Suwetha A/P Balasubramaniam, a pioneer batch student of IMU’s Foundation in Arts (FIA) programme, reflects on how the programme served as a strong foundation for her academic journey, leading her to pursue a degree in Digital Health at IMU. She highlights the support of lecturers, collaborative learning environment, and enriching co-curricular experiences that contributed to her academic readiness, confidence, and personal development.

“IMU has always been my dream university, and I always hoped that my learning journey would begin here. Although FIA was not my original choice, it became a meaningful pathway that brought me closer to my dream career. Today, I am continuing my studies at IMU and am currently pursuing a degree in Digital Health. I am grateful that FIA helped build the foundation that led me here.”

My name is Suwetha A/P Balasubramaniam, and I am proud to be one of the students from the pioneer batch of the Foundation in Arts (FIA) programme at IMU University. IMU has always been my dream university, and I always hoped that my learning journey would begin here. Even though FIA was not my original choice, it became a meaningful pathway that allowed me to move closer to my dream career.

Today, I am continuing my studies at IMU and am currently pursuing a degree in Digital Health. I am grateful that FIA helped build the foundation that led me here.

Throughout my time in FIA, I was fortunate to have supportive lecturers who guided me along the way.

• Miss Prasanniah was a great lecturer who guided me throughout my psychology classes and supported my learning during my time in FIA.
• Dr Suresh also played an important role in helping me clear my doubts during business classes, making complex topics easier to understand.
• Mr Prakash, who is also the Programme Director of FIA, was my mentor and a constant source of encouragement. He supported me during my foundation stage and was always there whenever I needed help or advice.

Another important part of my FIA experience was the friendships I built along the way. I was lucky to have a supportive circle of friends who were also part of my assignment groups. Studying together, sharing ideas, and supporting one another made the academic journey much more enjoyable. It helped me balance my study life with the right mix of responsibility, stress, and fun.

Of course, like any academic journey, there were challenges. At times, there were miscommunications within our teams while working on assignments. However, we learned to overcome these issues by communicating openly and trying to understand each other’s perspectives instead of reacting emotionally. This helped us grow not only as students but also as individuals who can work well in a team.

One of my most memorable moments was when I had the opportunity to be the emcee for a psychology forum.

It was an exciting experience where I could listen to different speakers and interact with lecturers and students. Through those conversations, I gained valuable insights about the field and learned perspectives that I had never considered before.

Overall, FIA at IMU is a great starting point for students who want to understand what university life is truly like. The programme prepares you academically while also helping you grow personally.

My advice to future students is to

• Stay open to new experiences,
• Ask questions whenever you are unsure, and
• Make the most of the surrounding opportunities.

In the end, FIA is more than just a foundation programme. It is a stepping stone that prepares you for the future.

With the support system at IMU and the people you meet along the way, you will gain not only knowledge but also confidence as you move forward into the next stage of your journey.