November 2017 a busy conference month for Department of Psychology
The Department of Psychology academic staff were very active in November 2017 where many were involved in conferences and workshops, near and far.
It was reported earlier in the news (see: https://university.sunway.edu.my/sunway-in-the-news/sunway-academics-invited-1st-international-congress-psychology-health-and-education-in-oviedo) that Professor Nigel Marsh and Associate Professor Dr Lin Mei-Hua, together with Prof. Peter Walker, who’s a Visiting Professor from Lancaster University to Sunway University presented at a symposium entitled Human Cognition: Lifespan Perspectives, during the 1st International Conference on Psychology, Health and Education (CIPSE 2017) in Oviedo, Spain from 8 to 11 November 2017.
On the home front, Dr Michelle Lee and Ms. Woo Pei Jun brought BSc (Hons) Psychology students to the Malaysian Psychology Student Assembly Conference 2017 at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Kampar, Perak on 11 November 2017. Dr Lee was an invited keynote speaker on the topic “Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model: The Bigger Picture”. Three undergraduate psychology students also presented at the conference. They were Lai Yi Shi, Grace Cheng and Jeannice Khor.
Students (L-R): Grace Cheng, Lai Yi Shi and Jeannice Khor with their attendance certificates, flanked by lecturers, Ms. Woo Pei Jun and Dr. Michelle Lee at the MAPSA 2017 Conference in UTAR.
On the same day as the above conference, Dr. M.S. Priyadarshini and Ms. Elaine Yong conducted a one-day workshop on “Stress Management”. Fourteen academics from Sunway University and Sunway College participated in the workshop. The morning session of the workshop was focused on , how Stress in an inevitable part of life , positivity of stress. The session also dealt on teaching techniques like Jacobson’s Deep muscle relaxation, yoga, and imagery to participants to relax and manage every day stress effectively and efficiently. The afternoon session was focused more on handling workplace stress and more specifically classroom stress. Group discussions and brain storming sessions were conducted were conducted addressing various stress scenarios academics face and shared techniques to manage those work stressors effectively. Both sessions were well received by the participants and the sessions were rated very positively.
Dr. Priyadarshini M. Srinivasan conducting a yoga relaxation session during the Stress Management Workshop for Sunway University and College staff.
On 18 November 2017, two Senior Lecturers from the Department of Psychology, School of Science and Technology, Dr Yong Min Hooi and Dr Eliza Berezina, were invited to give a series of psychology talks in a local community centre (Suvarnamitra Centre). This centre in Petaling Jaya is a branch from a Buddhist temple in Shah Alam and organises non faith-related community events for everyone (open to non-members too) especially for the older adults. The event on 18 November 2017 was attended by 25 people who were keen to learn more about health and wellbeing among older adults.
A light moment at the talk by Dr. Yong Min Hooi and Dr. Elizaveta Berezina
Dr Yong opened the event with an introductory speech about the Department of Psychology in Sunway University and shared about her research on health and cognitive well-being among older adults using latest research technology e.g. EEG machine and eye tracking. Then, Dr Eliza gave a talk focusing on positive wellbeing and the ways to improve mental health, and Dr Yong explained the nature of stroke, factors that can increase the probability of getting it and possible options for recovery. It was a very lively session with many questions, anecdotes and experiences shared among the speakers and audience. The audience had many pertinent questions relating to their current living environment and physical/mental health. Many signed up to participate in academic research too. For the speakers, it was encouraging to witness many older adults – the most active was 79 years old sprightly globe-trotting lady – living life to the fullest, clear evidence of successful aging. After 2 hours, we were treated to lunch and fresh rambutans from their own tree in the compound.
Lastly, Head of Department, Associate Professor Dr Alvin Ng was an invited keynote speaker at the 10th International Congress of Clinical Psychology at Santiago de Compostela, Spain from 16-19 November 2017. He presented “Clinical Psychology in a Developing Country: Reflections of Issues an Implications for Policy and Leadership”. This was his third consecutive year being invited as a keynote at this series of conference in Spain. During this conference, Dr Ng took the opportunity to film an interview with the President of the American Psychological Association, Prof. Antonio Puente (see: https://youtu.be/wWOYMsq3JXQ) for his class on History of Psychology.
Associate Professor Dr. Alvin Ng just before his keynote presentation at the 10th ICCP in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
After the conference in Spain, Dr Ng travelled to University of East Anglia, UK, where he is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Norwich Medical School’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology Programme, to give a lecture on “Clinical Psychology Practice and Development: Experiences from Malaysia” on 21 November 2017. His lecture was attended by staff and postgraduate students. Here, he also met with Professors Kenneth Laidlaw and Sian Coker who are adjunct professors at the School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, as well as Dr Paul Fisher, for discussions on research collaborations and the development of clinical psychology in Malaysia. This was a follow up to the visit by Prof. Nigel Marsh (see: https://university.sunway.edu.my/sunway-in-the-news/professor-nigel-marsh-gives-invited-professorial-lecture-norwich-medical-school)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alvin Ng with Dr. Paul Fisher, Prof. Sian Coker and Prof. Kenneth Laidlaw of the Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, UK while visiting the UEA Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts in Norwich, UK.
