LABUAN — The Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FKI) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus (UMSKAL), in collaboration with the UMSKAL Student Affairs Division (BHEP), organised a workshop to strengthen academic staff’s ability to identify and respond appropriately to students’ needs.
The Student Needs Management Skills: Respond, Support & Refer workshop was held last Thursday as an initiative to equip academic staff with skills to recognise, understand and respond to various challenges faced by students.
The workshop was conducted by UMSKAL Deputy Chief Psychology Officer and BHEP Head Nur Iman Reedzal, with coordination by FKI Student Affairs Coordinator Dr Nuraini and FKI Deputy Dean (Postgraduate and International) Dr Nooralisa Tuah.
Also attending was Labuan Faculty of International Finance (FKAL) Deputy Dean (Student Affairs) Dr Noor Hasanah Husin, demonstrating support for efforts to strengthen the student support system and wellbeing.
Nur Iman said the workshop focused on three key skills — Respond, Support and Refer — as a guide for academic staff when dealing with students facing academic, emotional, social, welfare and personal wellbeing challenges.
She said academic staff did not necessarily have to solve every problem faced by students.
“Instead, they need to have the skills to listen, understand, provide an initial response, offer support and connect students with appropriate sources of assistance,” she said.
The strategic collaboration is expected to establish a more structured, responsive and effective student support system, while strengthening the role of academic staff as among the frontliners in identifying students’ needs and connecting them with appropriate assistance.
The initiative reflects UMSKAL’s commitment to ensuring that students’ academic excellence goes hand in hand with their emotional, psychological and welfare wellbeing, while supporting the development of a more caring, responsive and holistic educational ecosystem.
