The Department of Social and Preventive Medicine convened a key briefing session for second-year Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) students on 18 September 2025. The session provided detailed guidance on two important components of the programme: the implementation of the DrPH Student Attendance Monitoring System and an introductory briefing on the Public Health Attachment (PHA).
Reinforcing Academic Structure: Attendance Monitoring System
During the session, faculty members introduced the updated attendance monitoring mechanism aimed at improving accountability and academic discipline. All DrPH students, except those who are privately sponsored, are now required to log their daily attendance using the Universiti Malaya system, accessible via their SISWA email accounts. This includes both clock-in and clock-out records.
The purpose of this system goes beyond administrative compliance. It enables the department to track students’ engagement and progress throughout the programme, especially as they transition into more independent, research-focused phases. Students planning to conduct fieldwork or activities outside the university are required to seek prior approval from their academic supervisors to ensure alignment with their research goals.
Looking Ahead: Introduction to the Public Health Attachment
The session also provided a preliminary introduction to the Public Health Attachment (PHA), which will commence in the third year of the DrPH programme. The briefing outlined key expectations and logistics, preparing students to transition into this practice-based phase of their training.
The PHA, carrying 10 credits, places students in District Health Offices serving populations of at least 50,000. It is designed to cultivate practical competencies aligned with the Specialist Register in Public Health Medicine (SSR-PHM), including population health assessment, health risk management, policy development, and inter-agency collaboration. Each student will be supervised by a qualified Public Health Medicine Specialist throughout their posting.
A Commitment to Practice-Ready Public Health Professionals
By reinforcing both administrative accountability and real-world preparedness, the briefing marks a pivotal step in the DrPH students’ progression toward becoming field-ready public health leaders. The integrated approach reflects the department’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only academically competent but also equipped to respond effectively to public health challenges.
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