Cultivating a Culture of Scholarship: Manuscript Writing Workshop Empowers Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics Faculty

The Nursing Division of the School of Health Sciences (SOHS), IMU University, successfully organised a one-day Manuscript Writing Workshop on 5 November 2025 at the University’s Bukit Jalil Campus. The workshop aimed to strengthen scholarly writing skills and foster a research-driven culture among faculty members from the Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics programmes.

The highlight of the workshop was the presence of Prof Dr Soh Kim Lan from the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Prof Soh was accompanied by her two PhD postgraduate students, Mr Chakkrich Pidjadee and Ms Li Yaoyao, who assisted in facilitating the hands-on sessions. Their participation enriched the learning experience by bridging academic theory with practical approaches to scientific writing and publication.

The day began with welcoming remarks by Dr Lim Swee Geok, who underscored the importance of cultivating a sustainable research culture within SOHS. Prof Soh opened the programme with an engaging talk on “High Impact Journals,” sharing her expertise on journal selection strategies, impact metrics, and the need to avoid predatory publishing. Her insights provided participants with a clearer understanding of how to identify reputable outlets that align with their research scope and objectives.

This was followed by an illuminating session on “From Research to Manuscript,” during which Prof Soh explained the essential elements of structuring a paper—developing a compelling argument, maintaining logical flow, and aligning with journal author guidelines. Participants valued her practical examples and candid advice on managing reviewers’ comments and revisions.

The late-morning segment focused on “Systematic Review and Literature Search.” Mr Chakkrich Pidjadee guided participants through advanced database search techniques using Scopus and Web of Science, while Ms Li Yaoyao demonstrated efficient reference-management methods. The session’s interactive nature allowed faculty members to test their search strategies and gain immediate feedback on improving precision and relevance.

Following lunch, a series of hands-on sessions allowed participants to practise manuscript drafting, editing, and submission preparation. Prof Soh and her team provided one-to-one feedback on abstracts, results interpretation, and discussion writing. The closing discussion addressed ethical aspects of publication, including authorship criteria, plagiarism awareness, and responsible data reporting.

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many described the workshop as “inspirational” and “eye-opening,” noting that it demystified the publication process and boosted their confidence to contribute to scholarly journals. Participants especially appreciated the workshop’s balance between conceptual guidance and hands-on application.

In her closing remarks, Dr Lim Swee Geok, Head of the Nursing Division, expressed sincere gratitude to Prof Soh and her PhD students for their dedication and willingness to share their expertise. She also commended the enthusiastic participation of IMU faculty members, emphasising that the workshop reflects IMU’s ongoing commitment to empower educators through research capacity-building and continuous professional development.

The event concluded with an atmosphere of optimism and renewed motivation among participants—each leaving with the confidence and tools to transform their research into impactful publications, aligning with IMU’s mission to inspire, empower, and elevate academic excellence.

Written by Lee Mei Ying
Reviewed by Dr Lim Swee Geok