IMU the only Asian institution to receive excellence award for faculty development

International Medical University (IMU), the first private medical and health services university in Malaysia, has received the ASPIRE to Excellence Award from the International Association for Medical Education (AMEE) for its exemplary efforts in student engagement and in faculty development, among others.

AMEE is a globally-recognised organisation that counts among its members healthcare professionals in over 90 countries across five continents – AMEE promotes excellence in health professions education through the sharing of best practices, support, networking, research and professional development.

Selection for the competitive, annual award by AMEE is based on an independent peer review process, whereby a panel of academic reviewers assess submissions based on the evidences which are benchmarked to best practices in health professions education.

IMU was the first Asian university to win the ASPIRE Award for Student Engagement in 2013.

This year, IMU’s Centre for Education (ICE) received the AMEE ASPIRE Certificate of Merit in Faculty Development, the only Asian institution to be recognised for this category, based on its performance in five criteria, namely Goals and Design of Programme, Scope of Programme Offerings, Programme Resources and Support, Programme Evaluation, and Scholarship.

The review also considered the university’s agile response to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, where a blended approach and comprehensive repository of online resources provided much-needed support for the faculty in fulfilling their responsibilities. The university was also commended on its initiatives to build capacity and develop expertise in health professions education through international collaborations.

Showcasing best practices in healthcare professions education, the honour of receiving this award spotlights IMU’s long-standing reputation for excellence, a fitting feather in its cap as it marks its 30th anniversary. It also strengthens IMU’s position as a world-class institution, with past winners of this Award category including the Maastricht University in the Netherlands and University of Leeds in the UK.

“At IMU, we have a strong culture that promotes continuous improvement among faculty members. Our faculty development programme is a long-standing, extensive, and well-resourced programme, comprising around 70 programmes annually,” said Professor Vishna Devi Nadarajah, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Institutional Development and International, IMU.

“These range from workshops and webinars to plenaries and expert clinic sessions, as well as forums and our Health Professions Education Journal Club which are facilitated by both IMU experts and a strong network of external experts, supported by our Visiting Professorship Programmes.

“This brings world leaders in health professions education to IMU to share their expertise and apply it in the regional context. Our initiatives enhance various aspects of teaching and learning in the university, supporting individual development and professional fulfilment while ensuring [a conducive learning environment for our students and] high academic standards.”

Category: Features, Top Story