ISTANBUL, Apr 17 — In an inspiring effort to foster international collaboration and elevate global academic engagement, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully conducted its Global Outreach Program to Istanbul, Türkiye, from 7 to 14 April 2025. Themed “Mental Health Matters”, the program provided an invaluable platform for cross-cultural academic dialogue and highlighted the faculty’s commitment to advancing mental health awareness in education and beyond.
The delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Siti Aisyah Panatik, Deputy Dean (Academic and Student Affairs), alongside Dr. Nor Akmar Nodin, Director of Psychology, both of whom played key roles in steering the program’s focus on mental health, human resource development, and global collaboration.
Accompanying the academic leaders were a group of highly motivated undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Psychology with Human Resource Development (HRD) program. Their active participation underscored UTM’s mission to cultivate graduates who are globally aware, socially responsible, and academically equipped to address contemporary psychological and organizational challenges.
Throughout the week-long program, the UTM delegation engaged in a series of impactful academic visits to three prominent institutions in Istanbul:
Academic Engagement Highlights
At Istanbul Gedik University, the delegation engaged in meaningful sessions with faculty members and researchers, exchanging perspectives on mental health practices, student well-being, and cross-cultural research opportunities. Both institutions identified mental health in the workplace and higher education as critical areas for collaborative research and academic exchange.
At Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU), discussions revolved around building student mobility programs and presentation from Psychology students on Poetry Therapy and Depression. The UTM team explored the possibilities of hosting future students exchange.
The visit to the Naad Sound Healing Centre offered a unique and enriching experience, where the delegation explored alternative approaches to mental health through Sound Therapy, reflecting on the integrative potential of traditional and modern therapeutic methods. The session offered both academic insight and personal reflection, enhancing the students’ global understanding of mental health care practices.
Strengthening International Partnerships
The UTM delegation was also honored to receive an exclusive invitation from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Malaysia to participate in the Malaysia-Türkiye Higher Education Meeting, an esteemed gathering aimed at strengthening bilateral academic collaboration. This engagement emphasized both nations’ shared vision for cultivating global research networks and fostering educational diplomacy.
The program culminated with a prestigious Closing Meeting graced by the presence of UTM’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim. Professor Shafry applauded the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities for championing the theme “Mental Health Matters” and emphasized UTM’s dedication to producing socially conscious global citizens.
The Global Outreach Program to Istanbul stands as a testament to UTM’s strategic focus on global partnerships, particularly in the areas of mental health, organizational well-being, and human capital development. This initiative also instills cultural empathy and research curiosity among the next generation of psychologists.
Provided by: Prof. Dr. Siti Aisyah Panatik & Dr. Nor Akmar Nordin