The students who are part of the largest cohort from Malaysia to graduate from the Faculty of Dentistry.
The largest cohort of Malaysian international dental students graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry yesterday.
Just over two years ago, 24 tauira arrived at the Dunedin campus to begin their Bachelor of Dental Surgery studies at the University of Otago.
One of the graduates, Abraham Wong, says he is elated to see his cohort do so well and flourish at Otago, and that they can now look to begin their next exciting chapter.
“My time at Otago has been both a time of personal growth and hard work with assignments that have genuinely equipped us for the work we will be doing as dentists,” Abraham says.
“The facilities have been great too, especially the new building and its resources.”
As a Singaporean resident, Abraham needed a dental degree recognised by the Singapore Dental Council and so Otago was the obvious choice for him.
“A great perk is that there are usually many international students going to Otago and so you know you’ll also have some homely company during your time here.”
Abraham Wong after having his tooth removed by fellow Bachelor of Dental Surgery graduate Cynthia Lau.
Despite being far from home, Abraham says Otago kaimahi and tauira made him feel welcomed into the Faculty and he will look back fondly on his time in New Zealand.
On graduation day, delegates from Abraham’s home University, the International Medical University (IMU), also attended the celebrations.
This group included IMU Dentistry Dean Professor Seow Liang Lin and International Advisor and former Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Baba.
Abraham says it warms his heart that IMU staff still remember their students in New Zealand and that they travelled all the way from Kuala Lumpur to share this milestone with them.
Faculty of Dentistry Dean Professor Paul Cooper says he is glad to see this cohort achieve their aspirations and to be able to host the IMU delegates during their time here.
Paul says this success has stemmed from the University of Otago’s ongoing relationship with the IMU which included a trip to their campus earlier this year.
Travelling alongside Professor Andrew Tawse-Smith, the visit was prompted by the 35th IMU University Academic Council Meeting and included them presenting on what studying at the Dunedin campus would be like for IMU undergraduate students.
“The dentistry faculty has a longstanding and successful relationship with the IMU, and so we’re very glad to be hosting their prominent staff and celebrating with their students this December,” Paul says.
“I’m grateful to IMU for their continued efforts to partner with us. I’m hopeful for a future where we’ll have many more students like Abraham who are able to take the skills they learn at Otago back home to support our international communities.”
Kōrero by the Division of Health Sciences Communications Adviser, Kelsey Swart.