KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is in the process of setting up a Master programme in Counselling.
Its vice-chancellor Prof Dato Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi said the university started offering the
Bachelor of Science (Counselling) programme in 2000 and has been expanding its effort to produce qualified and professional counselling service providers.
On the need to enhance the counselling programme he noted that counselling is a highly regarded field of study particularly when the country is experiencing rapid socio-economic transformation
to attain fully developed nation status by year 2020.
He believed that social issues and problems can be better handled through counselling services.
“Unimas counselling programme is accredited and recognised by the Malaysian Board of
Counsellors a professional body that monitors the quality of counselling education in the country.
“Our graduates meet the emerging needs for counselling services and we are proud that they are employed by various public and private organisations throughout the country.
“We hope that we will continue to serve as the main education hub for counselling training in the
state,” Mohamad Kadim said when delivering his speech at the state dinner held in conjunction
with the inaugural Malaysia International Counselling Conference (MICC 2014) at Hilton hotel here on Thursday.
Counselling programme incorporates areas such as cognitive sciences, organisational development and information technology to transform the counselling education to meet the emerging needs concerning the quality of graduates’ employability and complexity of the current social and psychological issues.
Mohamad Kadim pointed out that students educated with a broad disciplinary focus will be able to view counselling issues from the various perspectives which can lead to creativity and problem-solving skills enhancement.
“Unimas is not only enthusiastic in the latest development of scientific innovation, science and technology but also focusing on the development and intensification of human potential because a nation’s greatest asset lies in its human capital.
“The rapid development in the country and the growing complexity of social issues and challenges call for an in depth and comprehensive search for the most effective means of intervention at the individual, group, community and organisation level and avid involvement of experts in counselling and other supporting services,” he continued.