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COE advances ASEAN biomedical engineering

IMPROVING REGIONAL HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT. Dr. Arti Ahluwalia of the University of Pisa facilitates the training on Introduction to Bioengineering.

To improve the health care delivery system in the Philippines and Indonesia, the College of Engineering partnered with the University of Pisa in Italy, Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, and the University of Indonesia in Jakarta. The first of a six-part series of intensive trainings on Biomedical/Clinical Engineering was held from July 25 to 29 at the Ariston Estrada Seminar Room.

The training was part of their project “Development of Core Competencies in the areas of Biomedical and Clinical Engineering in the Philippines and Indonesia,” and is funded by the European Commission through the Asia Link Programme. Vice President for Academics and Research Dr. Julius Maridable serves as the project local manager.

The project aims to train biomedical engineers to manage and maintain clinical and hospital equipment. The program also seeks to promote the exchange of best practices in biomedical and clinical engineering courses between universities. In addition, this project will lay down the basis for a long term partnership among European and Asian universities and create the conditions whereby other Asian universities will be able to benefit from the network.

Key activities under the program will be training of personnel in clinical and healthcare management, medical instrumentation, and the fundamentals of bioengineering as well as the initiation of a Masters Program in Biomedical Engineering (BME). The project will also involve internship in local hospitals and research collaboration in the European institutions for two years.

Titled “Introduction to Bioengineering, Biomaterial and Biomechanics of Soft Tissue, Tissue Engineering,” the intensive training was attended by faculty members of COE, College of Science, and the DLS-Health Sciences Campus. Medical professionals from the Philippine General Hospital and Manila Doctors Hospital were likewise invited to the intensive training.

Dr. Arti Ahluwalia from the University of Pisa facilitated the activity.

The COE is set to receive from the European Commission a grant amounting to £ 45,200 in terms of equipment, teaching materials, and books. The European Commission will likewise initiate the establishment of a Biomedical Engineering Laboratory in the University.

In School Year 2003-2004, COE began offering its BS in Manufacturing Engineering and Management with specialization in Biomedical Engineering. This program is an interdisciplinary course that encompasses medicine, biology, and engineering. It prepares the students in the different manufacturing, bioengineering materials and processes, electronics, computer studies, automation technology, and the management of people and technology.