AUN-Kyoto Student Mobility Program towards Human Security Development

The Signing Ceremony of the Program Agreement for Public Health Master’s Double Degree Program between Kyoto University School of Public Health, Japan, Chulalongkorn University College of Public Health Science, Thailand and University of Malaya, Faculty of Medicine, Malaysia was held on 13 March 2014 at the Yamauchi Hall, Shirankaikan, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Japan.

Date: 13th March 2014 (Thursday)
Venue: Yamauchi Hall, Shirankaikan, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Japan
Attendees Representatives from University of Malaya:
Prof Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud
Prof Dato’ Dr Christopher Boey Chiong Meng
Prof Dr Maznah Dahlui
Assoc Prof Dr Kamila Ghazali
Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid

Representatives from Chulalongkorn University College of Public Health Science, Thailand:
Dean: Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul

Representatives from Kyoto University School of Public Health, Japan:
Dean: Professor Shunichi Fukuhara

Agenda:
  1. Signing Ceremony
  2. Introduction of Education and Research from partner universities
  3. Discussion on courses and curriculum
Chairperson: Prof Masahiro Kihara

Meeting Notes

Session 1: Signing Ceremony

The meeting was chaired by Prof Masahiro Kihara, a Professor at the Department of Global Health and Socio-epidemiology, Kyoto University School of Public Health (KUSPH). Professor Kihara welcomed all the delegates from Chulalongkorn University College of Public Health Science (CUCPHS), Thailand and University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia.

KUSPH was established as the first School of Public Health (SPH) in Japan in April 2000. It has been the only SPH that offers a doctoral course in Public Health. There are 5 units, namely Health Analyses, Health Administration, Health Determinants, International Health and Social Ecology which are further subdivided into 19 departments with 45 faculty members. The courses offered are:

  1. Professional degree course (1-2 years) which confers a degree of Master of Public Health (MPH)
  2. Doctoral course in public health (3 years) which confers a degree of Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
  3. Doctoral course in medicine (4 years) which confers a degree of Doctor of Medical Science (PhD)

Greeting messages were then delivered by representatives from each university involved in the Double Degree Program. University Malaya was represented by Professor Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation). Following this, the Programmme Agreement was signed between the three universities. The agreement was signed by Prof Dr Awang Bulgiba and Prof Dr Maznah as representatives from the University of Malaya.

Session 2: Introduction of Education and Research from partner universities

In this session, representatives from KUSPH (Prof Toshiaki A. Furukawa), CUCPHS (Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul) and UM (Prof Dr Maznah Dahlui) presented on Introduction of Education and Research. In her presentation, Prof Maznah introduced the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM), courses offered and ongoing research conducted by the department and centres. The presentation also includes question and answer sessions.

Session 3: Discussion on courses and curriculum

This session was also chaired by Prof Kihara. The aim of this session was to compare all the MPH courses offered by the three universities i.e. syllabus and credit hours. One of the issues addressed by KUSPH to UM was the different credit hour for certain courses. UM was asked to further discuss and re-confirm the matter with KUSPH before the end of April 2014.

Session 4: Discussion on research collaboration

A discussion was held between Assoc Prof Masako Ono-Kihara, Department of Global Health and Socio-epidemiology and Dr Nik Daliana from Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, UM. Professor Kihara is an AIDS expert and a pioneer of Japanese sex education. The aim of this discussion was to look at potential research collaboration between KUSPH and UM. During this session, Dr Nik Daliana presented areas of priority pertaining to adolescent health in Malaysia. Since sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is currently a major problem among Malaysian adolescents, students undergoing the Double Degree Program will focus their research in this area.

KUSPH Campus Tour

Guided by Prof Kihara, all delegates were introduced to various departments at KUSPH. Among the departments visited were Global Health and Socio-epidemiology, Healthcare Economics and Quality Management and Health and Environmental Sciences. At each department, delegates were briefed on the department’s recent research projects.


Prof Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation signing the Program Agreement


Prof Dr Maznah Dahlui, Head of Department of Social and Preventive Medicine signing the Program Agreement


Front (Left to right): Prof Dato’ Dr. Christopher Boey, Prof Dr Awang Bulgiba, Prof Kihara and Prof Surasak Taneepanichskul Back (Left to right): Assoc Prof Naowarat Kanchanakhan, Dr Nik Daliana, Prof Dr Maznah Dahlui, Assoc Prof Wattasit Siriwong, Assoc Prof Sathirakorn Pongpanich, Assoc Prof Kamila Ghazali, Dr Chanida Palanuvej and Dr Hiromi Tobina

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