On May 4th, a delegation from Kursk State Medical University (KSMU) in Russia visited the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The warm welcome was extended to the delegates by Prof. Upul Subasinghe, who serves as the Acting Vice Chancellor of USJ. During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Mohamad Toufic Chahine, the Director of the International Medical Institute at Kursk State Medical University, took the lead in guiding the discussion. He provided an informative overview of Kursk State Medical University and clarified the purpose of their visit. The esteemed position of Kursk State Medical University in Russia was highlighted, setting the stage for potential collaborations. Assoc. Prof. Chahine expressed a keen interest in partnering with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to establish exchange programs for medical students and to support research initiatives within the medical faculty. The benefits of network education were also discussed. It was emphasized that the curriculum provided at Kursk State Medical University is the same for both local and international students, with a mix of clinical students from various backgrounds. Additionally, Prof. Aloka Pathirana, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences identified specific areas where research opportunities could be provided. Furthermore, he highlighted the overall understanding of medical faculties in Sri Lanka, giving particular emphasis to the esteemed standing of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura within the country. Lastly, Prof. Aloka Pathirana shed light on the types of research that the students at USJ are currently involved in, demonstrating their active participation in meaningful scientific endeavors.
