AMEE, An International Association for Medical Education, Presents IMU with 2022 ASPIRE Certificate of Merit
International Medical University (IMU), Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and health sciences university, recently received international recognition for its exemplary efforts in faculty development from AMEE, an International Association for Medical Education. A globally recognised organisation, AMEE counts among its members, healthcare professionals in over 90 countries across five continents and promotes excellence in health professions education through the sharing of best practices, support, networking, research and professional development.
The association’s ASPIRE to Excellence Awards, a prestigious annual award was established to recognise world-class excellence across several categories in health professions education including Student Engagement, Curriculum Development, Assessments and Faculty Development. Selection for this competitive award 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 United Kingdom.
“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. These range from workshops and webinars to plenaries and expert clinic sessions, as well as forums and our HPE Journal 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 high academic standards,” said Prof Vishna Devi Nadarajah, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Institutional Development and International, IMU.
“These programmes, which are regularly reviewed for future improvements, are the result of our team’s dedication and we are very proud of their accomplishment. At IMU, we value people development and we hope this recognition will further inspire our faculty to strive for excellence across the board, which will then translate to a well-supported and conducive learning environment for our students,” she said.
For more information about AMEE and to view the full list of Award winners, visit https://amee.org or find out more about IMU at www.imu.edu.my.
About AMEE
AMEE is a worldwide organisation with members in over 90 countries, made up of individuals and organisations from a diverse range of backgrounds that span the healthcare professions educator sector, with the aim of bettering education in their field and supporting colleagues around the world in achieving excellence. AMEE promotes that excellence in health professions education internationally at all levels of study, from entry level disciplines to Masters programmes and PhD Research. We function as a connector, supporter and information hub for health professions education specialists and professionals, as well as those with an interest in driving the development of the sector forward. We do so by building a connected community, run our own set of skills and professional development programmes, produce print and digital content through our Medical Teacher Journal and MedEdPublish platform, and provides a platform of recognition for professionals, educators and students, among them our ASPIRE programme which gives institutions the opportunity to be officially awarded titles of excellence for different aspects of their approach to learning.
