MPI to Launch Diploma in Nursing Amid Rising Demand for Healthcare Professionals

MPI Board of Directors chairman Paul Wong said at a recent press conference that MPI is grateful to be able to develop and launch this new programme with giants in the healthcare industry such as Rejang Medical Centre in Sibu.

“Our nursing students need not worry about funding to support their tuition fees, as MPI offers a seamless education experience, from onboarding to obtaining educational aid or scholarships.”

“MPI will be the launching pad for their nursing careers locally or internationally. We will also further enhance our elder care programme to support the needs of the community,” he said.

MPI has proposed the July Semester 2025 as the target date for the first intake of the programme.

The three-year programme is part of MPI’s effort to support the government’s healthcare initiatives in addressing the shortage of qualified nurses in Malaysia.

The Ministry of Health Malaysia has projected a nearly 60 per cent shortage of nurses by 2030, which potentially threatens patient care and the well-being of healthcare workers.

MPI’s Diploma in Nursing programme equips students with the knowledge, skills, and ethics to provide high-quality, client-centred medical care.

This diploma programme provides a comprehensive blend of theory and hands-on clinical training to prepare students for real-world nursing practice.

Graduates will excel in critical thinking, communication, leadership, and digital proficiency while upholding professionalism and lifelong learning to enhance individual and community health.

Graduates will also become registered nurses after passing the Malaysian Nursing Board Licensing Examination.

Career pathways include working as registered nurses in government or private hospitals, clinics, or community health centres. Other potential roles are sister, nurse manager, matron, director of nursing, clinical instructor, nurse educator, tutor, lecturer, researcher, and head of nursing programme.

Graduates may also seek international employment in countries such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United Kingdom, and beyond.

Students interested in furthering their education may pursue post-basic courses, including midwifery, critical care, paediatrics, gerontology, infection control, orthopaedics, mental health, and more, or progress to a Bachelor of Nursing.

Key areas that students will learn throughout the course include Basic Nursing Care and Procedures, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Parasitology & Immunology, Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Community Health, Mental Health Nursing, Communication, Ethics & Law in Nursing, Clinical Practice in Hospitals and Health Facilities under Supervision, Professional Development, Leadership, and Critical Thinking Skills.

Students from both Science and Arts streams are eligible to apply, provided they meet the minimum entry requirements set by the Malaysian Nursing Board.

For the 2025 and 2026 intakes, the specific requirements are a minimum of three credits in Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics (Modern or Additional), and a Science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Science, or Additional Science), and a pass in two other subjects, including English and one additional subject of choice.

Meanwhile, Wong also said that MPI will continue to press forward to further improve itself in the current competitive environment.

He said MPI will focus on its accounting and business programmes, Early Childhood Education programme, healthcare, social work, language and communication, and other programmes that serve the needs of the community.

“All programmes at MPI place strong emphasis on applied learning. It involves students engaging in hands-on experiences, projects, and case studies that directly connect classroom learning to practical applications.“

“I call it a practical-based learning approach and case study method of learning. This approach helps MPI students assimilate into society and the workplace easily and with a strong advantage,” he said.

He also introduced MPI’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Principal, Dr Lu Huong Ying, who has more than 20 years of experience working in the higher education sector.

He believed Dr Lu’s arrival at MPI is timely and expressed great confidence in her leadership.

“I am confident that with the new leadership and our push to reposition MPI as a leading private college in Sarawak, MPI will continue to play an important role in nurturing our future generation of leaders,” he said.

Also present at the press conference was MPI Board of Directors deputy chairman Dr Peter Tang.