NURTURING UMMATIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH SDG 3: GOOD HEALTH & WELL-BEING (ori)
IIUM Collaboration With Global, National Or Local Health Institutions
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) recognises that the pursuit of good health and well-being transcends institutional boundaries and requires strategic collaboration among academic, medical, and community stakeholders. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), IIUM actively fosters partnerships with local, national, and international health institutions to advance public health, medical research, health education, and community capacity building.
Guided by the Maqasid al-Shariah principle of preserving life (Hifz al-Nafs), IIUM integrates healthcare and well being into its institutional mission to nurture a balanced and compassionate society. Through partnerships with hospitals, government health agencies, non-governmental organisations, and global medical networks, the University enhances health outcomes, promotes preventive healthcare, and contributes to policy and practice improvements in Malaysia and beyond.
GLOBAL COLLABORATION
IIUM – Aspetar MoU on Sports Medicine and Science Collaboration
On 18 September 2024, IIUM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar. This partnership covers joint research, staff exchange, sports medicine training and athlete health programmes. The collaboration enhances IIUM’s research capacity and international exposure in sports science and rehabilitation, while contributing to improved athlete health and performance outcomes globally. It demonstrates IIUM’s commitment to global cooperation that translates research excellence into tangible well being benefits across borders.
IIUM and Aspetar strengthen global health collaboration – The MoU signing was attended by H.E. Salah bin Mohammed Al-Sorour, Ambassador of Qatar to Malaysia, with Dr. Abdulaziz Jaham Al Kuwari, CEO of Aspetar, and Prof. Dr. Ahmad Faris Ismail representing IIUM, marking a new chapter in international cooperation in sports medicine and health sciences.
Source: https://aspetar.com/en/about-us/press-room/news/international-islamic-university-malaysia?
NATIONAL COLLABORATION
IIUM Health, Safety and Environment Centre (IHSEN) – Occupational Health and Safety Partnerships
Throughout 2024, the IIUM IHSEN Centre, under the Kulliyyah of Medicine, collaborated with 3M Malaysia and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) to conduct professional workshops on Occupational Noise-Related Hearing Disorders and Ear-Fit Training. These sessions equipped participants with technical knowledge on hearing protection standards and hazard management. The partnership reflects IIUM’s role in national-scale health promotion, linking academic expertise with government and industrial sectors to advance Malaysia’s occupational health and safety framework.
Source: https://kulliyyah.iium.edu.my/kom/ihsen/
LOCAL COLLABORATION
IIUM emphasises community well-being through active collaboration with nearby schools, clinics and local organisations to improve health literacy and preventive care access. These initiatives bring together healthcare professionals, students and local residents in service of the Maqasid al-Shariah objective of preserving life (Hifz al-Nafs).
Public Health Event 2024: Sustainable Health for All
On 13 January 2024, the Kulliyyah of Pharmacy (IIUM Kuantan) organised Public Health Event 2024: Sustainable Health for All at Sekolah Rendah Islam Indera Mahkota, Kuantan. The event provided free health-screening services such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, CO levels, BMI and health education booths run by academic staff and students. This collaboration with the local community improved awareness of lifestyle diseases and preventive health practices, illustrating IIUM’s commitment to holistic, community based healthcare outreach.
Source: https://kulliyyah.iium.edu.my/kop/2024/02/08/public-health-event-2024-sustainable-health-for-all/?
SPORT FACILITIES
IIUM Sports Facilities Accessible to External Users
In 2024, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) opened its sports complexes, managed by the Sports Development Centre (SDC), for use by external users beyond its student and staff community. The “Sports Facilities” webpage clearly states that “Outside users may reserve and apply to use the facilities at other times.” Further, a prioritised booking order is listed which places “IIUM students and staff” first, with “other groups and organisations” included as eligible users. This confirms that IIUM’s sports infrastructure is shared with local institutions, schools and public groups under structured access. Although booking and rental rates apply (indicating charged access for external users), the availability of these facilities to the broader community aligns with the indicator’s goal of shared sports facility access.
By making its facilities available to the local community, IIUM enables physical activity opportunities for neighbouring schools, organisations, and public users, promoting wider participation in sport and recreation and strengthening community university integration.
Source: https://centre.iium.edu.my/sdc/sports-facilities/
HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Sexual and reproductive health care services for students
Access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services is a critical component of student well being within higher education. The indicator “Provide students access to sexual and reproductive health care services including information and education services” recognises the importance of institutions offering health care facilities, counselling, and information tailored to the unique needs of tertiary students. Within this context, the Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre @ IIUM (SASMEC@IIUM) serves as a key provider of SRH-services to the student community of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), aligning with the university’s holistic health and well being mission.
The “Our Services” section of SASMEC@IIUM lists a dedicated Reproductive Health Unit under the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, among its core services. This facility is available to students and staff, providing professional consultations, screening, and education on sexual and reproductive health issues. For instance, students can access SRH services such as reproductive health check-ups, family planning advice, and referral pathways and it is a clear example of institutional provision of SRH care aligned with campus needs.
By integrating SRH care within its health centre services, IIUM ensures that students receive timely information and clinical support for reproductive health, hygiene, and well being. This arrangement supports the university’s commitment to student health, preventive care and the broader goal of creating a healthy campus environment.
Source: https://sasmec.iium.edu.my/v2/index.php/our-services?
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
Anchored in the vision of “Nurturing Ummatic Excellence”, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) upholds mental well being as an essential pillar of holistic human development. IIUM believes that academic excellence and spiritual growth must coexist with emotional balance and mental resilience. Guided by the principles of Sejahtera and Maqasid al-Shariah, particularly the preservation of intellect (Hifz al-‘Aql), IIUM provides structured and compassionate mental health support for students through proactive counselling services, awareness campaigns, and community based engagement.
Promoting Mental Resilience through Ummatic Excellence: IIUM’s 2024 Mental Health Support Initiatives
In 2024, IIUM strengthened its commitment to student well being through a series of mental health programmes and services spearheaded by the Counselling and Career Services Centre (CCSC). The university organised initiatives such as the “IIUM Mental Health Roundtable Discussion 2024” (26 February 2024) and “HEAL 2024: Holistic Engagement for Awareness and Living” (October 2024), focusing on dialogue, education, and collective healing within the IIUM community. These events engaged students, staff, and mental health professionals in open discussions on emotional wellness, stress management, and the Islamic perspective on self care and compassion.
Source: https://centre.iium.edu.my/ccsc/2024/
IIUM’s Counselling and Career Services
IIUM’s Counselling and Career Services Department also provides continuous access to free counselling sessions, peer-support networks, and crisis intervention services. Students can seek one-on-one or group counselling, supported by trained professionals who integrate psychological guidance with Islamic values. The department further extends its reach through mental health awareness campaigns, online educational resources, and signposting for external psychological and psychiatric support when necessary.
Source: https://office.iium.edu.my/ocd/counselling-and-career-services-department/
Through these initiatives, IIUM nurtures Ummatic resilience specifically in preparing students not only to succeed academically but to thrive as emotionally balanced, spiritually grounded, and socially responsible individuals. The university’s comprehensive mental health framework demonstrates its enduring dedication to Rahmatan lil-‘Alamin (mercy to all creation), ensuring that every student is supported in mind, body, and soul.
UPHOLDING UMMATIC WELL BEING THROUGH A SMOKE FREE CAMPUS INITIATIVE
In realising the vision of “Nurturing Ummatic Excellence,” the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) strives to cultivate an environment that supports holistic wellness specifically spiritually, intellectually, and physically. Health preservation is viewed as an act of ibadah (worship) and stewardship, rooted in the Maqasid al-Shariah principle of Hifz al-Nafs (protection of life).
IIUM’s Smoke Free Campus Policy reflects this divine trust by ensuring that the university remains a sanctuary for knowledge and well being, free from the harms of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping products. This initiative fosters a healthier, more sustainable campus community where both physical and spiritual purity are prioritised. Through this commitment, IIUM continues to shape graduates who embody the values of self discipline, environmental consciousness, and social responsibility as the hallmarks of true Ummatic Excellence.
In 2024, IIUM reinforced its long standing commitment to campus health through the implementation of a comprehensive Tobacco Free Campus Policy, designating all university premises, including buildings, hostels, and open spaces, as smoke free zones. The policy, endorsed by the Office of the Legal Adviser, applies to all students, staff, and visitors, covering the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and all other tobacco products.
Complementing the policy, the Kulliyyah of Pharmacy launched the “Sustainable Smokefree Sejahtera Campus Community 3.0” initiative, which includes awareness campaigns, smoking cessation support, and educational outreach to promote health-conscious lifestyles across the IIUM community.
Source:https://kulliyyah.iium.edu.my/kop/smokefree-campus/
Through these efforts, IIUM operationalises its vision of Nurturing Ummatic Excellence by fostering a campus that safeguards health, nurtures intellectual vitality, and upholds moral discipline. The smoke-free initiative is more than a regulatory framework, it is a living expression of IIUM’s spiritual and educational philosophy that harmonises physical well-being with the pursuit of knowledge and moral integrity.
Ummatic Vigilance: Staff Mental Health Support Series 2024
Sip & Share Series 3 – Staff Well-Being
On 24 May 2024 the Counselling and Career Services Centre (CCSC) at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), in collaboration with the Management Services Division, organised the “Sip & Share Series 3 – Happiness at Workplace” workshop targeted at the university’s staff. The event formed part of IIUM’s broader Mental Health Awareness Month (I-MHAM) programmes and offered free participation for staff, including talks and peer-sharing sessions on workplace well-being and stress-management. The webpage invites staff to “need someone to talk to? Feeling overwhelmed?” and provides access to the Staff Counselling Services unit. Through this initiative, IIUM actively promotes good mental health among employees, offers free or sign posted counselling and supports the creation of a psychologically healthy workplace.
Source: https://centre.iium.edu.my/ccsc/staff-counselling-services/
Ummatic Leadership: Staff-Inclusive Mental Health Roundtable
In February 2024, IIUM’s CCSC hosted the “IIUM Mental Health Roundtable Discussion 2024”, bringing together staff, students, counsellors, and service-providers to review institutional mental health policy and support structures.This event signifies IIUM’s leadership in fostering a mentally healthy organisational culture, offering both access to free support and a framework for formalised sign posting to specialised services. It embodies the principle of Ummatic Excellence by embedding staff well being as a core dimension of institutional excellence.
Source: https://centre.iium.edu.my/ccsc/iium-mental-health-roundtable-discussion-2024/
The SuccesSouls Project @ KOMITED Malaysia: A Sustainable Initiative on Health and Wellbeing KPT Prihatin Madani 2024
The Successouls Project @KOMITED Malaysia focuses on improving health and well-being within the KOMITED Malaysia community by addressing both physical and mental health needs. KOMITED Malaysia is one of the non-governmental, non-profit and community-based organisation that shelters illicit drug users who would like to change their habit and have a more meaningful and quality living. This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
Organised by SiTEC Flagship, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, Pertubuhan Komuniti Intervensi Dadah (KOMITED) Malaysia, and the Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre, the project is fully funded by KPT Prihatin Madani grant. It features several impactful activities designed to promote health education and screening. The main objective of the project is to identify concerning health issues among the residents, staff and volunteers of KOMITED Malaysia for further intervention.
Project Detail
Date : 21st December 2024
Time : 8.00 AM – 2.00 PM
Venue : Casa Villa, Komited Malaysia, Kuantan Pahang
Collaborators:
- I Do Care Flagship, Kulliyyah of Dentistry
- Audiology and Dietetic Departments, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, IIUM
- Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM
Attendees:
| Role | Descriptions |
| Participants | 113 residents and clients of KOMITED Malaysia |
| Organising committees | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Ilyani binti Mohamed Nazar (Programme Manager), Madam Che Rokiah binti Ismail (SASMEC), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norny Syafinaz Ab Rahman, Asst. Prof. Dr. Nor Elina Alias, Sr. Nur Adibah Abdul Razak, Br. Hasrul Afizan Mohd Din, Asst. Prof. Dr. Nor Hidayah Taufek, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurjasmine Aida binti Jamani (KOM), Asst. Prof. Dr. Zalikha binti Ibrahim, Madam Nurul Hidayah binti Abdullah, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Osman |
| Staff of KOMITED Malaysia | |
| Students from Usrah in Action 1 Section 822 |
Activities:
- Health screenings
- BMI
- Blood pressure
- Blood glucose level
- Blood cholesterol level
- Lung carbon monoxide level
- Dental health assessment
- Hearing test and other audiology assessment
- Breast cancer awareness
- General health consultation
- Quality use of medicine
2. Mental health awareness talk by Asst. Prof. Hijaz Hj. Ridzwan
3. Community profiling
