A group of doctors and medical specialists from Britain has successfully carried out the world’s first robot surgery on a patient.

Not only was it successful, the new surgery technique will reduce surgery and operation time, while at the same time adding extra precision and allow surgeons to attend to more complex cases in the future.

During the operation, a Consultant Radiologist used a joystick and a high resolution monitor screen to control a robotic arm attached with a sensor.

A 78 year old patient, James Arnold became the first patient to have his aneurysm repaired through this robotic surgery, ending his wait for more than ten years after the illness was first discovered. He was in good health after the operation and was discharged from hospital two days later.

The operation was done using a robot to repair a condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm, involving important artery that pumps blood throughout the body. The illness can be fatal, and every year, it kills about 7,000 people.

The surgery took place in St. Mary’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

The robot, called Sensei costs more than US$700,000 to develop, and is only available in two hospitals in the UK – two in the St. Mary’s and another in Bart’s Hospital, which is also in London.

The newly built Sarawak Maritime Academy has officially commenced its operation and is to receive its first batch of students.

The new students will be pursuing a diploma course in Marine Engineering and Nautical Studies, which runs for two years.

Upon graduation, each student will receive a certificate of competency from the Malaysian Marine Department, which is a pre-requisite for any aspiring trainee who wish to work as a Marine Engineer or Navigating Officer on board of a ship.

The Sarawak Maritime Academy is the first of its kind in the east Malaysia, and is second overall in the country after the Malaysia Maritime Academy in Melaka. A total of RM25 million has been spent to build and set up the academy, spanning an area of 2.8 hectares. It is equipped with state-of-the art facilities and equipment, and meets all the standard requirements by the International Maritime Organization.

The institution is also set up with an aim to produce more local seafarers, especially in Sarawak, where the majority of the current qualified seafarers in the state today coming from overseas and neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, India and Philippines.

The maritime academy can take about 400 trainees, and is able to provide 150 places for hostels and accommodation at one time.

The director of the academy, Captain Goh Chin Guan, an experienced maritime personnel, told that maritime industry pays good salary, with a qualified cadet officer earning between $5,000 to $10,000 while a captain can earn as much as $15,000 per month.

Taylor’s College, School of Hospitality and Tourism (TCHT) was recently awarded Gold Award by PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association), making it the first tertiary institution in Malaysia to receive such award.

TCHT wins the Gold Award for Education and Training Category.

PATA is a membership association that carries out assessment and recognize organizations that offer high standard of service in travel and tourism industry. PATA awards schools, hotels and commercial airlines which provides best quality in their operation on annual basis.

One of the key contributions by Taylor’s College, School of Hospitality and Tourism is the Hotel Industry Apprentice Scheme (HIAS) program, which was introduced way back in 1996 as an effort to train school leavers.

It offers an affordable alternative for secondary school leavers who are faced with financial challenge and come from poor families to make a career head start in the hospitality industry. To date, more than 1,400 students have enrolled and completed the program, many of whom holding senior positions in renowned hotels today.

Some of other courses offered by TCHT include Certificate in Hotel Operation, French Diploma in Culinary Arts, French Diploma in Tourism, Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Bachelor of Tourism Management and Engineering, and Professional Master in International Tourism & Hospitality Management.