Eye-opening experience
YIP Lin Fong has always wanted to pursue a career in the health care sector. She started her journey to be a pharmacist in July 2009 when she began studying for her degree at the International Medical University (IMU).
She then transferred to University of Otago in February 2012 to complete her degree in pharmacy, the first student to enter this pathway.
In November last year, she graduated with a distinction (equivalent to First Class) in her pharmacy degree from University of Otago.
Describing her experience at the University of Otago, Yip said, “It is definitely an eyeopening experience to encounter the Western learning environment and lifestyle.
“The teaching environment in Otago is more casual. Unlike Asian societies, the relationship between lecturers and students is less hierarchical.
“The campus and the whole of Dunedin are very student-friendly, which enabled me to settle down quite well in a short period of time. An added bonus is that I am studying in one of the world’s most beautiful universities.”
Yip believes that the first two years of her degree in IMU has given her the opportunity to learn and develop a number of soft skills. She enjoyed the case studies in ProblemBased Learning (PBL) sessions and tutorials as they allowed her to think deep and wide, corresponding to the Western style of learning.
The clinical sessions in the Clinical Skills Unit (CSU) (now known as the Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre) enabled her to develop communication skills not only with patients but also with other health care professionals.
She also learnt the important skills to overcome challenges in a limited time frame, a crucial component when solving problems in real life situations.
“I was involved in a research about experiences of international pharmacy students studying in Otago as a full year paper in Year Four.
It was very interesting to interview international students and explore how they feel about their identity and life in Otago. I have learnt a lot from it,” added Yip, who intends to learn as much as possible all aspects of clinical and community pharmacy practice. In the future, she hopes to take part in missions with Pharmacists Without Borders (PSF) or be part of a team with Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
At IMU, a private university with the highest number of faculty members and registered students of any other private pharmacy school in Malaysia and over 1,000 pharmacy graduates, students have the option to complete the entire four-year pharmacy programme locally at IMU or do a credit transfer to pharmacy programmes at the University of Otago, New Zealand, or University of Queensland, Australia.
These international partnerships are a clear testament of the alignment of IMU’s innovative education to global standards.
Taught by an experienced and practising faculty, students get relevant practice exposure as part of the pharmacy course.
This is to better prepare them for patient care, pupilage training and employment, making graduates highly employable.
The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) programme commences in July and September. Students who opt to complete the entire degree in IMU also have the opportunity to go overseas for their elective placement or research project. Applications are now open for the July commencement.
If you are inspired by a diverse career that is involved with the safe and effective use of medicines, make an online application today to study the pharmacy programme.
For more details, refer to www.imu.edu.my or e-mail start@imu.edu.my or call IMU at 03-2731 7272.