WELCOMING UITM POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS TO IHBR:
EXPLORING THE ROLE OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE IN HEALTH
We were pleased to host a visit from the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sungai Buloh recently on 10th of June 2025. The delegation included 18 postgraduate students from the Master of Public Health (Semester 2) programme, accompanied by their senior lecturers, Dr. Aimi Nadira binti Mat Ruzlin and Dr. Dalila binti Roslan.
The visit began with a warm welcome by Dr. Manimaran Krishnan, Director of IHBR, who shared his thoughts on the importance of investing in behavioural science to improve health outcomes. He highlighted that while clinical models remain essential, many health problems such as unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, stress, and smoking are rooted in behaviour. Therefore, health professionals, especially those in clinical roles, should be equipped with behavioural science knowledge to address these underlying issues more effectively.
The BI Unit then introduced their work, covering the unit's background, current projects, and how behavioural insights are being applied within the health system. We hope this visit provided the students with new perspectives and valuable insights into how behavioural science can complement traditional healthcare approaches, shaping more effective and sustainable health interventions.
The BI Unit IHBR
THE CONFERENCE ON BEHAVIOURAL INSIGHTS IN POLICYMAKING FOR PRODUCTIVITY
The Conference on Behavioural Insights in Policymaking for Productivity, organized by the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), took place on April 21 and 22 at MATRADE, Kuala Lumpur. The event provided a platform for discussions on how behavioural science can be applied to policymaking to improve productivity, especially in the healthcare sector. Representatives from the Institute for Behavioural Health Research (IPTK) attended the conference to share their experience in using behavioural insights to support better health policies. One of the key moments was a presentation by Dr. Manimaran, Director of IPTK, who explained how behavioural insights could help improve public health strategies. His talk generated significant interest, with many participants eager to learn more about how behavioural science can lead to better policy decisions.
On the second day, IPTK hosted a visit from delegates representing more than 17 countries as part of an experiential learning session. During their visit, the team presented various behavioural insights projects that had been implemented within the Ministry of Health. The delegates showed great interest in these projects and actively engaged in discussions about their effectiveness and impact. The visit provided an opportunity to highlight key achievements and lessons learned from these initiatives, reinforcing the role of behavioural insights in shaping public policies, particularly in health.
This conference demonstrated the increasing recognition of behavioural insights as a valuable tool in policymaking. The enthusiasm shown by APO and MPC toward IPTK’s work indicates strong potential for future collaborations in this field. As behavioural insights continue to influence policy and productivity strategies, this event has set the foundation for further advancements and more impactful initiatives.
The BI Unit IHBR
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WHO BEHAVIOURAL INSIGHTS GLOSSARY
On 26 th of February 2005, BI Unit was invited to participate in an online focus group discussion on the development of the WHO Behavioural Insights Glossary. The session aimed to gather insights to better understand user needs, ensuring that the final glossary is accessible and valuable for WHO staff and other end users worldwide. This glossary is being developed by the WHO BI Unit in collaboration with University College London to enhance clarity and cooperation in the application of behavioural insights in public health. The discussion was moderated by Micaela Santili from University College London.
The BI Unit IHBR