Fiji National University team meets with the team from Soonchunhyang University.

The Fiji National University has started implementing the project plan for its College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences (CMNHS) new Medical Simulation Centre, which is fully funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) of the Republic of Korea.

The multi-million-dollar Medical Simulation Centre will be constructed at FNU’s Pasifika Campus – the home of the medical learning hub for Fiji and the Pacific.

KOICA has chosen Soonchunhyang University as the contractor to serve as the Project Management Consultant (PMC). Their duties involve building a three-floor simulation center, enhancing the medical education curriculum, providing essential medical equipment, and improving the skills of health professionals through simulation training. In the immediate future, the simulation center aims to strengthen the capacity of FNU’s healthcare workforce, with the long-term goal of becoming a model for the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr Byung Wook Yoo, the project lead and Dean for the Office of Global Education and Exchange of Soonchunhyang University, stated that the Medical Simulation Center would improve the healthcare sector in the Pacific and its neighboring region through the provision of high-quality training to students.

“These programmes would be tailored for various proficiency levels and may incorporate simulation dummies to facilitate safe learning before engaging with real patients. This approach would guarantee that FNU graduates are adequately equipped for the constantly evolving field of medicine.”

“I am happy to report that from the outset, all team members have fostered a spirit of cooperation with KOICA and Soonchunhyang. This collaboration aligns perfectly with the Korean people’s and KOICA’s desire to support public health initiatives in Fiji. I am honoured to play a role in strengthening Fiji’s medical sector through this joint effort.”

With the impending construction of the state-of-the-art Medical Simulation Centre, FNU’s College of Medicine is poised to usher in a new era of healthcare leadership development.

This state-of-the-art Centre will equip students with access to advanced training modalities, fostering the acquisition of critical competencies essential for progressing in the medical profession.

CMNHS Acting Dean, Dr Amelia Turagabeci, said the Centre would contribute towards the training of quality medical and public health graduates.

“The College for Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences (CMNHS) simulation lab will offer significant advantages not only for medical students but also for those enrolled in other clinical and allied health programmes like physiotherapy, nursing, and dentistry and others,” she said.

“The lab will address a critical need by providing safe and supervised settings/controlled settings for students to practice essential skills. While simulations differ from working with real patients, they will offer valuable experience. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with procedures, including those performed with computerised equipment, thus enhancing their readiness for real-world scenarios.”