The perks of studying at the Belize Medical College
Earlier this month, a group of fifty Indian nationals arrived in Belize to pursue medical studies at the Central American Health Science University. Their entrance into the country, in the wake of the recent passport and visa scandals, was met with suspicion, however, their documents would later check out. Several of those students have since come forward to discuss their reasons for choosing Belize Medical College.
Raja Sckhar, Student, Belize Medical College
“It is very good to study to study in Belize medical College; those who want to complete their studies in four years. It’s a very short time when compared to India it is nearly six years. Here we are going to study for four years where as two years basic sciences in Belize and two year clinical relations in Nepal. Right now there are about seventy students came from India and they are doing well with their studies and they are very happy with what they are studying. I’m here one and a half years and I’m good here and the people here are friendly and they are nice things here to see like Bacab, Cave tubing and you can really enjoy the atmosphere here.”
Reporter
Raja Sckhar
“Would you encourage students—both locally and abroad—to study at Belize Medical College?”
Raja Sckhar
“Yeah if they want to complete studying in a short duration and they can even prepare for the other exams and they can even go to other countries and it is good to study.”
Reporter
“If you are a foreign student studying here at Belize Medical College, do you have freedom to move around and visit the various sites of the country?”
Raja Sckhar
“They allow us to go to many places like Old Belize, Bacab, Cave tubing, San Pedro. Those are very nice locations to see and we really enjoy it a lot.”
Gayathri Kawnan
Gayathri Kawnan, Student, Belize Medical College
“There are a lot of Indians here and I spoke to a lot of the seniors and there were a lot of options and this was like one of the places that got my attention. There is a one year and eight month thing of course and it looked like it was pretty appealing to me. You have to come here because it is much more interesting.”
Reporter
“Since you’ve been here, have you been able to do any sightseeing or go on any trips?”
Gayathri Kawnan
“Yes, we went cave tubing the other day and we went zip-lining—it was amazing. And we did the ATV car thing. It was amazing and I like remember that. That was like one of the first places…we plan to like go out during the vacations more.”
Murali Rudraju
Dr. Murali Rudraju, Director of Special Projects and Development, Belize Medical College
“It is going to be an industry on its own. Basically you are looking at foreign students coming into Belize; they are going to be studying here; they are going to be spending two years of their time here. Every single student on a monthly average spends about three hundred to five hundred U.S. dollars between his rent his food and other things. So when you have hundred-odd students and you multiple that, you are talking about around fifty thousand indirect expenses that the students are going to within the economy turn it around. And then direct benefit to the institution. Of course they pay their fees and we employee people and that comes out to around two hundred and fifty thousand dollars every four months. So this thing is going to be something where foreign exchange is generated for the country.”
The teachers are medical practitioners in local hospitals.
