Student POV

A Day of Fun, Teamwork and Community Spirit

On 22nd February 2025, the Community Outreach Society (COS) of RUMC and Selfless Together brought laughter, energy and a sense a belonging to 140 refugee students during the COS Fun Day Out. Held at the RUMC Field & MPH, the event was more than just as sports day - it was a celebration of community, teamwork and the simple joy of being together.

For many of these students, the day was a rare opportunity to step away from their daily challenges and simply be kids. With the help of 55 dedicated volunteers and 20 teachers from the refugee NGO, the event became a safe space where everyone could laugh, play and connect.

Picture 1. Children warming up before the fun starts.

A Day Filled with Laughter and Play

The students, ranging from ages 6 to 18, were divided into two groups; Kindergarten and Primary & Secondary. Each group moved through five game stations, each designed to spark excitement and encourage teamwork.

The younger children giggled their way through the Egg and Spoon Race, carefully balancing ping-pong balls, while others dashed around the lively game of Octopus. The 3-Layered Game had them hopping and jumping with pure delight, and the Musical Chair brought out their competitive spirit. The Water Pong station, with its splashes and cheers, was a hit among the little ones.

Meanwhile, the older students tackled challenges like the Hoop Hop Showdown, where agility and speed were put to the test, and the Pyramid of Cups, which required precision and balance. The Captain Ball game brought out their teamwork and camaraderie, while the Team String Drawing Challenge had them laughing as they worked together to create art. The Relay Race ended with high-fives and cheers as each team celebrated their efforts.

A Heartwarming Conclusion

As the games wrapped up, the students gathered for a well-deserved meal, generously sponsored by McDonald's. The smiles on their faces as they enjoyed their food were a reminder of how much this day meant to them.

The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, where winners received certificates, small prizes and goodie bags. However, the real reward was the joy and sense of accomplishment that every student carried home. For the volunteers, the sight of the children's and the sound of the laughter made every moment of effort worthwhile.

Overcoming Challenges Together

The day wasn't without its challenges. The hot weather tested everyone's energy, and some students needed extra help understanding the game rules. However, with frequent water breaks, clear instructions and the patience of the volunteers, the event flowed smoothly. These small hurdles only made the day more memorable, as everyone worked together to ensure the students had the best experience possible.

Picture 2. RUMC and Selfless Together in one photo

Picture 3. The Dream Team that made COS Fun Day Out come true

Thank You to Our Supporters

This event would not have been possible without the generosity and support of many. A heartful thank you to McDonald's for providing meals, RUMC's Dean and COS Advisor for their encouragement, and Selfless Together for their collaboration. The COS team is also deeply grateful to the RUMC Facilities Team, the Basketball Club, Student Affairs and Marketing Department for their assistance, and to every volunteer who gave their time and energy to make the day special.

A Day to Remember

The COS Fun Day Out was a beautiful reminder of the power of community and the joy that comes from sharing moments of happiness. It was a day filled with laughter, teamwork and unforgettable memories - a day that touched hearts and left a lasting impression on everyone involved.

We look forward to many more days like this, where we can come together to create smiles and build connections.

For more pictures, do visit Selfless Together - Sports Day at RUMC.

A 10/10 Experience: Attending the 2nd Global Evidence Summit 2024
By Jarren Lu Yi Sheng, Medical Student, RUMC, Class of 2025

I recently had the incredible opportunity to represent RUMC (RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus) in attending the 2nd Global Evidence Summit in the stunning city of Prague from the 10th to the 11th of September. This event brought together experts from different fields, including health, education, social justice, the environment, and climate change from across the globe, all dedicated to the crucial role of evidence synthesis. I was introduced to new perspectives and gained invaluable insights into the importance of systematically and rigorously appraising literature to generate evidence-based arguments to help facilitate making important decisions.

Picture 1. A picture of me beside my poster during the poster presentation.

Using Evidence. Improving Lives

This year’s theme was ‘Using evidence. Improving lives.’ True to its name, the event focused heavily on how different methods of evidence synthesis are being used to help inform national policies and international healthcare organisations to ensure their recommendations and guidelines remain up-to-date with existing literature. For example, rapid reviews almost completely replaced systematic reviews during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure clinical guidelines were continuously updated in real-time. It was truly inspiring to see how our healthcare professionals could adapt conventional ways of producing evidence-based medicine to navigate an unprecedented crisis, whilst still maintaining the expected level of quality and rigor in the results produced.

The main reason for my trip to Prague was to deliver a poster presentation I did on “Using Covidence to Support Multiple Teams in Collaborating on Scoping Reviews” (Picture 1). I got to engage in stimulating conversations with other researchers in the same field. More excitingly, I was thrilled to receive an invitation to submit an article of my work to the Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods journal during the session. Fingers crossed that the article gets accepted soon!

It was also heart-warming to meet other Malaysians attending the event – Datuk Nor Asiah, for her poster presentation on “Developing National Policy by identifying factors for tobacco smoking initiation among Children in Malaysia”, and a brilliantly delivered oral presentation on “National Uptake of Health Research Priorities: Midterm review of research uptake using Cochrane Method in National Institutes of Health, Malaysia”; as well as my supervisor, Professor Jacqueline Judith Ho, with her poster presentation on “Bridging the Gap: Empowering LMICs through Cochrane Evidence: Experiences of Cochrane Centers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”.

Go Malaysia!

Seminars and Workshops

Besides the poster presentation session, there were many seminars/workshops you could attend based on the schedule uploaded onto the mobile application created by the event committee. These workshops ran throughout the day with multiple sessions running concurrently, so we had to pick and choose which ones we thought would be of most benefit. Examples of the ones I attended include “Adapting Synthesis Methods for Practical Use” and “Bridging Global Evidence to Local Impact, Especially in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”. My favourite session would undoubtedly be an interactive workshop called “Exploring Theoretical Frameworks in Systematic Reviews” where we were introduced to the ‘theory of change’ and its associated steps in conceptualizing and realizing this supposed theory you’re working with. (Picture 2)

Another spotlight moment in the event was a debate titled “The Role of AI in Evidence Synthesis”. Both teams performed so well and gave solid arguments and defences. You had to be there in person to experience the electricity in the room – snarky remarks, humorous deliveries, and heartfelt moments – it almost felt like watching a theatrical show.

Picture 2. A picture of our group work done on the ‘theory of change’ to reduce screen time amongst school-going children.

A 10/10 Experience

Finally, I would like to thank our school’s former head librarian, Ms Evelyn Anand, for giving me the opportunity to join in on this amazing piece of research, as well as Professor Jacqueline Ho for your guidance and unwavering support along the way. (Picture 3) I also want to thank my dad for keeping me company on my trip to Prague. I highly recommend attending the event at least once to broaden your horizons. A 10/10 experience.

Picture 3. A group picture with Malaysian Cochrane author Prof Shaun Lee (1st from the left), me (2nd from the left), Prof Jacqueline Ho (2nd from the right), and Russian Cochrane author Dr Liliya Eugenevna Ziganshina from Cochrane Russia (1st from the right).

Celebrating Student Excellence: Sonia Nde’s Triumph at RUMC

In the recent milestone achievement for the RUMC (RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus), one of our students, Sonia Nde, made history by becoming the first student representative from our institution to attend a Cochrane Colloquium. This was held between 3rd and 6th September 2023 in London.

This international annual affair is the flagship event of the Cochrane Collaboration. The forum is for anyone interested in producing trustworthy, high-quality research evidence and discussion on how to help people understand and use research. These include researchers, people in health policy, healthcare providers (i.e. doctors and nurses), and patients or their caregivers.

Picture 1. Sonia Nde standing beside her Poster Presentation

Forward Together For Trusted Evidence

The event, themed ‘Forward together for trusted evidence’, served as a platform for global health enthusiasts to delve into critical research questions while advocating for evidence-informed healthcare practices. People from all these groups need to be involved in making this type of research available. Sonia’s participation and contribution to the event was a notable achievement.

Sonia’s journey to the colloquium was paved with determination and support from her mentors, Professor Jacqueline Ho and Associate Professor Dr. May Loong Tan, both co-directors of Cochrane Malaysia. With their guidance and the aid of a stipend from Cochrane Malaysia, Sonia worked on her poster, titled “Malaysian Experience of Training Journalists in Understanding Research Evidence: A Cochrane Geographic Groups Consumer Engagement and Involvement Challenge Fund project.”

The paper reports on the series of training workshops that Cochrane Malaysia conducted for journalists and media personnel in partnership with the Institute of Journalists Malaysia (IoJM) and looks at the impact of the training on how research is reported in local media.

Seminars and Workshops

She also participated in the student event held in conjunction with the main colloquium. This proved to be a rich learning experience, exposing her to new ideas and connecting her to other like-minded students. “I realise now how much bias colours the evidence we have. We should question what we do in our clinical work. Does the science behind it meet up to scrutiny? Evidence-based medicine is a lot more than what we get as an undergraduate,” said Sonia.

“Sonia could select which sessions from the many concurrent sessions in the programme. She found that they suited her and were at her level of understanding. During the poster session, many came to speak to her and she shared her knowledge about the poster presentation. I could see she benefited not from just attending the sessions but also networking with others,” Prof. Jacqueline shared.

Reflecting on her experience, Sonia expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to attend the colloquium. “The best thing was the student session, but I also enjoyed manning the poster. I met some fascinating people,” she remarked, encapsulating the breadth of her experience and the valuable insights gained during her time at the event.

Picture 2. Professor Jacqueline Ho, Co-Director of Cochrane Malaysia

Inspiring Excellence

Sonia’s accomplishment not only reflects her dedication to advancing evidence-informed healthcare but also underscores the commitment of RUMC towards nurturing students to strive for excellence in their academic and research pursuits. “Although in the past there have been a few Malaysian students who attended a Cochrane Colloquium, Sonia is certainly the first RUMC student and is an example of a unique learning experience. I hope other students will be inspired and supported to participate in such events in the future,” said Dr. Tan.

As an institution, we take immense pride in Sonia’s achievements and remain committed to fostering an environment where students can excel and make significant contributions to the global community. Her pioneering spirit and dedication are an inspiration to all students and serve as a testament to the calibre of talent within our campus.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sonia Nde and look forward to witnessing the continued success and contributions of our bright students in shaping the future of healthcare and research.

To learn more about Sonia Nde’s journey and the valuable contributions of Malaysians at the recent colloquium, visit Cochrane Malaysia’s website here.

Picture 3. Sonia (left) explaining her poster to a colleague from Nigeria (right)

Student POV

A Day as A Medical Student at RCSI/UCD

Jarren's Story - Attending the 2nd Global Evidence Summit 2024

Sonia Nde's Story - A Milestone at Cochrane Colloquium

COS Fun Day Out with Selfless Together

A Day of Fun, Teamwork and Community Spirit

A Day Filled with Laughter and Play

A Heartwarming Conclusion

Overcoming Challenges Together

Thank You to Our Supporters

A Day to Remember

A 10/10 Experience: Attending the 2nd Global Evidence Summit 2024 By Jarren Lu Yi Sheng, Medical Student, RUMC, Class of 2025

Using Evidence. Improving Lives

Seminars and Workshops

A 10/10 Experience

Celebrating Student Excellence: Sonia Nde’s Triumph at RUMC

Forward Together For Trusted Evidence

Seminars and Workshops

Inspiring Excellence

A 10/10 Experience: Attending the 2nd Global Evidence Summit 2024
By Jarren Lu Yi Sheng, Medical Student, RUMC, Class of 2025