Imperial hosts student exchange from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

A student delegation from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine visited Imperial as part of the partnership between the two institutions.

Eighteen students from LKCMedicine visited Imperial College London from 5 to 11 March as part of the second LKCMedicine – Imperial College School of Medicine Exchange Programme

The students visited the College as part of an exchange programme designed to enhance links between the two medical schools. As part of the exchange a similar delegation of Imperial’s own students will visit LKCMedicine in Singapore later this year.

The visit offered an immersive experience to allow the students to explore what it is like to be a medical student in London. Over the week the group took part in a range of academic activities including Year 1 anatomy dissection and practicals, Year 2 lectures and clinical teachings and Year 5 general practice (GP) placements.

The students also got to experience the social and cultural side of London, visiting some of the city’s best known attractions such as the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe and St Paul's Cathedral during their visit.

International Collaboration

LKCMedicine is a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Imperial. With its innovative curriculum developed in partnership with Imperial, LKCMedicine pioneers the use of e-learning tools so students can make the most of their contact time with academics and patients.

Martin Lupton addressing the visiting students

Martin Lupton, Associate Dean and Head of the Undergraduate School of Medicine at Imperial, said: “We are extremely proud of our collaborative role in developing LKCMedicine with the NTU in Singapore; and feel that it is important to continuously strengthen the connections between our Schools.

“The Imperial-LKCMedicine Exchange Programme was developed to enhance the student experience and maintain a close relationship between our two schools. The students experienced an immersion into medical student life at Imperial; participating in curriculum and social activities with Imperial Faculty of Medicine students, and experiencing the rich culture of London.”

Student Exchange

Following the visit a number of LKCMedicine students shared their experience of studying in Singapore and their reflections on Medicine at Imperial.

Kannan Ramanthan

“‘The LKC-ICL exchange was a unique experience for me mainly due to dissections. It was really an intriguing experience as I have never been inside a dissection room, let alone, carry out a dissection. I had the opportunity to observe my counterparts during their lessons, learn from them and had the privilege of carrying out the dissection as well. The idea of using a human body to learn while maintaining respect for the donor is inspiring and I really hope to carry out more dissections in the future. I am truly grateful for Imperial’s hospitality and efforts in making the exchange a fruitful one for me.”

LKC Students visiting Imperial College Union

Elizabeth Wang

“It was great being able to meet our Imperial counterparts and forge friendships with them. One thing I enjoyed the most about the exchange was being able to go on an attachment with the GP Surgery Clinic as well as the Clinical Simulation at Charing Cross Hospital. They gave me insights on the NHS system and I was exposed to a variety of cases that are not commonly seen in the GP clinics we have in Singapore. It was also fun doing examinations on a real patient with pathology as we have always done examinations on patients with normal physiology. Moreover, the clinicians were very enthusiastic about teaching us and readily answered all questions we had. I am looking forward to having our Imperial counterparts over in Singapore and hope that they will have as much fun as we had!”

Taking part in a practical at Imperial

Adriel Kek

“Imperial provided excellent hosts for our short stay in London. Both students and faculty were extremely welcoming and went out of their way to ensure that our stay was a comfortable and enjoyable one. For instance, Professor Davies and Nicole from the London Office of LKCMedicine took the time out of their busy schedules to guide us around the South Bank, with highlights including stops at the Hunterian Museum as well as the oldest operating theatre in London. Overall, we enjoyed our stay here very much and would certainly like to come back again.”