Universiti Sains Malaysia-Chiang Mai University 1st International Postgraduate Colloquium on Psychology & Counselling (IPCPC)
26 August 2025- The Universiti Sains Malaysia–Chiang Mai University 1st International Postgraduate Colloquium on Psychology and Counselling (IPCPC), with the theme on ‘Mental Health Research and Practice,’ was jointly organized by the School of Educational Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Chiang Mai University (CMU), Thailand. This event marked an important milestone in advancing mental health research and strengthening postgraduate education at the international level, while reaffirming USM’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG17 (Partnership for the Gaols).
The colloquium was an outcome a close academic collaboration under the USM–CMU Collaboration Committee, bringing together expertise from Psychology (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melissa Ng Lee Yen Abdullah and team), Psychometrics (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Hooi Lian and team), and Counselling (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nor Shafrin Ahmad and team) from USM, alongside colleagues from the Department of Psychology at CMU. Remarkably, this international event was organized and successfully executed within just two months of the initial discussions in June 2025. This was made possible by the shared vision and commitment of both universities for international collaboration. The colloquium played a crucial role in advancing mental health research and strengthening postgraduate education in psychology and counselling.
The colloquium brought together 85 participants, including 21 delegates from CMU (10 staff and 11 postgraduate students), along with academics and postgraduate students from USM. The programme began with a welcoming address by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melissa Ng Lee Yen Abdullah, representing the USM-CMU Collaboration Committee. This was followed by two keynote addresses: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rahimi Che Aman, Dean of the School of Educational Studies, USM, offered a keynote on “Counselling Approaches and Interventions in Malaysia (2018-2025): A Systematic Literature Review,” chaired by Dr. Syed Mohd Syed Abdullah from the Counselling Programme. Dr. Tanaphong Uthayaratana, with expertise in counselling psychology from the Department of Psychology at CMU, offered a keynote on “Buddhist Counselling and Psychotherapy,” chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lim Hooi Lian, Head of the Psychology and Psychometrics Cluster, School of Educational Studies. The keynotes offered valuable perspectives and advanced knowledge in mental health research, and practices.
An International Platform for Research Dissemination and Postgraduate Development
The 1st International Postgraduate Colloquium on Psychology and Counselling (IPCPC) provided a scholarly platform for postgraduate students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Chiang Mai University (CMU) to disseminate research, engage in academic discourse, and build international scholarly networks. Twenty papers were presented across two parallel sessions, addressing diverse themes in psychology and counselling such as coping strategies, personality traits, addiction, emotional regulation, career counselling, and well-being in relation to mental health. The colloquium facilitated critical knowledge exchange and emphasised emerging directions in mental health research and practice. Postgraduate students played active roles in the colloquium as presenters, moderators, and committee members, thereby gaining meaningful international exposure. Their engagement not only ensured the successful implementation of the event but also strengthened academic competence, professional confidence, and leadership capacity, demonstrating the commitment of both universities to nurture student development through international exposure.
Looking Ahead: Advancing the Internationalization of Postgraduate Education
The 1st International Postgraduate Colloquium on Psychology and Counselling marked a significant milestone in strengthening collaboration between USM and CMU. More than an academic exchange, the event provided postgraduate students with a platform to share their research, engage in scholarly discourse, and gain valuable international exposure. These opportunities not only broadened their academic perspectives but also enhanced their competence, confidence, and leadership capacity. Many students expressed enthusiasm to participate in similar events, highlighting the importance of sustained platforms for international engagement. Looking ahead, USM and CMU are committed to building on this success by jointly organizing future colloquia and conferences, thereby deepening academic collaboration, expanding opportunities for student development, and advancing the broader internationalization of postgraduate education.
