KUANTAN: Kolej Shahputra is set to become the first higher institution of learning in the country to collaborate with the University of Hertfordshire (UH) in England in offering a nursing science degree course.

The Kuantan-based private college is now the only institution of higher learning in the east coast to offer three nursing courses.

Executive chairman Datuk Dr Azman Zaini Abdul Ghanie said the nursing science course would be offered once they received the green light from the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

"The two-year degree course is expected to recruit its first intake in March next year.

In order to gain admission, one must be either a diploma holder in nursing or hold an equivalent qualification from a government-recognised local institution of higher learning and must be registered with the Nursing Board Malaysia."
Azman was speaking after the memorandum of agreement was signed between Kolej Shahputra and UH here recently.

He said the two-year duration for the course was a standard academic criterion adopted by UH.

The British university would also provide the syllabus, examination questions and lecturers.

"Upon completing the Shahputra-Hertfordshire nursing degree programme, the student will fly to England to attend a graduation ceremony at UH," he said.

UH vice-chancellor Professor Tim Wilson said the university had confidence in its partner as Shahputra met all the criteria required of an institution of higher learning.