His Highness the Prime Minister formally opens the new RCSI Medical University Of Bahrain building

The ceremony was presided over by the President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Professor Niall O Higgins; Mr Michael Horgan, Chief Executive RCSI; Professor Kevin O Malley, Founding President MUB along with senior members of both institutions and visiting dignitaries.

Launched earlier this year, the RCSI Medical University, primarily serving of the six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, (GCC) (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and The United Arab Emirates) welcomed its first intake of medical students on Saturday 9th October 2004.

Mr Michael Horgan, CEO RCSI remarked "It is a great credit to all involved in this project that we have completed a feasibility study, designed a curriculum, recruited staff and students and arrived at the opening of the MUB building less than one year after signing the MOU with the Bahrain Government. That was in mid-October 2003. It highlights the commitment and support we have received from His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and his Ministers, and the huge effort on the part of the staff of RCSI. I would also like to acknowledge the superb work of our Project Managers, Mercury International.'

Speaking at the event, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he was delighted to mark the further involvement of RCSI in the delivery of healthcare in Bahrain. "Today marks another step in the journey of cooperation in healthcare between Bahrain and Ireland which will have as its destination a state of the art facility for the Medical University of Bahrain, a joint venture between the Bahrain Government and the College," he said.

The need for Irish third level institutions to increase their foothold on the international stage also featured in the recently published OECD review of Irish Higher Education policy. The report recommended that Irish institutions, of tertiary education, market themselves more energetically, internationally, and undergo significant structural reform in order to compete on an international stage.

By opening the new MUB, RCSI as clearly embraced this concept. This initiative will further enhance the 30- year-old relationship between the Government of Bahrain and the College. The Taoiseach paid tribute to the MUB's founding President, Professor Kevin O'Malley and reiterated a remark made by the MUB President at the outset of the project.

"The Royal College of Surgeons has a proud tradition in Ireland of promoting and maintaining the highest possible standards of medical excellence and I have no doubt that that proud tradition will be carried forward here in Bahrain by Professor O'Malley and his team," the Taoiseach added.

He also acknowledged the commitment of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Bahrain who had "the vision to encourage and support this project from the start," along with the cooperation and advice of Drs. Faizal Al Mosawi and Mohamad Alamuddin.

As a constituent university of RCSI, the MUB will initially offer a five and six year degree programme in Medicine with additional courses such as Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Nursing and other health care professions to be added, as the project develops. The University will be included in the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Directory of Medical Schools and its graduates will be conferred with a world recognised MD.

Professor O'Malley went on to say,
"I am very pleased to be heading up this exciting new venture and confident that we will deliver highly competent and confident doctors, trained to the very highest international standards. The mark of our success and that of the Government of Bahrain will ultimately be seen in the delivery of first rate healthcare by the future doctors in the gulf region".