VIRTUAL TOUR
2009
6 FebSYNERGISTIC RESEARCH TIE-UP BETWEEN UCSI UNIVERSITY & DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
Kuala Lumpur, 6 February 2009 - From small beginnings come great things. This quote best describes the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UCSI University and Deakin University from Australia which covers the area of collaborative research, student and staff exchanges as well as the benchmarking of UCSI University’s psychology programmes and courses, in-line with the Australian Psychological Society principles.
It all began when Associate Professor David Mellor from Deakin University started his research in Malaysia in 2003 which required a sample from a multiracial society, and Malaysia was his rightful choice. He chose UCSI University as his research base and began to work, using the psychometric measurement tool named the Strength and Difficulties Questionaire (SDQ).This research culminated in four reports being produced for the Ministry of Education of Malaysia. The reports were entitled, Social-cultural Influences on Body Dissatisfaction and Body Change Behaviours Among Malaysian Adolescents, Body Attitudes and Body Change Behaviours Among Adolescents: Are they Associated with Mental Health Problems, Normative Data and Psychometric Properties for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Malaysia and The Relationship between Childhood Cruelty to Animals and Psychological Adjustment: A Malaysian Study.
The research saw him sharing his knowledge about research on psychology with lecturers from UCSI University’s Department of Psychology and 2 lecturers in particular, Mr. James Yeow and Cik Norul Hidayah binti Mamat. Norul, presently the Head of the Department of Psychology at UCSI University, said that the knowledge Assoc. Prof. Mellor had shared with them in the process of research, culminating in the publication of the four reports as well as having one of their reports published in the Anthrozoös journal was indeed a good learning experience. James said, “We are inspired to collaborate more in this area of research.”
UCSI University psychology graduate, Noor Fizlee binti Mohd. Hapidzal, who was involved with the data gathering of the projects while she was a student said, “This was hands-on training for me. I am very fortunate to be able to participate in these research projects as it truly allowed me to see, first-hand, how research is done from start to finish.”Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavourial Sciences at Deakin University, Professor Joe Graffam and UCSI University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Chin Peng Kit signed the MoU on behalf of their universities.
Prof. Graffam said that the MoU was signed to acknowledge the research collaboration started by Assoc. Prof. Mellor as well as to inform the broader Deakin University community about the opportunities of further tie-ups with UCSI University. He believes that this will lead to even bigger things for both universities.
Assoc. Prof. Chin said “This collaboration is in line with UCSI university’s internationalisation efforts. We are opening up opportunities for staff and students alike to access the body of knowledge at Deakin University, which incidentally has one of the top 3 Psychology departments in Australia. Deakin University has the synergy we need.”
Professor Dr. C. B. Lee, Dean of UCSI University’s Faculty of Music, Social Sciences and Design was responsible for crystallizing the UCSI University - Deakin University MoU as a result of her visit to Prof. Mellor in Victoria during which she broached the subject.
The signing of the MoU has sparked off even more collaborations, with Prof. Mellor and Cik Norul already targeting to undertake two more research projects that will touch on spiritual engagement and mental health, as well as the validity measurement of anxiety and depression in adolescents.
This collaboration definitely looks set to achieve greater heights.Other related articles:
- UCSI University & the Government of Yemen inks Memorandum of Understanding
- UCSI University - CYCU Signs MoU for Research Collaboration
- UCSI Signs MoU with Jobstreet.com Sdn. Bhd.
