TuPSS election day

On the 18th of September 2014, TUPSS held its annual election in which the old committee would step down and be replaced by the newly elected committee.

This year, instead of being held in a small classroom, it was held in a lecture theater as a classroom would've been too small due to the large turn up for the elections this year. Many turned up to play their part in determining the voices that would represent them in the council for the next term.

The event started with speeches being delivered by nominees who have gone through an interview process by the previous board members. There, nominees were given a chance to woo the crowd with their respective speeches and to hopefully earn votes.

After the votes were collected, the previous president, JenningYeong, gave his final and tearful speech while a few members of the previous committee were counting the votes.

The results are as follows:

President: Alene Yong
Vice President: Ong Qi Jun
Secretary 1: Yee Wey
Secretary 2: Kelly Chan
Treasurer: Ng Kar Weng
Head of Project Management: Loke Ren Zhang
Head of Editorial Board: Chan Jing Er
Head of TEMP: Bong Zhang Min

TUPSS as a whole would like to give thanks to the previous committee under the leadership of Jenning for all their services to the student body, and would like to wish the new committee all the best in their new reign.

When Leaders are Shaped - 13th IPSF APRO LIT

13th IPSF APRO Leaders in Training (LIT) was held on 19/8/14 to 22/8/14 at Taylor's University Lakeside Campus. A training program which prepare the participants in leadership skills in addition to various soft skills which would be relevant in their practice as a pharmacy students leader. A total of 14 participants from Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Republic of Korea and Malaysia participated this event.

The distinguished trainers are David Cechlovsky, Chairman of Professional Development from International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF) and James White, Secretary from Asia Pacific Regional Office Regional Working Group (APRO-RWG).

David Cechlovsky, facilitating ice breaker during the welcoming party.

James White, photo taken during APPS Gala Night.

Various topics including communication, project management, email writing, and pitching were discussed and tips to improve these aspects were also shared on order to allow the participants to become a better leader who can perform more effectively.

A highlighted session of this program was the "Impromptu Theatre" where the participants were required to act and speak spontaneously on the stage. It acts as a perfect platform for participants to overcome the fear of speaking in front of crowd and learn to convert ideas generated spontaneously into verbal expression. Aside of that, some of the participants were able to enhance their act with humor, making it a night full of laughter.

Another unforgettable and fruitful experience was when the participants had to "endure" a simulated pitching session. They were required to pitch their project for sponsorship to the "sponsors" acted by the trainers and APRO-RWG. Not only that, they were also be questioned by the "sponsors" with provocative and critical questions.

Reception Committee (Jenning, Hui En) serving the food diligently.

All in all, it is definitely a rewarding experience not only for the participants but also the Reception Committee.

Group Photo during the last day!
(Credits to Edberg Andreas)

LIT Participants, Trainers, APRO-RWG and RC reunited in APPS Gala Night.

~TOGETHER WE GROW~

Editor's Notes:
A big thanks to the trainers and ARPO-RWG for being helpful and cooperative throughout the program. Thumbs up for the participants as well, your performance throughout the training was really impressive and inspiring! We glad to be a host for you all.
Lastly, I appreciate the generosity of Edberg Andreas in providing the group photo. 

Click to read on "I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand” - Sharing from LIT Participants"
Click to read on "A Whole New Experience - 13th IPSF APPS"

A Whole New Experience - 13th IPSF APPS

The 13th IPSF Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium (APPS) was held in Malaysia on 22/8/14 to 28/8/14. The 7 days 6 nights event comprised of informative symposiums, inspiring workshops, entertaining social nights would have made it an unforgettable memories for participants across Asia Pacific including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Sudan and Algeria.

Day 0

The event marked its start with the inaugural welcoming party in the ballroom of Seri Pacific 5 Stars Hotel, providing the warmest hospitality to the participants and the most amazing experience to the participants taste buds with an international cuisine buffet. It was followed by a gimmicks and a few ice breakers.

One of the ice breakers when they have to stand on a very smal piece of card board.

Day 1

It was officially started with an opening ceremony attended by honorable guests including Datuk Nancy Ho, President of Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, Deans from School of Pharmacy from different Universities in Malaysia and other guests. A flag ceremony was held to welcome participants from different countries.

Professor Dr P. T. Thomas and Reception Committee from Taylor's University

After the symposium given by various speakers expertise in fields such as personalized medicine and pharmacy practice, the day marked its end with an enriching "International Night". It was a social event where participants from different countries brought food and tit bits representing their culture and also had performances which were really an eye-opener for the audience.

Participants from Malaysia!
(Credits to Nash Rahman)

Traditional Dance from Korean.
(Credits to Tan Zhi Shan)

Performance from Japan eventually became the champion of the night.
(Credits to Tan Zhi Shan)

Day 2

The highlighted sessions of the Day 2 were the variety of workshop prepared such as Scientific Poster Exhibition, Patient Counselling Event, Suppository Workshop, Medical Apps Workshop, Halal Pharmaceutics Workshop, workshop about Pfizer and Innovation. In addition, all participants were able to enjoy and witness the cultural diversity of Malaysia through a specially prepared Malaysia Cultural Workshop where the participants had chances to play traditional games, try traditional cloth from different ethnics in Malaysia and most importantly make traditional food such as curry puff on their own!

Cultural Workshop featuring traditional Malay musical instrument.
(Credits to Nash Rahman)

Day 3

The first of its kind "Pharmazing Race" was no doubt one of the best feature in APPS where participants had the chance to wander through the streets and lanes of Kuala Lumpur as well as experience of using Malaysia integrated railway system to travel around. They have left their footsteps across Batu Caves, Central Market, National Mosque, Botanic Garden and Independence Square. After the race, they prepared the materials and visual aids needed for Public Health Campaign awaiting them in the next day.

Batu Caves station, 272 steps conquered!

Central Market, a collection of arts.

Volunteer from national mosque giving the participants a guided tour.
(Credits to Shaeh Cai Ying)

Orchid Garden, where future pharmacists meet nature!
(Credits to Shaeh Cai Ying)

Race ended! Independence!
(Credits to Brian Wong)

Day 4

Another challenging and meaningful moment for the participants as well as the reception committees was the Public Health Campaign, spreading anti-tobacco messages in form of street parade across Kuala Lumpur Golden Triangle Area. They collected car honks from the motorists as a sign of support, played Truth or Myth game with smokers, showing placard and giant cigarette. A booth was also set up at Plaza Sungai Wang as a follow up point for those who need further consultation. The most interesting part was a flash mob in front of Lot 10 was performed by the participants, to further attract the audience and promote awareness on the risks of smoking.

Ready to go!

Participants promoting anti-tobacco awareness.
(Credits to Nash Rahman)

A group photo after the flash mob.

Although there were some disgruntled and provocative responses from certain smokers due to perceived threat on their rights on smoking, but generally the campaign was really a success. One of the reception committee (Jenning Yeong) witnessed a heart warming moment where a young-ling insisted his father to stop smoking. When being asked whether he knew about the danger of smoking, the young-ling said he didn't know about it, but insisted his father to stop smoking simply because "I know it is not good."

After the campaign, participants were dispersed to enjoy their free night.

Day 5

After the enlightening symposium and Regional Assembly, it finally came to an end of the event. The Gala Night together with closing ceremony was held at Saloma Bistro. During the closing ceremony, awards were given to the winners of various competition held during APPS such as Best Scientific Poster Competition, Clinical Skill Event, Patient Counselling Event and Pharmazing Race. It was also announced that the 14th IPSF APPS will be held at Pattaya, Thailand. 

Saloma Bistro

Jenning and his group became the 1st runner up of "Pharmazing Race"

All good thing must come to an end.
(Credits to Mae and William Photography)

Finally, Viva La Pharmacie! 

May all the memory of the friendship formed in this encounter will be everlasting.

Editor's Notes:
A great congratulation and thanks to Malaysian Pharmacy Students' Society (MyPsa) and the Reception Committee for organizing this event. It is definitely a successful event, making it possible for pharmacy students from different countries to cross each other path. I am really grateful to have all these incredibly amazing encounter in these period. These people are really wonderful and I shall keep the memories everlasting deep in my heart.

I would like also like to express my gratitude to Nash Rahman, Tan Zhi Shan, Shaeh Cai Ying, Brian Wong as well as Mae and William Photography. for generously contributing the mentioned photos in this post.

Click to read on "When Leaders are Shaped - 13th IPSF APRO LIT"
Click to read on ""I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand” - Sharing from LIT Participants"

"I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand” - Sharing from LIT Participants

Lin Chia-Ying, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan: 

There were two main reasons why I wanted to join LIT: First, since I participated the LIT held in Taiwan, hence I wish like to experience what would be the difference between the LIT in foreign country and Taiwan; Another reason was because I saw the photos of my senior Dora Lee (APRO-RWG Chairperson Term 2013-2014) attending LIT before, hence inspiring me to move out of my comfort zone. 
It had really proven that the 4 days 3 nights of LIT even though busy and exhausting, it was the most enriching experience of my journey. Under the instruction of the excellent trainer, David and James, we slowly grasp the gist of leadership characteristics through various simulated activities.

• From the activity “Story Charade”, I realised the importance of attending to vital details in communication, the ways of providing and accepting feedback while putting myself in others’ shoes as well as to be able to consider the vision of overall situation. 
• The “Detective Game” and “Build the Bridge” activities allowed me to utilize communication skills, note taking skills and body language that I learned in the morning, learning to let go the perception of self to be able to listen to others, completing the task part by part. 
• In the “Simulated Graduation Tour Discussion”, I gained insights of necessary attribution of a competent facilitator. When facing dissenting views within a group, there must be some ground rules for purposeful discussion, then the messages shared must be precise and accurate, the facilitator should also be able to comprehend and be in control of the flow of the discussion. 
• In thinking the preparation of a project, I realised that being meticulous is one of the most important key for a successful event. For instance, preparing for a LIT needs classrooms, dormitories, staffs, meals and transportation. However, each part requires being thoughtful on details, such as the distance from dorms to university, the facilities of the classroom, the proper appetite for the members from different countries, and so on. As the adage goes, "The devil is in the details.” 
• Finally, when facing the challenge of preparing a proposal in 1 hour, we were able to apply and integrate what we learned about communication, facilitation and concepts on project management. 
• In reflection, I realized my lacking of comprehensive mode of thinking and narrow breadth of mind. 

In fact, I noticed that I had actually learned some of the concepts mentioned before participating LIT, for example to formulate SMART objective in proposing a project. However, due to the lack of applying such concepts into practical setting, it merely appeared as insubstantial understanding in my mind; but given the opportunity to apply these knowledge in LIT, I gained deeper and more comprehensive insights, able to share it with others comfortably.
As quoted by Maria Montessori,

“I hear, I forget; I see, I remember; I do, I understand”. 

What I really grateful about is being able to make so many new friends which I believe our friendship will last forever. Even though we come from different country and cultural background, communicating not using our mother tongue was a challenging effort, but in these few days of learning together, we slowly gained deeper understanding on each other and became interdependent and indispensable members of a family. 10 days are really a short period for us, I really don’t want to leave these wonderful people. We grow together, we accomplish together, and we cherish each other. I believe our friendship would be just like what we said in the last day of LIT, “Check in and never check out”.

Maprang Chanakan, Burapha University, Thailand:

LIT was a really great experience to me. Everything that I have learned is so new to me. It makes me understand more about how to be the good leader, especially on the aspect of work distribution and being a good speaker as well as a good listener. I enjoyed LIT so much especially the part of being able to meet new friends from different countries. We had spend a lot fun time together. Finally, I really like Taylor’s University. It’s so beautiful,has many interesting place.

Now, I am still prefer to be a follower than a leader because I'm very shy. But LIT gave me more courage and confident to be a leader or a volunteer if I have to.

Nisa Mastiyah, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia:

For me, being LIT participant this year was the best experience I've ever had. I met new people from different places and background at one place and shared the same happy thoughts together. The RC made a magnificent job and I would like to thank them for comfortable accommodation and nice meal during my stay. Taylor's Uni was the perfect place for LIT, a very great campus indeed. Our trainers, David & James and previous RWG were awesome. I was lucky and grateful to have them there. For the other LIT participants, they were kind and I always felt warm around them. We all are a team and a team sticks together forever. Hope to meet everyone again someday as we ever said, we checked in and will never check out.

My favorite part was the communication training by James. It's important to deliver feedback on someone's work, Do not use the word but, do not critisize, give some compliments and encouraging them. I also like Project Management by David. We learned about phases of project, how to set up goal and specific objectives to accomplish the goal using the method SMART. Also, when you're dealing with sponsor for your project, make sure you set the budget clear. I found these very useful.

Editor's Notes:
With the hope to inspire and reveal the beneficial impact of Leaders in Training (LIT) on personal development, these participants were invited to share their testimonies after LIT. For those who strive to be a better leader, your opportunities lie around you.*

I salute the contributors for being brave enough to move out of comfort zone and share their thoughts here. I sincerely appreciate your kind effort in providing the testimonies. Thanks Chia-Ying, Prang and Nisa, let us get started and strive for the best.

*TuPSS Election is coming soon! Grab a role.

Click to read on "When Leaders are Shaped - 13th IPSF APRO LIT"
Click to read on "A Whole New Experience - 13th IPSF APPS"