Students from cohort FSI125, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Food Science Innovation (FSI) Programme, participated in Interprofessional Learning (IPL) Day held on 28 October 2025. It was organised by the IPL Organising Committees led by Dr Kalerammana Gopalakrishna Prarthana. This programme was designed to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of diverse professional roles and responsibilities while fostering a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration. By integrating these elements, participants were equipped to work effectively across disciplines, enhancing both individual and collective performance in real-world settings.

A brainstorming session was conducted to prepare for the poster competition, involving two Food Science Innovation (FSI) students, Isaac Kau and Raisah Umaiz Firman, together with the FSI faculty members A/Prof Dr Neo Yun Ping (Programme Director), Dr Tan Siew Tin (Staff Advisor for IPL Day), and Dr Chang Lee Sin (Senior Lecturer). The discussion focused on the roles of food science professionals within Malaysia’s healthcare system and their collaboration with other disciplines in healthcare, as well as strategies for creating an accurate and visually appealing poster.

After finalising the concept, Issac and Raisah practiced their presentation script. On the competition day, Issac added a lab coat and safety goggles to the poster board to represent a food scientist, while the poster featured A4 sheets linked with raffia strings, illustrating the role of food scientists and their cross-disciplinary collaborations with other healthcare professions, policy makers, regulatory agencies such as Malaysian Institute of Food Technology (MIFT), the Ministry of Health, and international bodies like World Health Organization (WHO).

Images of advanced food sensors were included to demonstrate technology that detects physical, chemical, and biological conditions of food. Additional elements, such as empty food packaging, created a 3D effect to showcase products developed by Food Science graduates, while Raisah complemented the display with real food items (oats, pasta) and toy replicas (eggs, fruits) to highlight healthy ingredients used in food processing. Decorative lighting added the finishing touch, making the poster vibrant and engaging.

The FSI class representative, Isaac, emphasized to the judges and participants that food scientists play a crucial role in safeguarding food safety and public health by monitoring every stage of the food chain (from farm to table) to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses through advanced detection methods, risk assessments, and strict hygiene standards. He highlighted their collaborative efforts with doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, public health professionals, and policymakers to develop functional food products, establish safety regulations, and much more. By integrating science, innovation, and teamwork, food scientists not only protect health but also strengthen food security and shape policies for a safer, healthier world.

On the other hand, Raisah shared that food scientists play a vital role in Malaysia’s healthcare system by supporting dietitians in medical nutrition therapy and nutritionists in disease prevention. In hospitals, dietitians design specialised diets for conditions such as kidney disease, celiac disease, and diabetes, while food scientists, guided by public health challenges, develop safe enteral and parenteral nutrition products and create texture-modified products for patients with swallowing difficulties. Beyond clinical care, they innovate functional foods and nutraceuticals enriched with antioxidants, probiotics, and omega-3s, and fortify foods with essential nutrients like iron, vitamin D, and folate to prevent deficiencies. By collaborating with healthcare professionals and public health experts, food scientists translate nutrition science into practical guidelines, bridging food, health, and policy to improve population well-being.

This IPL Day offered a valuable platform for participants to understand and reflect on their own and others’ professional roles and responsibilities, while fostering teamwork early in the semester after enrolling in IMU’s degree programmes. It also strengthened their sense of commitment and responsibility toward the healthcare system as future professionals.

Dr Tan Siew Tin
FSI Staff Advisor for IPL Day; Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, IMU University

“It is essential to cultivate respect and understanding of each professional role in the healthcare system from the very beginning, and to learn how we can work synergistically in our future career pathways. IPL Day serves as an excellent starting point to reinforce these values and ensure the continuous implementation of interprofessional learning throughout their degree journey and into their professional practice.”

Issac Kau
Student and class representative, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Food Science Innovation, IMU University

“Food science is not a field that works alone. It stands at the intersection of nutrition, dietetics, medicine, and public health. To solve complex food and health issues, food scientists must work together with professionals from other disciplines.”

Raisah Umaiz Firman
Student, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Food Science Innovation, IMU University

“Beyond hospitals, food scientists contribute to public health and disease prevention through food innovation. Participating in IPL Day was an enjoyable experience, and I had the opportunity to make new friends from various IMU programmes.”

To conclude, it was truly an eye-opening experience for them as Food Science Innovation students. Preparing and presenting their poster on the role of their profession in healthcare deepened their appreciation for how closely their work connects with other disciplines. They left IPL Day inspired, proud, and more confident that, as future food scientists, they can meaningfully contribute to the healthcare team, translating science into better nutrition, better health, and a better world.