Hosting Visiting Professor, IPB University’s Department of Community Nutrition Invites Expert from UiTM Malaysia
The Department of Community Nutrition at the Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema), IPB University, successfully held a Visiting Professor program featuring Associate Professor Mahenderan Appukutty from the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
This event included various activities such as a General Studium for the Sports Nutrition course, a workshop on Nutrition and Physique Assessment of Athletes, research discussions in the field of sports nutrition, and a syllabus review of the Semester Learning Plan (RPS) for the Sports Nutrition courses for undergraduate, postgraduate, and dietitian programs.
Prof Katrin Roosita, Chairperson of the Department of Community Nutrition at IPB University, stated that this event provided numerous benefits to various parties. For students, it was a golden opportunity to interact directly with an expert in sports nutrition, enriching their knowledge and experience.
“For lecturers, this event provided a forum to discuss and review the RPS syllabus, which will enhance the quality of education in the Department of Community Nutrition. Additionally, educational staff also benefited by attending the same workshop, gaining new insights related to nutrition and physique assessment of athletes,” she explained.
The presence of Assoc Prof Mahenderan Appukutty, who has a Scopus H-index of 12 and hails from a university ranked 50-100 in the QS WUR Ranking by Subject for Hospitality and Leisure Management, added significant value to this event. UiTM Malaysia, as a partner, is expected to open further collaboration opportunities in the future, both in education and research.
During the Visiting Professor series, there was also the signing of an Implementation of Arrangement and hybrid research discussions on sports nutrition. The meeting also explored various potential collaborations between UiTM Malaysia and IPB University. The research discussions involved in-depth conversations about Dr Mahenderan’s past research projects and ideas for future research, particularly in the field of sports nutrition.
The event concluded with a Practical Athlete Assessment workshop in the Anthropometry Laboratory. Participants learned how to conduct anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis, and physical fitness evaluations, all guided by Dr Mahenderan. This workshop not only provided valuable practical experience but also enhanced the participants’ skills in conducting accurate nutrition and physique assessments.
“Overall, the Visiting Professor program has had a significantly positive impact on all participants and is expected to improve the quality of education and research in the Department of Community Nutrition at IPB University, as well as open up future collaboration opportunities,” said Prof Katrin. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
