The “Workshop on Enhancing the Well-Being of Boarding School Students through Positive Psychology” was successfully held at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Medini, funded by the Knowledge Transfer Program (KTP @Faculty) under the Centre for Community and Industry Network (CCIN) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

Held on October 4, 2024, the program aimed to deepen participants’ understanding in three critical areas: subjective well-being, core concepts of positive psychology, and the application of the PERMA Model to support boarding students’ well-being.

Key speakers, Dr. Mohd Rustam Mohd Rameli and Dr. Nur Azmina Paslan, led sessions on Positive Psychology and introduced the PERMA Model, which addresses five essential elements of well-being: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. The workshop attracted eight participants, including two guidance and counseling teachers, four boarding school wardens, and two assistant wardens, who gained insights into enhancing student well-being through positive psychology.

The workshop’s interactive module utilized mastery learning and problem-solving exercises, helping participants fully grasp the concepts and apply them to real-life scenarios. Post-workshop evaluations revealed a marked increase in participants’ understanding of subjective well-being, positive psychology principles, and PERMA-based interventions for boarding school students. Hanim Lajat, SMK Medini’s school counselor, noted that the workshop was empowering: “This program is an excellent platform to raise awareness on positive psychology among teachers, counselors, and wardens, guiding them in activities to improve boarding students’ life satisfaction.”

The program is set to benefit SMK Medini students through enhanced support from trained staff. As a Knowledge Transfer Program initiative, the workshop’s impact will extend beyond SMK Medini, as attendees share their knowledge and skills with other schools. This ripple effect will equip more teachers, counselors, and wardens with tools to foster well-being among boarding students across the network. Designed to address the unique social and emotional needs of boarding students, initiatives like this are invaluable in providing tailored support to enrich students’ dormitory life experiences.

Prepared by: Mohd Rustam Mohd Rameli, Suhaib Fadzlan Shahidi