Monash University Malaysia offers a comprehensive knowledge and skills that tap into the multifaceted discipline of human nutrition.
OBESITY is rising in Malaysia. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (2019), one in two Malaysian adults are either overweight or obese.
The Health Ministry has identified increasing the number of competent nutritionists in the healthcare workforce as one of the key strategies to combat nutrition-related health issues and reduce the healthcare expenditure of non-communicable diseases.
Therefore, an understanding of essential nutrients required by the body is vital to enable the general population to stay healthy, active and fit.
Monash University Malaysia offers comprehensive knowledge and skills that tap into the multifaceted discipline of human nutrition. Students will be trained to become work-ready, competent nutritionists upon completion of the comprehensive three-year nutrition programme.
Dr Tan opines that food is the best medicine.
“Food is the best medicine. A nutritionist is a trained healthcare professional who can help the public to understand the myths and facts about the various food choices and supplements via interpreting and translating scientific knowledge into practical information.
“A nutritionist plays an important role in the healthcare field by contributing to a healthier nation,” shares programme coordinator and senior lecturer Dr Tan Seok Shin.
The Bachelor of Human Nutrition programme at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences covers the broad scope of food in society, in-depth knowledge of nutritional and biomedical science and links the role of nutrition in health and disease prevention.
Students will be able to determine the social and behavioural aspects that affect individuals, communities and populations at large, by considering the broad aspect of religion, culture and political belief within a community from a nutritionist’s perspective.
Students will also be exposed to a greater understanding of specific groups' nutritional needs and issues while learning about the roles of nutrition in the context of human health and in diseases.
Studies will be intertwined with practical elements such as assessing dietary intake, food chemistry and composition, and complex regulatory requirements relating to food and nutrition. They will have the opportunity to undertake nutrition research and obtain work-integrated learning experience.
Monash students will have a wide selection of placement sites, including public or private community hospitals or clinics, non-governmental organisations, the food industry, sports, fitness and wellness centres, media companies, and healthcare-related corporate companies. This experiential training would make the students more competent and ready for the future workforce.
Students can also select elective units from other programmes and schools on and across campuses, giving them a cross-campus and international experience. The programme has embedded inter-professional (IPL) learning activities whereby students from the nutrition programme learn together with students from other health professional courses like medicine and pharmacy.
IPL prepares the graduates to work collaboratively and confidently with members from other healthcare professions in the development of an integrated approach towards disease prevention – thus, contributing to the building of a healthy community and nation.
A Bachelor of Human Nutrition degree will prepare graduates to pursue careers in diverse health-related settings including food industry, nutrition research institutions, government and non-government agencies, health clinics and hospitals, digital health, sports, fitness and wellness centres, food service companies, media industries, scientific and regulatory advisory bodies as well as food entrepreneurship.
Moreover, students can pursue a career in the higher education sector and become a nutrition researcher or academic.
Do you have a passion for food and nutrition? Find out more about the Bachelor of Human Nutrition programme here.
