IMU’s Co-Founder and Provost awarded Honorary Degree by University of Strathclyde

27 June 2013 – International Medical University’s co-founder and Provost, Dr Mei Ling Young, received her honorary degree, Doctor of Science, from the University of Strathclyde (UK) at the university’s graduation ceremony in Scotland. The award to Dr Mei Ling Young is in recognition of her enormous contributions to education and to the work of University of Strathclyde. Awarded to just a few people each year, the University of Strathclyde awards Honorary Degrees to recognise the recipients’ exceptional services and contributions to academic inquiry, advancement of learning, the University and to society, nationally and/or internationally.

In her speech at the graduation ceremony, Dr Young’s advice to the graduates is “When you are young, you feel you have everything ahead of you. I felt the same. It’s natural. One never thinks it is going to end and even in a fleeting moment, if you think it may, it seems unreal. But life is fragile. So, whatever good you can do, do not delay it. The chance may not come up again. And if you need a perspective, whatever agitates you or upsets you, when you reflect on the big issue, the impermanence of life, all these things become small and inconsequential. And in the context of your work in healthcare, please remember, it is a privilege to serve. Service and to be useful and relevant can be a legacy.”

Dr Mei Ling Young is the provost of International Medical University (IMU)

Dr Mei Ling Young is the provost of International Medical University (IMU), Executive Director of IMU Education, Company Director of IMU Health and IMU Healthcare as well as Deputy President of the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU). Together with Datuk Dr Kamal Salih, Dr Mei Ling Young co-founded International Medical College (IMC) in 1992. IMC then gained university status eight years later to become IMU. The University which started with a medical programme has now expanded to offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Dr Mei Ling Young continues to be a major force within IMU and in the wider Malaysian and global educational communities.

“In 1994, the then IMC wished to expand into pharmacy, to address the enormous shortage of pharmacists in Malaysia. Mei Ling and Kamal approached the University of Strathclyde through IMC’s founding Dean, Prof John Swanson Beck, to see if Strathclyde would be interested in a partnership to train pharmacists on a similar basis to that operating for medical training, with students undertaking the first part of the degree in Kuala Lumpur. The first cohort of students started in Malaysia in 1996, arriving in Glasgow in 1998. To date, over 1300 Malaysian pharmacists have been trained through the IMU-Strathclyde programmes, and our alumni represent around 15% of the country’s pharmacists,” said Prof Brian Furman who read the citation for Dr Mei Ling Young. Prof Furman is an Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences and recipient of IMU’s Honorary Doctor of Science in 2007.

In a press release from University of Strathclyde, Prof Sir Jim McDonald, Strathclyde Principal, said: “As a leading international technological university, Strathclyde seeks to create innovative and effective solutions to global challenges and we select honorary graduates whose achievements reflect this ethos.”

“We look forward to welcoming all of our honorary graduands to the Strathclyde community and to recognising not only their accomplishments but also those of our students who will be graduating at the same time.”

One of IMU’s partner universities, the University of Strathclyde was founded in 1796 as ‘the place of useful learning’ and is committed to the advancement of society through the pursuit of excellence in research, education and knowledge exchange. Strathclyde is Scotland’s third largest University with over 15,000 students from more than 100 countries who are attracted by the excellent academic reputation and stimulating study environment. The University is recognised as a centre of teaching excellence and a leading international technological University. The University of Strathclyde is also Times Higher Education UK University of the Year 2012/2013. Its collaboration with IMU covers the pharmacy, psychology, biomedical science and medical biotechnology programmes.