INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL

MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

YEAR 4 ELECTIVE POSTING
Introduction:
The Elective Posting is part of the curriculum of the MSU medical educational program.
It is introduced at the beginning of Year 4 to provide an opportunity for the students to a
wider panorama of the students education.
The objectives of elective posting are:
Knowledge
At the end of this module students shall be able to:
Consolidate knowledge in areas of interest.
Plan and develop interest in certain medical field with the intention to create path
for future career.
Plan and conduct a medical posting, and
Write a project report, manuscript and poster.
Skills
At the end of this module students shall be able to:
Carry out the duty given with minimal supervision and own initiative and sense of
responsibility.
Exercise effective communication and good professional conduct.
Work as a team in planning, organizing and presenting the findings.
Conduct a research project, write a manuscript and present a poster with minimal
supervision.
Attitude
At the end of this module students shall be able to:
Appreciate a good medical practice.
demonstrate leadership and team spirit
Pre-requisites:
All year 4 students shall proceed into this posting.

General Information
1. Topics for the elective have to be broad based with some orientation to medicine and
health.
2. It can be conducted in any locations within Malaysia or overseas if the students have
the resources to undertake the elective there.
3. An academic staff will supervise the elective. Students will be working in groups of
6-8 students. Students will be given an opportunity to choose their own groups
members. Supervisors are to be chosen from academic staff by the Research
Committee and Medical Education Unit of IMS. Each supervisor is allowed to
supervise only 1 group per academic session.
4. The fund shall be borned by the students.
Topic Selections for the Elective:
Selection A: Medical/health care support/non-government organizations (NGOs)
based attachment
This section will focus on medical or health care support services, basic medical science
attachments and medical education based surveys. Students will get attachment to these
centers and get hands on experience during the period of the elective. Example: elderly
care centers, centers for the handicap/disabled and MERCY.
Selection B: Basic science/laboratory based attachment
This will involve an attachment in clinical or science laboratories. Students are expected
to conduct a study or project in the related field of laboratory medicine. Example:
pharmaceutical drug producing companies, pathology labs in health premises.
Selection C: Community/Public Health based attachment
This will involve the health care premises which are not the teaching premises the
students are currently using.

General Guidelines
1.

Students are advised to discuss their proposal with the lecturers/supervisors assigned
to them. After the discussion the students will prepare a proposal with guidance from
the supervisor. A literature review is required to better understand the topic of the
proposed study. Ethical clearance would need to be obtained from the Faculty Ethical
Committee where needed.

2.

The elective proposal has to be submitted to the respective supervisor one month
before the start of the elective program. If ethical clearance is required, the
application should be submitted at the same time.

3.

Supervisor will give feedback on the proposal and students would have to make
amendments based on the lecturers or ethical committees advice.

4.

All proposals are to be approved by supervisor and forwarded to the elective

coordinator one week before commencement of the elective program.

5.

Students are not allowed to change topics once the elective week starts. Any changes
in groupings or topics, prior to the start of the electives, is permitted ONLY after
obtaining permission from the supervisors involved and the elective coordinator.

6. The academic time should be spent doing the elective. Any student caught using

elective time for other activities such as going back home will be reprimanded. The
tog book shall be used during elective posting.
7. There will be a poster presentation in the first posting of year 5. A panel of judges

elected by the faculty will mark the poster presentation session.

8. The process in part and parcel of continuous assessment contributing to Professional

III exam.
9. A written report by the group is to be submitted on week 4 of year 5 to the supervisors

and the supervisors have to submit it to the elective posting coordinator on week 5 of
year 5. Any student/group that is considered not completed elective posting is
deemed to have failed the posting.

Time Schedule

1.
2.

Date
W24-W27
W28

3.

W29-30

4.
5.
6.
7.

W30-32
W32-47
W48-51
W4 of year 5

8.

W5 of year 5

Event
grouping and identifying area if interest
Submission of Interests form+ groups to the EP
coordinator
Conducting the coordination meeting for assigning
supervisors
Inform the students the approval and supervisor
Proposal preparation with the supervisors guidance
Conduction of the Elective Posting
Submit the (Project report + manuscript) to the respective
supervisors
Submit the evaluation form plus the (project report +
manuscript) to the Elective Posting coordinator by
supervisor
Posters presentation and evaluation

During 1st posting of

year 5
W: week of academic calendar
9.

Overall Assessment:
Item
1.
2.
3.
4.

Research proposal
Written Project Report
Poster presentation
Manuscript

Marks
10%
50%
20%
20%

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL

MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY

ELECTIVE ATTACHMENT: INTERESTS AND GROUPS FORM

Student should complete and return this form to the Coordinator of Elective Posting by:
13/04/2015
1.

Name of Group Leader: ___________________________

(block letters)
Matric No: ______________________________________

2.

Year / Session: _____________________________________________________

3.

Elective posting:-

3.1

Duration of Posting: _________________________________________________

Date begins _________________________ ends __________________________

3.2

Elective Center: 1.__________________________________________________

(address)

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Tel. No: __________________________________________________________

Contact Person at the Center: __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Elective Center: 2.__________________________________________________
(address)

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Tel. No: __________________________________________________________

Contact Person at the Center: __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Elective Center 3.__________________________________________________

(address)

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

Tel. No: __________________________________________________________

Contact Person at the Center: __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Elective Project Data:
4.

Title of Elective project: _____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

5.

Name of group members and their student Matric no:

No:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

Name:

Student Matric No:

______________________________
Signature of Group Leader
Date:

ELECTIVE GUIDELINES
Student Guidelines
Guidelines for Proposal Writing
1. Title: Give a title/theme of the project/study. Also indicate the name of the
organization (if relevant).
2. Names:

List the names of the students in the group and the supervisors (internal
and external) names

3. Objectives: Describe the aim of the study and what is expected to be achieved from
the study. Students are expected to indicate how the attachment to this
organization will benefit them (if relevant).
4. Literature review: Review literature of past work done by other researchers on the
same topic that you have chosen. All reviewed literature should
be cited in the reference section. The review should include the
main activities of the organization the students are attached to (if
relevant).
5. Materials and method: Explain the methodology of the project/study and the
materials used in gathering the information on the subject.
6. Costing: This needs to be mentioned if applicable. State the source of funding.
7. Ethics Committee approval:The internal supervisors would have to obtain ethical
clearance for the projects that involves:

patients

patient records

patients particulars

procedures on patients

obtaining information on any form pertaining to medical practice

Formatting (follow the MSU Guidelines of research proposal writing)
Font : Times New Roman, Arial
Font Size: 12 point size
Spacing: In between sentence:
In between paragraph:

single
double

The number of words: 1-Proposal (not to exceed 5,000 words).

2-Report: 10,000 words.
3- Manuscript (to be subjected to the respective journal of interest for
publication)

Guidelines for Poster Presentation

Each group is expected to present their work in a poster presentation session. A number
will be assigned to every group and the posters will be placed in a selected space
according to the number given. A panel of academic members will judge the poster
session. Students are expected to be at the site to explain and discuss about their project.
All students must be present during the poster presentation session. The poster
presentation session will be followed by the announcement of the winners and the prize
giving ceremony.
Formatting:
i. Space on display board: 1 meter x 1 meter
ii. Font size: at least 24 point size
iii. Title of project or study or theme of the elective (larger font size than contents)
iv. Contents: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results or Findings, Discussion and
Conclusion

Guidelines for Final Project Report Writing

1.
2.
3.
4.

Each group is required to submit a written report (only ONE report per group)
The report is to be written in English
The report must be typed and bond
Each report should be divided in the following sections:

a.

Title Page:
This page should contain the following information:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Title of the elective topic or project

Full names of the group members
Full name of the supervisor(s)
Date and year of the elective program

b. Acknowledgement:
This section acknowledges the help or guidance rendered by any person during the
project.
c.

Table of content

d.

List of tables, charts, graphs or photographs

e.

Abstract
The abstract is a summary of the elective project. This should contain the objective
of the project that has been undertaken, brief methodology (if applicable) and
findings from the project or study.

f.

Contents
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

g.

Introduction/ Literature review

Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References

Formatting
i. Font: Times New Roman
ii. Size: 12 point
iii. Spacing: double spacing
iv. Paper size: A4
Please submit in hard copy and in disc form.

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Guidelines for Writing a Maunscripts:

1. Each group is required to submit a written manuscript (only ONE manuscript per
group)
2. Each manuscript should be divided in the following sections:
a. Title:
This part should contain the following information:
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.

Title of the topic or project

Full names of the group members
Full name of the supervisor(s)
Affiliation

b. Abstract
The abstract is a summary of the elective project. This should contain the objective
of the project that has been undertaken, brief methodology (if applicable) and
findings from the project or study.
c. Contents
1. Introduction/ Literature review
2. Methodology
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. References
d. List of tables, charts, graphs

(Most Journals have their own Guidelines for manuscript preparation; it is

advisable to visit the journal website before preparing your own manuscript)

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ELECTIVE ASSESSMENT FORM

YEAR: __________________________

SESSION:

__________________

GROUP: _________________________

DATE:

__________________

SUPERVISORS: __________________________________________________ (Local)

________________________________________________ (External)
PROJECT TITLLE:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
1-Marking Scheme for Final Project Report:
Area of evaluation

Marks

Group activities (participants or enthusiasm level)

20%

Introduction

10%

Materials & methods

10%

Results

20%

Discussion/conclusions

20%

References

10%

Overall

10%
TOTAL

100%
50%

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2-Marking Scheme for Manuscript:

Area of evaluation

Marks

Title

10%

Introduction

10%

Materials & methods

10%

Results

20%

Discussion/conclusions

20%

References

10%

Style

10%

Tables and figures

5%

Overall

5%
TOTAL

100%
20%

COMMENTS: ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Signature of Supervisors:

1.

__________________________________________

2.

__________________________________________

3-Marking Scheme for Poster:

Area of evaluation
Title expression (design and suitability of title to
content)
Overall presentation and layout
Contents
Visual impact (`eye catching, not too wordy)
Presentation by the presenter and group
participation during poster session
Total

Marks
10%
10%
60%
10%
10%

100%
20%
ELECTIVE ATTACHMENT: EXTERNAL SUPERVISORS EVALUATION
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To be filled by the Elective Center Supervisor

Please return form via student or send to the;
IMS
Level 11, Academic Block
Management & Science University,
University Drive, Off Persiaran Olahraga,
Section 13, 40100 Shah Alam,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.
For each student, please provide a rating for each category as follow:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Unsatisfactory / very poor

marginal
satisfactory
good
outstanding/excellent

1.

Students attendance

2.

Participation in departmental / ward activities

3.

Students attitude towards work

4.

Assessment of medical knowledge and skills

5.

Rapport with consultants and support staff

6.

Professional behavior

7.

Initiative

8.

Promptness / work ethic

9.

Assessment of elective

10.

Other comments

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INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SCHOOL

MANAGEMENT AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
GUIDELINES FOR SUPERVISORS
Your Role
1.

Any academic member of the faculty is eligible to be

the elective supervisor.

2.

The name of a replacement supervisor or additional cosupervisor must be given to the Elective Posting Committee before
commencement of the Elective Posting. This is necessary in the event, the
supervisor is not around during the course of the elective.

3.

The supervisor is responsible to monitor the progress of

the project and the distribution of responsibilities among members of the group.

4.

The supervisor will advise the student in writing the

report and guide the student during the project, preparation of the manuscript and
also the poster presentation.

5.

The assessment of the students performance must be

submitted to the Elective Posting coordinator on week 5 of year 5.

Elective Program Evaluation

1. The evaluation is divided into two parts:
a. Assessment of individual student
b. Assessment of group poster presentation
2. The assessment of the students is done by the respective project supervisor.
3. The assessment of poster presentation will be performed by a group of selected
members of the faculty as decided by the Elective Posting Committee.

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