April 23, 2025, by ZY
Experience Sharing: AstraZeneca Project iDEA 2024 (Malaysia) – Team Notts League
By Ms. Grace Chieng En Ying (Final Year BSc Biomedical Science student), Ms. Charmaine Cheah Wee Xuan (Year 2 Bachelor of Pharmacy student) and Ms. Tan Eileen (Final Year BSc Pharmaceutical & Health Science student) based at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
What did you do during your summer break? How long was it? What did it involve?
We formed Team Notts League and participated in AstraZeneca Project iDEA 2024 (Malaysia). The whole project duration up to the country finals was around 2.5 months. The idea was to create a marketing plan focusing on Hypertension care, mainly revolving around increasing awareness and the importance of hypertension management to maintain good quality of lives.
We prepared our initial submission, which was a 5 page slide and 2 minutes video, within a month (11th June – 8th July). 2 weeks later, the announcement of the country finalist was released. They provided us with a pitch workshop and country finals briefing on 1st of August. On the 16th of August, we attended the country finals virtually since we were not able to make it physically at their office. The deliverables for finals include a 7 minutes presentation of the amended slides and 8 minutes allocation for QnA.
What did you find interesting throughout this experience?
The competition offered us the freedom to brainstorm creative ideas without limitations, which was both refreshing and stimulating. We also benefited greatly from the pitch workshop, which provided valuable insights into delivering convincing and impactful presentations. Additionally, we gained a deeper understanding of how to effectively execute public health campaigns.
How did the summer internship support your learning and future career development?
Participating in this competition significantly deepened our understanding of public healthcare issues in Malaysia and highlighted the importance of addressing them. The experience also allowed us to build meaningful relationships with peers, mentors, and industry professionals, which could open doors for future opportunities. We’re grateful to those who willingly gave us constructive feedback which helped us stay on track, refine our
ideas, and consider different perspectives. Moreover, the insights we gained into the design and execution of public health initiatives will be directly applicable in our future careers, and the experience pushed us to think outside the box and develop creative solutions. Presenting our ideas to judges and peers boosted our confidence and enhanced our public speaking skills.
What is one take home message you obtain from this experience?
The competition highlighted the value of innovation in solving real-world problems, demonstrating that creative thinking when paired with practical application, can lead to impactful solutions. It also underscored the importance of practicality, especially in terms of budgeting as well as the effectiveness of a well-thought-out marketing plan in reaching and targeting the target audience.
We encourage current and prospective students to step out of their comfort zones by participating in competitions. These challenges push you to think creatively and tackle unfamiliar problems, fostering growth. It’s important to focus on learning rather than just winning, as the experience, skills, and knowledge gained are the real rewards. Competitions also provide a unique platform to network with like-minded peers, mentors, and industry professionals, offering opportunities that can benefit both your academic and professional journey.
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