By Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin
Pix Izwan Azman

SHAH ALAM, 18 Oct, 2012 – The National University of Malaysia (UKM) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BP Hearing Solutions Sdn Bhd (BPHS) allowing students from the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences of its Faculty of Health Sciences (FSK) to undergo internship at the company.

The MoU for the cooperation was signed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community  Partnership), Professor Prof Dato’ Dr Saran Kaur Gill and BPHS Director, Jovey Beh. BPHS is a subsidiary of BP Healthcare Group now celebrating its 30^th anniversary.

Mr Beh said the partnership began in Sept last year and it had so far provided practical and real working experience to 28 third and fourth year undergraduates of the programme.

BPHS provides hearing centres as a platform for education and learning for students in Audiology so that they would not ony be exposed to theory but also its practice.

Prof Saran said internship at the company will give UKM students an added advantage upon graduation.

She said studies showed that 15% or 1.15 million children in the country are in various stages of hearing loss and it was important that children are given the opportunity to test and detect hearing loss.

Hearing problems increases with age and its loss in adults could lead to miscommunication, social withdrawl, confusion, depression and reduced functional status.

UKM with its expertise in Audiology can act as a reference centre for hearing, including for children.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof Dr Siti Zamratol-Mai Sarah Mukari; head of the Audiology Programme, Assoc Prof Dr Cila Umat and the BPHS Director of Finance and Investment, Mr. Chevy Beh were present at the signing.

Mr Jovey Beh said the MoU allows for an unrigid practical and flexible training period for students as they are allowed to go into its lab and work at the firm until their graduation.

He said BPHS with the largest network of hearing centres with more than 50 branches throughout Malaysia welcomes UKM graduates interested in building their careers with the company.