Course Focus - 29 March 2016

8/19/2019 Course Focus - 29 March 2016

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THE STAR, TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2016

special

COURSE FOCUS ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES, MEDICINE,

DENTISTRY & PHARMACY

ACCORDING to Datuk DrKamaruddin Md Isa, directorgeneral of Department ofVeterinary Services Malaysia, thereis a huge variety of job scopeswithin animal science that dependson the trend of the animal healthservice industry, social shifts, andpublic and economic demand.

Course Focus speaks to DrKavitha Jayaseelan and Dr WilliamChin, who are testaments to thegreat deal of work veterinariansdo, whether in zoos, livestockfarms or laboratories, to helpimprove the welfare of animals.

The guardianDr Kavitha has

always had aconnection

with animals. She cites her father,who is also a veterinarian, asher inspiration.

After finishing her Sijil PelajaranMalaysia, Dr Kavitha looked forpre-university options to pursueveterinary medicine at a publicinstitution.

She chose to enrol in Form 6instead of the diploma programmeat Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)because she wanted to keep heroptions open; Sijil Tinggi PelajaranMalaysia (STPM) qualifications arerecognised worldwide, whereasUPM’s animal science diplomacaters specifically for theuniversity’s own degree.

With her STPM results, sheapplied for the veterinarymedicine course in UPM. Much toher disappointment, she was givena spot to pursue a biotechnologycourse at a different universityinstead.

Dr Kavitha was determined tobecome a veterinarian and after

one year of constant appeal,she enrolled in UPM as a

student of veterinarymedicine.

The five years of veterinarymedicine studies has its challenges.Many who enrol do not understandthe actual nature of the job and thescope of animal species and jobspecifications they will have to dealwith. They end up not finishing thecourse.

“Don’t give up so easily,” advisesDr Kavitha.

It was in her third year thatDr Kavitha decided she wantedto pursue a career in wildlifeveterinary medicine instead ofcommercial general practice.

She chose Zoo Negara for herfirst-year practical placement andsubsequently volunteered there.With this experience, Dr Kavithasuccessfully applied for apermanent position there aftergraduation.

The job of a veterinarian at azoo is a whole different ball gamefrom practice in a clinic. Theveterinarians at Zoo Negara arepushed to be innovative in treatinganimals that sometimes can bedangerous to the veterinarians.

Be it the successful birth of anewborn fawn or encouraging ahand-raised chimpanzee to join itstroop, Dr Kavitha celebrates theseevents as successes.

“Malaysia has slightly morethan 2,000 registeredveterinarians in the countryunder the Malaysian VeterinaryCouncil. Graduates will have noproblem getting a job or openingup their own practice,” saysDr Chin.

The scientist

With a degree in veterinarymedicine, you can also contributeto medical solutions for animals.Fields such as natural sciencehealthcare are growing to provideeffective medication and treatmentfor livestock and farm animals.This was where Dr Chin chose tocontribute his knowledge.

His interest in veterinarymedicine was inspired by hislove for biology in his schooldays. To keep his option open, hedecided to pursue Form 6 as hispre-university foundation so hecould then apply to public higherinstitutions in Malaysia.

“While most of my peers werepursuing medicine or pharmacy, Ifound veterinary medicine moreinteresting. It presented theopportunity to study not just onespecies but covered many types ofmammals, reptiles, fishes andother creatures,” he says.

Dr Chin pursued his Degree inVeterinary Medicine at UPM.

Dr Chin was involved involunteering at turf clubs, zoos,wildlife sanctuaries, conservationprogrammes, small animal clinics,animal non-governmentalorganisations and livestock farms

to improve on skills andknowledge prior to joining thework force.

He also had the opportunity tobe part of a student exchangeprogramme in South Africa andhad first-hand experience dealing

with the conservation of Africa’sbig-five animals – lions,

buffaloes, rhinoceroses,leopards and elephants.

Starting off in thelivestock industry, Dr

Chin is now involvedin the scientific

aspect ofveterinary

medicine forInQpharmGroup Sdn

Bhd as seniormanager oftechnicalmarketing in

the AnimalHealth Divisions.

Dr Chin aims todevelop novel solutions tolivestock animal health issuesand diseases due to anincrease of antibioticresistancein disease-causing bacteria.

l Minimum requirements inSPM/O-Levels:

– Credit in English,mathematics, additionalmathematics

– Pass in Bahasa Malaysia

l Minimum requirements inSTPM or Matriculation

– CGPA 3.0

l Local education options forDegree in Veterinary Medicine:

Universiti Putra Malaysia – Alternative entry pathway:

Diploma in Animal Science &Production or Asasi SainsPertanian (foundation inagricultural science)

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan – Alternative entry pathway:

foundation programme (forbumiputera students only)

l Foreign education options fora veterinary medicine degree:

HELP University AmericanDegree Program:

– Health Science Programmajoring in VeterinaryScience

– Complete degree in the USor Canada

Indonesia: – Bogor Agricultural

University, Jakarta – Universitas Gadjah Mada,

Yogyakarta – Universitas Airlangga,

Surabaya

l Institutions that arerecognised and accredited arelisted under the Second Scheduleof the Veterinary Surgeons Act1974.

l Upon graduation, graduateshave to be registered with theMalaysian Veterinary Counciland obtain a current Annual

Practicing Certificate to practiseeligibly.

Go beyond

the ordinary

Becoming a veterinarian


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course focus


OH Wee Kiat, who graduatedm The University of Nottinghamlaysia Campus (UNMC) in 2010,s among the 10 Malaysian

uths named in Forbes’ 30 underAsia 2016 announced recently.The list consists of top 30lennials who are leadingsonalities in their respectiveustries in the region.We are very proud of Teoh forng selected to be part of thistinguished list at a very earlyge in his career.However, it does not come

us as a complete surprise asttingham graduates areomplished in their respectiveas of work research and inrts,” says Prof Christine Ennew,ef executive officer and provostUNMC.

to a great startTeoh co-founded myBurgerLab2012, which has since growno four outlets with 120ployees. The business plansventure into South-East Asia.

A Forbes report stated thatBurgerLab is a Malaysiansation for its sought-after

rgers and innovativemotions.Teoh and his business partnersre revolutionaries in their ownht to have started the outlett offers a creative menu to itsrons. We are also very proudt apart from being successful

(From left) Former deputy under secretary and head of Biodiversity Section at the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment, Malaysia, Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, The University of Nottingham’s vice-chancellor Prof Sir DavidGreenaway and myBurgerLab’s co-founder Teoh Wee Kiat.

From books to burgers

entrepreneurs, they are alsoconstantly engaged in the supportof the less privileged in society,”says Prof Ennew.

Recognised forexcellence

Teoh is a business graduatewhile myBurgerLab co-founderChin Ren Yi is an engineeringgraduate of UNMC.

They were jointly conferred

the Alumnus of the Year 2014Award for their innovativeentrepreneurial efforts, by Prof SirDavid Greenaway at the AlumniLaureate Awards Ceremony heldin Kuala Lumpur.

myBurgerLab also won BestWestern Restaurant in the TimeOut KL Food Awards 2013 based onvotes cast by people who reside inKuala Lumpur.

“In everything we do, there arealways choices and we have to

make those tough choices everyday. We have to constantly checkwith ourselves whether thosechoices are made out of love orfear,” says Teoh.

About The Universityof Nottingham

One of the world’s truly globaluniversities with campuses inMalaysia, the UK and China, lastyear marked the 15th year since

setting up as UK’s first full-fledgedinternational campus in Malaysia.

Its three campuses continueto enrich the lives of studentsacross the world through globaleducation, ground-breakingresearch and communityengagement.

UNMC has 43,000 students and isthe closest thing that Britain has toa truly global university thatcarries a distinct approach tointernationalisation as well as alarge presence in its home city.

It is also one of the most popularuniversities in the UK amonggraduate employers and thewinner of Outstanding Support for

Early Career Researchers at theTimes Higher Education Awards2015.

It is ranked in the world’s top75 by the QS World UniversityRankings 2015/16, and eighth in theUK by research power according tothe Research ExcellenceFramework 2014.

UNMC has been voted theworld’s greenest campus for threeyears running, according to theGreenmetrics Ranking of WorldUniversities.

n For more information, visitwww.nottingham.edu.my.


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WHEN third-year medicalstudent John Poon went to theUnited Kingdom, he immediatelyfelt at home.

Poon had been selected froma number of students atNewcastle University MedicineMalaysia (NUMed) to spend thesummer at Newcastle University,the parent university in theUnited Kingdom.

Ever since the Britishuniversity opened a branchcampus for medicine andbiomedical science in Johor in2009, NUMed students havebeen offered the opportunity tostudy for short periods in the

UK.The main purpose of Poon’s

10-week trip was to carry out aspecial research project on theregeneration of mammals’spinal cords.

The project required him tocollaborate with a diverse rangeof students and faculty. Led byan English tutor, his teamcomprised fellow researchersfrom Germany, the Netherlandsand Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting on his trip, Poonsays, “I really enjoyed myexperience. I always knew weshared the same syllabus andlearning resources. Sometimes,we even share the same

lecturers who travel to deliverparts of the course.

“But now I have seen with myown eyes and understood frommy experience just how similarNUMed is to Newcastle UK.”

He says, “The time I spentworking with my counterpartsin the UK made me realise theoutcome of studying atNewcastle University is the samein Malaysia as it is in the UK.”

The similarities between theUK and Malaysia campuses areuseful for the students asNUMed recently became the firstuniversity outside of the UK toreceive recognition by theGeneral Medical Council (GMC) –

the statutory body that registersand regulates doctors in the UK.This was an important

milestone for NUMed as itmeans Malaysians who studymedicine at NUMed and carryout their postgraduate clinicaltraining programme in selectedMalaysian hospitals can nowapply for full registration asdoctors with the GMC as wellas the Malaysian Medical

Council (MMC).While Poon spent much of his

time exploring the regenerationof mammals’ spinal cords, hewas also able to discover thedelights of the Britishcountryside.

In his spare time and duringweekends he travelled fromEdinburgh to Essex, and realisedthat life and scenery in the UKand Malaysia were vastlydifferent.

“I wanted to make the most ofmy trip and I think I managedto. I met many people andexplored different places,including the many castles and

cathedrals of UK cities. It was allpart of my learning experience.At NUMed, we are alwaysreminded that you learn asmuch outside the classroom asyou do inside it,” he says.

Newcastle was the first UKUniversity to offer a UK PrimaryMedical qualification outside ofthe UK. Both undergraduatedegrees offered by NUMed inMedicine (MBBS) andBiomedical Sciences (BSc) areconferred by NewcastleUniversity UK.

About NUMed

Newcastle University UK

established an internationalbranch campus in Johor,Malaysia, to provide itsundergraduate degrees inBachelor of Medicine/Bachelorof Surgery (MBBS) and BSc inBiomedical Sciences, as well asopportunities for postgraduatestudy.

The programmes of studyare equivalent to those ofNewcastle’s UK-based provision,and lead to the award of thesame degrees.

By choosing to study atNUMed Malaysia, studentswill obtain a reputable UKqualification from aninternationally recognised

university at a cost significantlyless than that of studying in theUK.

The MBBS was launched in2009 and BSc in the BiomedicalSciences was launched in 2013.Both programmes offeropportunities for periods ofstudy in the UK.

n For more information, visitwww.ncl.ac.uk/numed.

NUMed student John Poon (extreme left) had a great experience duringhis stint at Newcastle University UK.

Home away

from home


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States the prestigiousSchwentker Award from JohnsHopkins University and TuftsUniversity Fellowship in Boston.

In the United Kingdom, hereceived the Hull RoyalInfirmary Fellowship Award,KUT Foundation Award, andIndividual Specialty Award forbest research by MedicalResearch Society, Royal Collegeof Physicians.

In Pakistan, he won the BestResearch Award 2012 given bythe Aga Khan University and theBest Young Research ScholarAward by the Pakistangovernment Higher EducationCommission in 2013.

In 2014, he was awarded theAR Shakoori Gold Medal Awardby the Zoological Society ofPakistan for best contributionsin biological sciences.

Prof Khan was among the top10 productive scientists selectedin Pakistan in the field ofbiological sciences (from 2,728productive scientists of Pakistan)from 2013 to 2014 and alsoreceived the Pakistan Academy

of Sciences Gold Medal inrecognition of his continuedefforts in the fight againstinfectious diseases.

Prof Khan brings with himgreat achievements and 16 yearsof research and teachingexperience to SunwayUniversity.

Prof Khan teaches because hewants to learn and aims to helptransform an academicinstitution into an intellectualprospect that is creative andfacilitates quality education.

His mission is to excel inscholarly activities in biologicalscience and positively contributeto a research-led learning

environment with an aim toimpact society.“We are all overly concerned

with fancy terms or lookingto other countries to providesolutions to our problems.The solution lies within. Weneed to be creative and criticalthinkers.”

He emphasises that newanswers to old problems oremerging issues requires one to

go back to the basics.Prof Khan shares some of his

insight on the role of research inuniversities and he describeshow the department in SunwayUniversity is changing itscurriculum to address theresearch needs of biologicalsciences in today’s world.

Prof Khan says there needs tobe more personal interactionbetween researchers at Sunway

University and students.Students need to understand

basic research and spending asummer in the laboratory or twomonths during the academicyear is not sufficient.

However, this should notdeter them from entering thelaboratory as these electiveexperiences are not meantto be one-off.

Committing more time toresearch by spending time inthe laboratory allows studentsto mature in terms of theirresearch sensitivities.

Prof Khan says, “By the end ofyour programme, you may havethe skills of a researcher but this

should be a lifelong process.Research is not a job but alifestyle. Apply these skills toyour routine lives. We atSunway University aim toproduce graduates who have theability to think creatively inresearch and question critically.This will serve as a buildingcapacity for the nation andyourself.”

Sunway University placesenormous emphasis on thedevelopment of its researchprofile. The academic team ismade up of many with strongresearch profiles and proventrack-records of publication inleading journals and campus

facilities include state-of-the-artlaboratories to support researchwork.

n For more information aboutthe various programmes offeredby the Biological SciencesDepartment at SunwayUniversity, call 03-7491 8622 ore-mail [email protected] orvisit sunway.edu.my/university/ fst/dept-bio.

course focus

THE STAR,

TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2016

Cultivate excellencen researchrecognition of his outstandingearch work in biologicalences, Prof Naveed Khan wasarded the prestigious Pakistanademy of Sciences (PAS) Golddal in November last year.n regards to his research onkroaches, he says, “Askroaches live in the filthiestces known to humans, it makesse that they have potentence mechanisms againsterbugs. While we are protectingselves against various

ections by introducing newibacterial soaps, species such askroaches thrive in polluted

vironments.”His research has led to thecovery of new antibiotics in theins of cockroaches. He believesresearch findings can help save

es in the face of increasingeats from infectious diseasesd emergence of superbugs.

“At present, more than 17 millionpeople are dying annuallyworldwide and we haveapproached a pre-antibiotic era.Hence, there is an urgent need tofind novel ways to prevent andtreat infections,” says Prof Khan,who is head (academic) of theDepartment of Biological Sciencesat Sunway University.

Prof Khan found that acockroach’s central nervous systemproduces antibiotics with strongproperties that kill bacteria that

are deadly to humans such as themethicillin-resistant staphylococcusaureus (MRSA) andneuropathogenic E-coli withoutharming human cells.

“Cockroaches have existed forsome 300 million years. They cansurvive the conditions of an atomicwar and successfully live andthrive in filthy conditions. Basedon these facts, I believe they have a

potent defense system,” saysProf Khan, who was inspired tolook for an efficient answer toinfectious diseases.

The basis of his work oncockroaches has clinched himcelebrity status in the medicalresearch world. The professor willbe looking into research on otheranimals living in pollutedenvironments next.

His research has caughtworldwide media attention asseveral documentaries were made

and shown on leading newschannels and websites such as BBC,CNN, NY Times, CNBC, LA Times aswell as news channels and peer-reviewed journals in France,Sweden, Poland, New Zealand,Norway, Ireland and the UnitedKingdom.

For his high researchproductivity, Prof Khan haspreviously received in the United

Prof Naveed Khan says Sunway University’s research programmesproduce graduates who can think and question critically.


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UTP vice-chancellor Datuk Ir (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hashim (left) receiving the MYRA six-star ratingfrom Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh while Deputy Higher Education MinisterDatuk Mary Yap Kain Ching (centre) looks on.


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Distinctivein innovationUNIVERSITI Teknologi Petronas (UTP)has been awarded a six-star ratingfor its research, development andcommercialisation efforts by theMalaysia Research Assessment or MyRA.

It is the first private and non-researchuniversity in the country to receive six stars – the highest performance level for itsresearch excellence.

The university was assessed for itsresearch and innovation achievements

from eight different areas, namely thequantity and quality of researchers, thequantity and quality of research, numberof postgraduates, quality of postgraduates,innovation, professional services and gifts,networking and linkages, and supportfacilities.

UTP vice-chancellor Datuk Ir (Dr) AbdulRahim Hashim says that participating invarious rating and ranking initiatives waspart and parcel of the university’s efforts toimprove its standing and branding as areputable provider of higher educationservices and credible partner for research.

“Such participation positions ourselvesvis-a-vis our peers. It also helps us tounderstand where our strengths and gapsare, which allows us to address themappropriately for continuous

improvement,” he says.Apart from the six-star rating, the

university has attained prestigious nationaland international recognitions in less thantwo decades since establishing.

One of its most significant achievementswas being listed in the top 200 of the 2014

Quacquerelli Symonds (QS) WorldUniversity rankings by subject forchemical engineering.

It has since improved its position andnow ranks among the top 150 in the world.

UTP’s mechanical engineeringprogramme is ranked in the top 200, a jumpfrom its previous position in the top 250 lastyear.

This is a tremendous achievement formechanical engineering that only made its

entrance into the QS ranking system lastyear.

The institution climbed up the ranks to beamong the top 160 universities in Asiaunder the QS Asian University Rankings thisyear, making it the only private universityin Malaysia to attain such a distinction.

It also ranked 288th in the 2015 QS WorldUniversity Rankings for engineering andtechnology.

UTP’s accomplishments include anoverall four-star rating from QS in 2014 aswell as five-star awards in the areas ofemployability, facilities, internationalisation,inclusiveness and innovation.

“We have successfully exceeded our goalsand expectations. I am confident that wecan achieve future goals that we have setfor ourselves. With the full support of our

stakeholders especially the Government,industries, partners, students and parents,this is our way forward in achieving globalprominence,” says Ir (Dr) Abdul Rahim.

n For more information, visitwww.utp.edu.my.


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IMU students gained valuable experience communicating nutritional knowledge and providing

consultation to visitors at the IMU SPARK Community Centre launch.

course focus


Practical skillsadd to quality

International Medical University (IMU)is Malaysia’s first and most established

private medical and health sciencesuniversity with more than 24 years ofdedicated focus in healthcareeducation.

Established in 1992, IMU pioneeredthe world’s first Partner Medical Schoolprogramme and has since gainedinternational recognition with morethan 30 world-class university partnersin Australia, New Zealand, the UnitedKingdom, Canada, the US, Ireland

and China.IMU’s main campus is located at

Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur with branchclinical schools located in Seremban,Kuala Pilah, Batu Pahat and Kluang.

Committed to its brand’s promise ofdelivering the future of betterhealthcare, IMU became a fullyintegrated healthcare institutionoffering education, healthcare servicesin both medical and complementaryalternative medicine, and research toserve and improve the quality of lives.

About IMU

This degree exposes students to practicalindustrial placements and research, givingthem valuable experience and preparingthem to be competent nutritionists upongraduation.

This gives its graduates an addedadvantage as they will be well prepared tomeet the increasing demand for nutritionistsin government agencies, industries,universities, research institutions, massmedia and businesses involved in food,nutrition, wellness, fitness and health.

The programme commences in Augustand September. If you have an interest inscience, an ability to work in a team andwant to make a difference in the lives ofothers via a career in nutrition, make anonline application today to study nutrition in

IMU and begin a career that challenges youto expand your skills and open new doors.

If you have just completed your SPM anddo not have pre-university qualification,consider enrolling in the one-year IMUFoundation in Science, the preferredfoundation and direct route for entry intoany of the university’s local degreeprogrammes.

n For more information, visit www.imu.edu.my or e-mail [email protected] or call03-2731 7272.

As a student nutritionist,participating in this eventmade me realise my rolein educating the publicand how much theyreally need nutritionalinformation based on theirdoubts and questionsasked during the event.

Heidi Young

STUDENTS of International MedicalUniversity (IMU)’s BSc (Hons) Nutrition hadthe opportunity to translate their skillsinto practice through experiential learningat a health screening held in conjunctionwith the launching of the IMU SPARKCommunity Centre at Plaza Salak Park onSept 6 last year.

Students volunteered to measure andexplain the body composition of members ofthe public who joined the health screeningevent.

In addition, students communicated andshared healthy shopping tips with the publicthrough a shopping tour in the same event.

Final-year student Ng Yeng Yi says, “Thishealth screening activity provided me a

great opportunity to serve the communitybesides gaining hands-on experience indoing a health screening for the generalpublic. This activity has brushed up my skillsin anthropometric measurement and incommunicating nutritional knowledge inspeaking. I had a fruitful experience fromparticipating in this activity and lookforward to joining more IMU Cares activitiesto sharpen my soft skills.”

Heidi Young, another final-year student,says, “As a student nutritionist, participatingin this event made me realise my role ineducating the public and how much theyreally need nutritional information based ontheir doubts and questions asked during theevent. It was a good platform to realise myshortcomings that I can improve on when itcomes to communicating with the public as

well as skills in health screening.”A second-year nutrition student Tan Yue

Mun says, “I was very happy that I learnt alot through this supermarket tour inconjunction with the SPARK CommunityCentre launching. I learnt how to read foodlabels and compare foods from the differentbrands that are available in supermarkets.The experience helped improve myknowledge.”

At IMU, the nutrition curriculum has beendeveloped to meet high internationalstandards and global needs.


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course focus

THE STAR,


PERDANA University wasestablished by the AcademicMedical Centre Sdn Bhd as aPublic-Private Partnership (PPP)initiative with the support of theUnit Kerjasama Awam Swasta ofthe Prime Minister’s Department.

The Royal College of Surgeonsin Ireland (RCSI), founded in1784, is one of the oldest medicalschools in Ireland and waschosen to establish anundergraduate teachingprogramme in medicine atPerdana University.

The majority of the teachingfaculty is from Ireland, one ofthem being Assoc Prof KarenMorgan (pic).

Assoc Prof Morgan is theacademic lead in psychology andbehavioural sciences and headof student support and personaldevelopment at the PerdanaUniversity Royal College ofSurgeons in Ireland School ofMedicine (PU-RCSI).

Assoc Prof Morgan is a healthand organisational psychologist.She has a master’s in social andorganisational psychology(University College Dublin,Ireland) and a PhD in healthpsychology (Royal College ofSurgeons in Ireland).

Assoc Prof Morgan joinedPU-RCSI in 2011 when theprogramme was established.

Route to

biomedical

science

IF you enjoyed carrying outexperiments and handlingequipment during scienceclasses in secondary school, thenbiomedical science may be right

for you. As you advance on thispath, you will discover that thereis more to this field than meetsthe eye.

With Sijil Pelajaran Malaysiaqualifications, you can pursuethe Diploma in MedicalLaboratory Technology offeredat SEGi University and Colleges.

This programme includes amedical laboratory placement,providing hands-on training inthe components of biochemistry,haematology, serology,histopathology, cytology,microbiology and parasitology.

Upon completion, you canproceed to the Bachelor ofBiomedical Science (Hons)

offered at SEGi University.This programme is in linewith the National HigherEducation Strategic Plan toproduce a desirable percentageof scientists and researchers inMalaysia to cater to the growingdemand of the healthcareindustry.

Biomedical science mostlyinvolves the study of humanbiology as well as viruses,

bacteria and other life formsthat influence the human body.

Biomedical science studentsstudy the human body and areexposed to various medical

diagnostics and latestdevelopments covering the areasof anatomy and physiology,clinical biochemistry, humangenetics, medical microbiology,cellular pathology, bloodsciences and pharmacology.

With this qualification,you can become a biomedicalscientist, forensic scientist,healthcare scientist,microbiologist andtoxicologist, among others.

The Diploma in MedicalLaboratory Technology isavailable at SEGi campuses inKota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur,Penang and Sarawak.

The Bachelor of Biomedical

Science (Hons) programme isavailable only at SEGi Universityin Kota Damansara.

n For more information, callSEGi University (03-6145 1777 or1800 887 344), SEGi CollegeKuala Lumpur (03-2070 2078 or1800 888 028) or SEGi CollegePenang (04-263 3888) or [email protected] or visitwww.segi.edu.my.

Biomedical science students at SEGi are exposed to a wide range ofmedical diagnostics and developments.

Prior to this, she worked in theDepartment of Psychology inRCSI Dublin teaching medicine,physiotherapy and pharmacyto undergraduate andpostgraduate students.

She has also taught at the RCSIcampus in Bahrain and is thecurrent president elect of theEuropean Health PsychologySociety.

Assoc Prof Morgan’s researchinterests include quality ofcare, ageing and populationhealth.

She works closely withMalaysian collaborators in theUniversity Malaya-based Ageingand Age-Associated Disorders

Research group on projects thataim to improve the health ofMalaysia’s ageing population.

These projects focus on areassuch as fall preventions and thepromotion of independence in

patients with arthritis.Assoc Prof Morgan also

works with PU colleagueson research related to HPVvaccination.

Students in PU-RCSI areencouraged to become involvedin research. In 2012, Assoc ProfMorgan led the development ofthe PU-RCSI Summer ResearchProgramme, which hasfacilitated students participatingin a wide range of laboratory,community and hospital/clinic-based research projects locallyand internationally.

Ongoing student projectsinclude studies on organdonation, health risk behaviours,

dengue, child injury and abuseand the transfer of diseasebetween animals and humans.

n For more information, visit perdanauniversity.edu.my/purcsi/.

Quality Irish expertise


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IN life you often meet“superheroes” who strive toserve and save people’s lives.Sarahtul Aisyah AhmadSuhaime is one such person.

Sarahtul always dreamt ofbecoming a naval officer untilshe was offered the opportunityto enrol in the Diploma inNursing programme at RamsaySime Darby Healthcare College(RSDH College).

At first, Sarahtul was

apprehensive about pursuing anursing programme. Havingentered the second year of herprogramme, Sarahtul now hasno doubt that she made theright choice.

So far, she has successfullymaintained a CGPA of 3.5 andabove throughout the semesters.

Motivated by a cause

According to Sarahtul, hermother Samsiah Yusoff is herpillar of strength and hascontinuously given her supportand motivation in her studies.

In addition, her nursinglecturer Maureen Gong has

always been supportive.“Nursing is a noble

profession. Where else can yougive so much of yourself topeople whom you hardly know?I love the programme and haveno regrets taking it up. Apartfrom learning about nursing,I’ve learnt a lot aboutleadership, friendship andteamwork and it has helpedenhance my communicationskills.

“The education that I’veobtained from RSDH College isincomparable. The lecturersand clinical instructors area team of dedicated andpassionate veterans from the

healthcare field. They ensurethat each student is providedwith the best learningexperience,” says Sarahtul.

“The training programme atSubang Jaya Medical Center isinternationally accredited so Iget to learn about clinicalgovernance, best practices andmanagement systems. This isimportant as I can workanywhere in the world withconfidence.”

Sarahtul sees herselfbecoming a compassionate andcaring nurse who is ever readyto serve and care for others.

She intends to pursue aspecialisation in midwifery and

work in Saudi Arabia one day.

About the college

RSDH College is unique as ahigher education provider as itis the only college awarded thehighest quality rating of sixstars by the Malaysian Ministryof Higher Education in theMyQuest 2015 quality ratingof Malaysian Colleges.

Become asuperhero


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Degree – BSc (Hons) Contemporary

Nursing 2+0 (in collaborationwith University of

Hertfordshire, the UnitedKingdom)

Advanced diploma – Advanced Diploma in

Trauma and Emergency Care

Diploma – Diploma in Nursing – Diploma in Nursing

(Assistant Nurse ConversionProgram)

– Diploma in Medical Assistant – Diploma in Physiotherapy – Diploma in Medical

Laboratory Technology – Diploma in Healthcare

Service

Pre-university programme – Foundation in Science

Postgraduate – Postgraduate Certificate in

Teaching – Professional Certificate in

Nursing – Professional Certificate in

Critical Care Nursing – Professional Certificate in

Perioperative Nursing – Professional Certificate in

Renal Nursing – Professional Certificate in

Oncology Nursing

Programmes offered:

As a healthcare education

provider and backed by theleading Ramsay Sime DarbyHealthcare Group, RSDH Collegeunderstands the unique trainingrequirements for healthcarepersonnel.

n For more information,visit 1300 888 321or 03-5191 4531 or visitwww.ramsaysimedarbycollege.edu.my.

Nursing student Sarahtul AisyahAhmad Suhaime (right) with herlecturer Maureen Gong.


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Decoding DNAD you know that you have the ability toode yourself? Specifically, decoding youroxyribonucleic acid (DNA) – the blueprintife – will give you the best and mosturate information related to your health.

Discovering the secrets of life that liehin DNA can significantly improve ourality of life.However, there are three billion lettersevery person’s DNA. So how can youode it?

This is where computing comes in, wherelogy is coupled with informationhnology (IT) to give birth to a new field ofdies known as bioinformatics.t plays a major role in the analysis ofssive biological sequence data usinghisticated computing skills.

MMU’s bioinformatics course is an integrative programme that encompasses the study of biologyusing computational and quantitative methods.

0 course focusTHE STAR,


presentations in smaller classes. Project andindustry experience add another dimensionto the knowledge gained in lectures as well.”

Through this study, DNA samplingsundergo various procedures such as cell

harvest, cell lysis, protein digestion and DNAprecipitation before one can obtain the finalresults.

Bioinformatics can become the tool thatsolves global hunger, prevents death bydiseases, solves crimes and helps people livein greener and cleaner environments.

This programme is delivered throughlectures and practical work. Students gethands-on experience at well-equippedmolecular and computer laboratoriesavailable on campus.

Encompassing all aspects of gathering,storing, handling, analysing, interpreting andtransmitting vast amounts of biologicalinformation, a career in bioinformaticsplaces you at the cutting edge of sciencewhere molecular biology meets informationtechnology.

The programme provides a strongfoundation in the discovery of new drugsand vaccines, development of moleculardiagnostic kits and new gene products,personalised and preventive medicine,

crop improvement and evolutionarystudies.

With lecturers who have extensiveexperience in the field, state-of-the-artlaboratories as well as good relationshipswith organisations in the bioinformaticsindustry, MMU provides the best place inMalaysia to learn and get a degree inbioinformatics.

MMU is offering automatic rebates forevery student enrolled in its April intake.Foundation students are assured rebatesof 5% while undergraduates receive 10%.

On top of these rebates, qualifiedstudents stand to enjoy scholarshipscollectively worth up to RM2.5mil.

n For more information, visitwww.mmu.edu.my or call 1300 800 668.

The Faculty of Information Science andTechnology (FIST) at Multimedia University(MMU) Malacca offers an undergraduatedegree programme that prepares studentsfor the field of bioinformatics.

The integrative three-year programmethat encompasses the study of biology usingcomputational and quantitative methodscovers the theoretical and practical aspectsof the field.

FIST senior lecturer Ong Chia Sui, whospecialises in molecular microbiologyand mycobacterialogy, says, “The dataneeds to be managed with IT tools inthis interdisciplinary field. A significantcomponent of our course is practicallaboratory work and problem-basedlearning, besides lectures and student

Beyond academicsFOR final-year mechanical engineeringstudent Clarina Chua (pic), life as auniversity student goes beyond academicstudies.

From teaching refugees how to build aflashlight and simple water filtration systemto getting involved in the installation of amicrohydro generator for the Buduk AruCollege in Ba’Kelalan, Sarawak, the21-year-old has a thirst for activitiesthat create big impacts.

“Giving back to society has always beenmy passion. In March last year, my friends

and I established the student chapter ofEngineers Without Borders in MonashUniversity Malaysia. Engineers WithoutBorders (EWB) is a non-profit organisationaimed at providing simple sustainablesolutions to improve the livelihoodsof the underprivileged,” she says.

The student chapter of EWB atMonash has been making waves,working together with other NGOsto make life better for theunderprivileged. One of its firstprojects involved hosting 20Somalian refugee students andteaching them basic First Aidas well as how to build awater filtration systemand flashlight.

“These students are just

passing through Malaysiaand they do not yet knowtheir destination. We hopethat through these workshopsthey learn importanttechnical skills and areexposed to the idea ofengineering and the concept ofsustainability, which they willbe able to take wherever theygo,” says Chua.

In July last year, the group

undertook a larger scale project incollaboration with Light Up Borneo, agroup that promotes access to electricityand lighting in Borneo where such basicamenities are significantly absent.

They took a two-and-a-half-hourflight followed by a 10-hour drive intoa rural village in Sarawak to install ahydrogenerator.

The 19 students together with theirsupervisor Dr Babak Salamati, seniorlecturer at the School of Engineering atMonash University Malaysia, spent a total

of three days with the villagers, getting toknow them and immersing themselves inthe culture and the way they live.

Putting in the muscle and technicalknow-how, the installed

hyrdrogenerator finally gavevillagers access to electricity.

The enthusiastic youngengineers are now involved in thethree-phase Project Positive LivingCommunity.

Positive Living Community isa shelter home for people

rejected by the society – thosewho are disabled or dealingwith AIDS and drug oralcohol addiction.

The project, which beganin August last year, is now

in its second phase. Thiswill see them working onconverting the storage roominto a multipurpose room forthe residents.

n For more information onthe engineering programmesoffered at the School of

Engineering, MonashUniversity Malaysia, visitwww.eng.monash.edu.my.


11/12

WE eat for many reasons – out of hunger orfor pleasure, flavour, comfort and nutrition –but have you considered the impact youreating habits have on your body?

According to the head of UCSI University’s(UCSI) nutrition with wellness programme,Assoc Prof Dr Yim Hip Seng, the human bodyis similar to a racing car.

“Putting in the wrong fuel or running itwithout maintenance will prevent it fromgiving its full performance. Without healthyeating, your body will suffer just like a carengine,” he says.

Findings from British medical journal The Lancet showed that Malaysia has one of thehighest rates of obesity among Asiancountries with 45.3% of its population beingobese. The number of diabetes patients jumped to 31% this year from 15.2% in 2011.

On the other end of the spectrum, eatingdisorders such as anorexia and bulimia areon the rise due to the growing influence ofthe media and today’s celebrity-centricculture.

All this leads to the increasing need fornutritionists who are qualified to give adviceon disease prevention and promote holisticwell-being of individuals and communities.

A nutritionist has various roles to play,including being a scientist in the publichealth and clinical settings as well as in thefields of sports nutrition, health promotionand education.

To groom qualified and well-roundednutritionists, UCSI has launched the BSc(Hons) Nutrition with Wellness programme.

Unlike other programmes on nutrition,this degree has a dual focus on the scientificunderstanding of nutrition and food scienceas well as fundamentals of marketing andentrepreneurship.

The degree is the latest in a string ofsuccessful programmes from UCSI, which

is the first private university in Malaysiato offer a food science with nutrition BScdegree.

The dual focus of the BSc (Hons) Nutritionwith Wellness will give students an addededge in the competitive working world.

“The programme enables graduates toventure into traditional nutritionist rolessuch as health consultants for diseaseprevention, public health and education orinto the booming wellness business,” saysAssoc Prof Yim.

When it comes to fields related to humanhealth, research and innovation is crucial toensure continuous advancement formankind.

Innovation and research are two thingsUCSI’s Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) iswell known for.

To maintain the highest level ofacademic and scientific standards, the

Assoc Prof DrYim Hip Sengof UCSIUniversityexplains howthe role of anutritionisthas changedover time.

faculty emphasises evidence-based learningand takes pride in having state-of-the-artlaboratories and equipment.

Students will also learn from theprogramme’s experienced academicianssuch as Prof Dr Mirnalini Kandiah, one ofthe first three nutrition officers of the HealthMinistry during the late 1970s.

She is currently one of the respectedresearchers specialising in the fields ofcardio-metabolic risk and herbal remediesfor cancer patients.

In line with the university’s Praxisapproach, which advocates the applicationof theory to practice, the programme alsoincludes two months of co-operativeplacement for every year of study.

This offers students the opportunity topursue an internship with some of the mostprestigious names in the industry.

Further adding to the programme’scredibility is the prestige of the university.UCSI was ranked SETARA Tier 5: Excellent inthe SETARA 2013 ranking by the MalaysianQualifications Agency.

It is also among the Top 300 in the 2015 QSAsian University Rankings.

This is due to its increasing researchoutput, internationalisation andcollaborations with renowned universitiessuch as Harvard University, Imperial College

London and many others.“Passion and enthusiasmin improving humanhealth are important ina student, as are good

communication skills.There are also

Advancing nutrition


course focus 11

multiple health awareness projects wherenutritionists are required to work with thecommunity so always be ready to ventureout of your comfort zone,” says Assoc Prof Yim.

To ensure students improve theircommunication skills, the final year of theprogramme involves students embarkingon a community project.

This involves them working with acommunity, be it a school or a residentialarea, and advising members of the public

on nutrition and wellness.Assoc Prof Yim explains that

curiosity is another essential trait.“Work can be challenging and

sometimes, it takes months to see theresults. But being curious will warrantyou new discoveries and the experienceis always fulfilling.”

n For more information, call 03-9101 8882or e-mail www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/ onlineenquiry.

The BSc (Hons)Nutrition with Wellnessdegree programmehas a dual focuson the scientifc

understanding ofnutrition and foodscience as well asfundamentals ofmarketing andentrepreneurship.


12/12

2 course focusTHE STAR,


NCHMARKED against STPM andevels, UTAR (Universiti Tunku

dul Rahman) foundationgrammes offer a path for

alified students to progress todergraduate studies within ar.

With a flexible course structure,dents may complete theirndation studies at their desirede within two years.

UTAR foundation programmesoffered by UTAR’s Centre for

undation Studies (CFS). Students progress from foundationdies to more than 110dergraduate programmes andtgraduate programmes in

AR.As an academically orientedtitution that constantly strivesimprovement and excellence,foundation programmes

ered by UTAR incorporate an

egrated curriculum thatmotes and prioritises theistic development of students,”s Melissa Stefanie Netto,ector of CFS Sungai Longmpus.Tan Lee Siew, director of CFSmpar Campus, adds, “Thealified and committed teachingff, availability and incorporationnline learning environments

d well-equipped facilities as aole provides students with an

vironment conducive torning.”

UTAR Foundation programmesphasise hands-on practices,

Prepared to soarFoundation studies at UTAR combine classroom learning with hands-on training and experiences.

presentation skills and Englishlanguage proficiency to betterequip students with the skills

needed for future academic andprofessional endeavours.

The English classes conductedevery week comprise two to threehours of lecture and one hour oftutorial for foundation students.

“The English classes taughtme aspects of communicationsuch as grammar, syntax andpronunciation. I am moreconfident of my presentation skillsnow and my proficiency in usingthe language has improvedtremendously under the guidanceof my qualified, dedicated andexperienced English lecturers,”says Hiew Mei Teng, a UTAR

Foundation in Arts student.In line with its vision to become

a premier research university,

UTAR has invested in cutting-edgescience and computer laboratoriesto facilitate academic and researchactivities.

“As a former student of UTAR’sFoundation in Science programme,I would say that the programmehas prepared me well for myundergraduate studies.

“I was exposed to soundtheoretical knowledge, criticalthinking skills and the latestresearch techniques andtechnology. I was able to put myknowledge to use during thelaboratory training sessions,”says Lee Keat Teng.

UTAR offers loans andscholarships to academicallydeserving students. Students with

7As and above in their SPMexamination will be automaticallyconsidered for the UTAR HighAchievers Scholarship under theUTAR Foundation programmes.

Foundation students who receivethis scholarship will have theirtuition fees waived. They arerequired to maintain theiracademic performance to continuereceiving this scholarship for theirundergraduate studies.

UTAR also considers the well-being of students. Students canseek counselling services from theDepartment of Student Affairs(DSA) at their campus.

In addition, every student infoundation studies will be assignedan academic advisor who they canconsult to seek guidance andadvice throughout their studies.

Established in 2002 with just 411students, UTAR now offers morethan 110 programmes in variousfields, including accounting,business and economics, actuarialscience, mathematics and processmanagement, agriculture and foodscience, arts, social sciences andeducation, creative industries anddesign, engineering and builtenvironment, information andcommunication technology, lifeand physical sciences andmedicine and health sciences, tomore than 25,000 students in itsnine faculties, three institutes andthree centres located at the SungaiLong Campus and KamparCampus.

UTAR will be hosting its OpenDay on April 2 and 3, from 9am to5pm at UTAR Sungai Long inBandar Sungai Long and UTARKampar Campus in Perak.

UTAR is also having its extendedcounselling hours at the SungaiLong and Kampar Campuses dailytill 12 June, from 9am to 5pm(excluding public holidays).

n For more information, call03-9086 0288/016-2233 559 (SungaiLong Campus) or 05-468 8888/016-2233 557 (Kampar Campus) ore-mail [email protected] orvisit www.utar.edu.my/openday.

Documents

Course Focus - 29 March 2016