HEALTH Informatics and Analytics (HIA) is a discipline that combines healthcare, information technology and artificial intelligence.

       As one of the fastest growing economic sectors worldwide, health informatics, also referred to as digital health, is creating job opportunities twice as fast as any other economic sector in many countries.

       With this career gaining popularity, the International Medical University (IMU) is offering a Master in Health Informatics and Analytics (MHIA) with its first intake in September.

       Training the next generation of leading researchers and practitioners in the healthcare sector, MHIA students will become experts in linking and analysing large complex datasets, using techniques which are transforming medical research and creating exciting new commercial opportunities.

       “This programme has been designed to suit the needs of future health IT specialists and data scientists, enabling them to perform analyses and develop novel tools and methods for this rapidly growing field.

       “It is aimed at students with diverse backgrounds, not limited to science related fields.

       “The MHIA programme will be able to design, perform and enhance analyses with the appropriate methods and technologies to address practical medical and clinical questions.

       “Leveraging on the university teaching staff diversity – including computer science and informatics, biomedical, clinical and health sciences – alongside that of external industrial partners, the MHIA will deliver training across the breadth of health informatics and analytics from health informatics, epidemiology, clinical systems and bioinformatics,” said Prof Patrice Francois Boursier, IMU’s MHIA professor and programme director.

       IMU’s one-year full-time MHIA programme, also available part-time, provides the perfect pathway for recent graduates or professionals from various areas who intend to move their career into this area of the healthcare sector.

       This is also an ideal programme for current health and social care practitioners who are looking to gain additional knowledge and skills in digital innovation.

       Delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experts in computing and health related disciplines, students will be able to learn about state-of-the-art technologies and systems, either related to IT such as data analytics, mobile applications, sensors and wearables, or healthcare including electronic health records and remote monitoring.

       This integrated MHIA degree prepares graduates for a range of careers in the healthcare sector across various settings where health improvement is sought, enhanced by technology, including health related industries in the private sector as well as ministries and departments in the public sector. The programme will also lead on to opportunities for further studies (PhD).

       The MHIA programme is a 40-credit programme and is offered in three levels – Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master, allowing for multiple exit.

       Students can choose to complete all modules of the Master programme, within one year as a full-time student or within a maximum period of four years as a part-time student.

       Students will enrol into the Masters programme but they can exit at the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma levels.

       This programme offers an accelerated, modular and blended learning to provide more flexibility to working professionals in the form of online study options.

       To ensure a rounded understanding of the issues to formulate intervention and value creation strategies in class simulation or actual industry-based intervention, students will have to undergo a robust curriculum that involves lectures, tutorials, case studies, written assignments, group projects, presentations and discussion boards.

       The MHIA programme is open to students with a Bachelor degree (or equivalent through APEL) in any discipline. Students without a computing or statistical background will have to take the Introduction to Computer Science and Programming or the Statistics Thinking for Health Analytics modules at the very beginning of the programme.

       IMU offers postgraduate programmes including Master in Science programmes in Public Health, Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Molecular Medicine, Acupuncture and Pharmacy Practice; Master of Counselling; Postgraduate Diplomas in Diabetes Management and Education, Implant Dentistry, Endodontics and Prosthodontics; postgraduate programmes in Health Professions Education and Business Administration in Healthcare Management as well as MSc and PhD in Medical and Health Sciences.

       Learn more about the new programme at the IMU’s virtual open day on Aug 15 10am to 4pm. Register now at www.imu.edu.my/openday.

       For more information about this or our other postgraduate programmes, visit www.imu.edu.my or email postgraduate@imu.edu.my or call 03 - 2731 7272.