Promoting an active lifestyle
CHASING deadlines and coming late to lectures are often the most strenuous forms of exercise many students engage in. Even the thought of finding time to slot in a regular exercise routine is enough to make some of us sweat.
However, an active lifestyle can benefit the overall well-being of students. While academics are always important, sports also play a major role in shaping character.
From strengthening the mind to promoting better time management skills, sports activities can help students succeed in more than just academic endeavours.
The NUMed Games was introduced in 2014 by Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) in recognition of the importance of an all-rounded education for its students.
Since then, the NUMed Games has earned a reputation as a highly anticipated and prestigious annual sports competition. From an initial 80 participants in the inaugural Games, it has grown to 626 participants from 15 universities.
Competitors from universities across Malaysia and Singapore strive to secure success and to help their respective universities win the coveted top spot in various sports events, including futsal, basketball, volleyball, badminton, track and field, Frisbee, swimming, netball, table tennis and tennis.
The Student Association of NUMed plays a key role in the event’s success. The group is in charge of the overall organisation of the NUMed Games, which involves communication and coordination among the participating universities.
NUMed Student Association president Izham Shazwan Halid said, “The NUMed Games allows students from diverse backgrounds to compete with one another in a variety of sports events. Its impact on students is significant, as it encourages them to find a balance between academics and the social spheres of university life.”
“It’s easy for medical students to get caught up in their busy schedules, which can lead to sedentary lifestyles. That is why I think the NUMed Games is the perfect remedy for our enduring struggles to achieve a work-life balance and is something we should actively get ourselves involved in,” he added.
The success of the NUMed Games has also been built on the sports facilities available at EduCity Sports Complex, where the competition takes place every year.
The complex, which is located in EduCity, has proven to be the perfect venue as it includes an arena and pitches for field sports and athletics, an indoor arena and facilities for badminton and netball, a gymnasium and a 50m swimming pool.
The university emphasises a holistic educational experience for its students by ensuring that they enjoy vibrant social, sporting and cultural offerings to complement the renowned medical education it provides.
NUMed is the first fully owned international branch campus to offer a degree in medicine conferred by a UK university.
Established in 2009, NUMed draws on the legacy of Newcastle University in the UK. Since its inception in 1834 as a medical school, the institution has always been at the forefront of research and teaching, and its reputation has been externally confirmed to be of the highest international quality.
■ To find out more about NUMed’s programmes, visit www.newcastle.edu.my