26 April 2013 – International Medical University’s Kampung Angkat Project (KAP) or Village Adoption Project at Kampung Tekir, Malaysia won First Place in the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, beating 65 other universities from all over the world. As the first prize winner, the University will receive USD 7,500 which will be used for various projects under IMU Cares. The project is also mentioned in http://talloiresnetwork.tufts.edu/macjannet-prize-2013-winners/ and other related communications for the MacJannet Prize. The Prize was established by the Talloires Network and the MacJannet Foundation to recognise exceptional student community engagement initiatives at Talloires Network member universities and contributes financially to their ongoing public service effort
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The Kampung Angkat project was initiated in 2007 as part of the University Community Social Responsibility (CSR) under “IMU Cares”. Under this project, each of IMU’s three campuses adopted a village identified to have health and social issues and lacking in basic health facilities. The village identified for the IMU Clinical School in Seremban, is called Kampung Tekir. Each project was planned and executed by the students via a committee formed by the students. The purpose of the programme was to enable IMU’s undergraduate students to practice their knowledge and clinical skills in a rural setting. At the same time, the villagers would benefit from the presence of IMU students through regular free health checks and health education, the treatment of minor ailments, facilitation of referrals to appropriate health centers outside of the village when necessary, provision of free spectacles for visually impaired villagers and an opportunity for students and villagers to bond.
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Senior Lecturer at the IMU Clinical School in Seremban, Dr Koh Kwee Choy, said “We were informed in late March 2013 that IMU was amongst the 11 universities worldwide shortlisted from 66 applications for the award. This was followed by two interviews conducted using Skype by a representative of the Talloires Network in April – one interview was with me representing the committee in-charge of the Kampung Tekir project and the other was with Ms Wan Amni Zulfikar, one of our student leaders who led the Student Representative Council last year in carrying out community activities in Kampung Tekir. The interviewer was very impressed with our project.”
“Winning this Prize is made possible by the numerous IMU staff and students who have given dedicated service to this Kampung Angkat project throughout the last five years or more. It also goes to show that all the IMU staff and students’ tireless efforts and dedication to community work is recognised by our university colleagues around the world. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of this project since its inception in 2007 until now – your contribution has gained IMU world recognition”, added Dr Koh.
