team of KUMS faculty to visit Canadian medical schools implementing PBL based medical curricula.
11. KUMS is likely to receive a grant for establishing a Media Center, critical for students learning under the PBL system.

What Are Our Needs

1. Management consultant for feasibility study An expert and highly qualified consultant(s) to put together a technical and financial feasibility study and working plan for the full KUMS campus - which will comprise a university hospital, R&D facility, medical school and other infrastructure - or even just to provide some specific management advice. This person(s) should have experience with hospitals and/or medical R&D facilities of the magnitude congruent with KUMS vision and mission.
2. Volunteer Faculty Because of the short history of medical education in Nepal and sudden upsurge of profit-making private medical schools, there is a great shortage of adequately trained medical faculty in Nepal. Though we are interested in building up our clinical faculty, at present our most acute needs are in the basic medical sciences that constitute the bulk of the curriculum during the first two years of medical education.
   • Specifically, we are looking for volunteer faculty who are recognized experts in one of the following disciplines: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Community Health, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Medical Education
   • Volunteers should be holding (or should recently have held) academic positions, preferably at the level of Full or Associate Professor, in accredited medical schools in North America.
   • In order to meet part of the volunteers' costs during their stay in Nepal, KUMS is committed to provide the following:
   • Modest accommodation for the Faculty Member and his/her family.
   • Visa for Volunteer Faculty who wish to reside in Nepal long-term.
   • Limited access to Internet resources and shared secretarial services.
3. Educational Resource Materials We are still in great need of educational resources, including but not limited to: core textbooks, journals, audio-visuals and CD-ROM materials. Our immediate need is in the basic sciences, but we would also welcome materials that cover the clinical disciplines and public health.
4. Computer Equipment In view of our relative lack of access to traditional educational materials, we are committed to taking advantage of the revolution in information technology throughout our curriculum. However, we still require many of the basic infrastructures, such as high-speed computers and other hardware, to fully utilize the Internet-based educational resources.
5. Financial Support KUMS would welcome any genuine financial donations made to some specific area of activities identified as a priority by KUMS. Obviously, KUMS also needs significant financial help to develop its infrastructure; however, to be able to make coherent specific requests, the feasibility study must first be completed and a long-term plan written.
6. Scholarships for underprivileged students Educating underprivileged students is one of our priorities. A scholarship fund has already been established to help needy students, especially women and those from remote regions of Nepal, attend medical school.

Kathmandu University Medical School
PO Box 21833
New Baneshwar
Kathmandu, Nepal
0977 1164407 Voice
0977 1164406 Fax

Contact: Arjun Karki, MD, KUMSwlink.com.np

June 5, 2002