Helpful path to a degree
MANY have asked: Why should I opt for the Foundation in Science (FiS) at International Medical University (IMU)? There are plenty of pre-university courses in Malaysia, so what makes this one different?
IMU’s FiS programme provides an early start to life as a degree student. Since it is conducted at the same facilities and environment as IMU’s other degree programmes, FiS students are able to adapt to their surroundings much earlier.
FiS students also get to experience sneak previews of IMU’s degree programmes so that they can see for themselves what each programmes has to offer. This is made possible through the Look, See, Feel engagement activities arranged for the students.
In order to engage 21st-century learners, educators now need to do things differently. Learning from books is slowly becoming an obsolete method in the information technology era. Today’s students need to see, feel and experience things for themselves to enhance their learning.
That is precisely what the Look, See, Feel engagement activities are all about. The FiS students participate in a series of hands-on activities specific to each degree programme.
Among the activities are a field trip to the IMU Clinical Campus with hands-on activities at the Clinical Skills Centre for FiS students who are interested in studying medicine in IMU.
Other Look, See, Feel engagement activities include the opportunity to carry out medical biotechnology-related experiments such as DNA extraction and experiments on the formulation of cream and suppositories, arranged by the School of Pharmacy.
Eliza Chen Xiao Xuan, from FS118, was exhilarated to be given such opportunities. Chen, who is keen to pursue the MBBS programme in IMU, said: “I personally think that these activities are great exposure to us FIS students. When we enter our respective degrees, we won’t have the freedom and time to find out what the other degree programmes are about.
“Besides that, I think it is important to know what the other health sciences programmes are about and to keep our options open as we can never predict the future. These activities also help us to know if we really want to pursue a particular degree by giving us as much exposure as possible to various fields before we make our decision.
“I have gained a lot knowledge about what I may have to do when I enter the degree of my choice, as well as the other degrees.”
For students like Chen who have made up their mind about their intended degree programmes, these engagement activities serve as a form of inter-professional learning. Hence, the FiS programme in IMU not only prepares the students academically, but it also gives them a wider perspective of the healthcare fields as a whole.
IMU’s FiS programme has three intakes a year in April, July, and September. These convenient start dates will enable a smooth transition to the students’ preferred degree courses upon successful completion of the programme.
■ For more information, visit www.imu. edu.my or email start@imu.edu.my or call IMU at 03-2731 7272.