Around the World strengthening BME in southeast asia John Webster
Europe Aid-funded project conducted over a 12-month period by discussions are being held to discuss the within the well-known the European universities at the Asian creation of the first BME society of the Asia Link Program— universities. Over 100 books on bioPhilippines. This is thanks to the enthu“Development of Core engineering, as well as specialized siasm that the leading university is sharCompetencies in the Areas of equipment, were also donated to the ing with the other stakeholders on the Biomedical and Clinical Engineering in Asian universities. importance of creating professional figthe Philippines and Indonesia”—is Both DLSU and the University of ures in this specific field. being hailed as one of the most successIndonesia, in addition to the project Ongoing preparations are now ful human resource development proimplementation, were able to set up a underway for a series of research colgrams supported by the European core team of competent and committed laborations in which eight members of Commission. Involving two staff from DLSU and the European biomedical engiUniversity of Indonesia will neering (BME) academic engage in biomedical institutions and two Asian research in Europe. The partners, the two-year project main purpose of the is focused on providing postexchange and research colgraduates and young univerlaboration visit is to sity faculty of De La Salle immerse the candidates in University (DLSU) and the the role of biomedical engiUniversity of Indonesia with neer from a research and practical background and clinical point of view. The teaching skills to enable research collaborations will them to initiate undergradupave the way for an internaate and graduate courses in tional conference in Jakarta, biomedical and clinical which will be organized The hand-over ceremony at DLSU in Manila. Prof. Gaspillo (left), before the end of the project engineering. The project’s objective is dean of the Faculty of Engineering at DLSU, and Prof. and will provide a venue to to provide the two Asian Quebengo (right), DLSU president, are presented with books share the success of the propartners with adequate train- and equipment donated by the University of Pisa by Prof. ject with other scientists and ing (through intensive cours- Ahluwalia, project coordinator (center). professionals. Details will es, seminars, workshops, and be posted on the project access to overseas courses and research faculty staff from different fields of Web site (http://www.web.ing. unipi.it/ opportunities), sufficient skills, experimedicine, engineering, and science. didattica/es/home). Participants interence, and know-how to enable them to With the help of the European staff, the ested in human resource development set up BME courses contextualized for core teams have started the developin the field of biomedical engineering the country’s particular needs. ment of a new curriculum for the BME are encouraged to attend. The project was launched with a programs, as well as the preparation of Those interested in attaining more kick-off workshop in Manila in April course content and teaching materials. information should contact project 2005, attended by all partners and key An important milestone for the procoordinator Arti Ahluwalia (University officials from the Manila Health ject was the involvement of other stakeof Pisa),
[email protected]; Service, World Health Organization holders outside the university, such as Mannan Mridha (Royal Institute of (WHO) representatives, and Embassy the Ministry/Department of Health, Technology, Stockholm) mannan@kth. and European Union staff. This was industry, prominent health institutions se; Nilo Bugtai (DLSU, Manila) followed by a series of intensive trainin the country, and faculty members
[email protected]; or Tresna ing courses, attended by faculty membelonging to other universities. In the Soemardi (University of Indonesia, bers and health care professionals, Philippines, in particular, preliminary Jakarta)
[email protected].
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10 IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY MAGAZINE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
