Eight students made history on 2 November 2019 as IMU’s first cohort received the Postgraduate Certificate of Business Administration in Healthcare Management at a convocation ceremony. The programme can be studied in three levels and completing the Postgraduate Certificate is the first step before the eight graduands move on to their Postgraduate Diploma and finally Master of Business Administration (MBA). The programme aims to equip managers with relevant skills to manage the healthcare industry by gaining firm understanding on how to critically assess health systems and healthcare structures, apply core principles of management in the healthcare setting, and to operate within prevailing legal frameworks. The availability of three programme levels (Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master) allows multiple entry and multiple exit, in line with the mission and vision of the Ministry of Education to improve better access to lifelong learning.
| To’ Puan Prof Safurah bt Ja’afar, Programme Director, Healthcare Management, IMU: |
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 “The first cohort of students came from several backgrounds including nursing, quantitative surveyor, biochemist, doctors and management. Eight of the inaugural cohort have graduated with their postgraduate certificate and will seamlessly progress to the Master programme. The programme is working-adult friendly and offers the flexibility for those who want to accelerate their programme and complete the course within 15 months or stretch it out by doing part-time. What the students like is they are able to not only attend the classes virtually but even make their group presentations even if they are outstation or overseas,” said |
During these 15 months programme, teaching and learning is delivered and supervised by highly qualified and experienced faculty members to give the rich experiences drawn from them. They will be complemented by industry experts to share their key to success. In this way, students will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from eminent guest lecturers with vast experience from various industries ranging from private hospitals, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas and etc. Several industrial visits within and outside Malaysia were also organised to enhance knowledge and provide exposure to real business environment. This programme has a flexible curriculum designed to fit into the working adult lifestyle. Students can choose to complete the programme in 15 months as a full-time student and 2.5 years as a part-time student. This programme uses a blended learning model which offers online study options that are more flexible for the professionals and those wishing for career advancement. With a constellation of teaching and learning activities including lectures, tutorials, case studies, written assignments, group project, presentations and discussion boards, students will be equipped with a rounded understanding of the subject and the issues allowing them to formulate intervention strategies both in class simulation or actual industry base intervention.
| What Our Students Say |
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| “As a medical doctor, the intense feeling of wanting to explore the administrative side of healthcare began when I started clinical work. I wanted to make a change, create a new and conducive environment in the healthcare industry, and to drive healthcare to the better future. The programme definitely pushes you to become better, with good coaching from the lecturers and multiple external lecturers sharing their industrial experiences.” Kumudhini. |
| “The journey so far is full of mixed feelings. Various visits and guest lectures from industry leaders have given a very practical learning perspective. Therefore, a very commendable effort from the MBAHM team for the organisation of all these activities.” Tan Su Ching |
| “It is a good learning experience for me to associate the industrial experience with theory in this programme. The basic modules of Postgraduate Certificate have prepared me to continue with the Master programme to gain more depth in healthcare governance and systematic research, preparing me to be a better management personnel in my organisation. Self-guided learning in this programme is a good approach for the working adult’s busy schedule while continuing their studies.” Chung Shin Fung |
Upon receiving the MBA in Healthcare Management at the end of the programme, these graduands would have gained an advantage of not only getting into the business and management job market but with a speciality sought after by the high-demand market of healthcare industries.
