GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has established a special committee comprising external experts to review the outcomes of the examination system and process in the Medical Sciences higher education degree that it offers.

USM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan said the committee would scrutinise the level of integrity currently practised in the process and examination system conducted for every candidate.

"This committee will compose of experts and professionals in the field, from various institutions."

Faisal said the committee was established because of a complaint made by a Master's candidate in the USM Medical programme, who claimed that there was unfairness in the evaluation system, which led to the candidate failing the examination.

He said the university had conducted an internal inquiry on this matter and discovered that the examination system all the while had been conducted thoroughly and regulated by strict procedures, with the involvement of external experts, and conducted not by a sole lecturer.

He added that following the announcement of examination results, candidates would be notified for them to provide feedback regarding which component of the examination that requires revision, if any.

"Nevertheless, to uphold integrity and to safeguard the good name of the university, USM has even established an external committee to really ensure that the system and the process both are truly upright, and conducted with integrity and credibility.

"This matter also needs to be looked into, to convince all parties that the university always upholds the examination process and system and ensures that they deliver the level of expertise and professionalism demanded of the field."

Faisal said the inquiry committee would then provide a report and feedback to the university at the earliest.

By Audrey Dermawan - June 25, 2022 @ 4:05pm

USM sets up external committee to look into medical programme's fairness issue