Acquire counselling skills, lecturers told

UNIVERSITY professors and lecturers are expected to further improve the standard of their mentorship through the enhancement of their counselling skills in a workshop.

This was the message by Dr Zohrah Hj Sulaiman, assistant vice-chancellor for Research and Innovation at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) at the launching of the university's Basic Counselling Programme.

Dr Zohrah yesterday spoke of the changes taking place in universities worldwide, with a need to make knowledge and skill delivery more effective and relevant to an increasingly diverse higher education population.

She added that direct interaction with these students would require a certain level of knowledge and counselling skills.

Dr Nurolaini Pg Hj Md Kifli, Dean of Students in UBD, hoped that the programme would provide a platform for discussing some common issues relating to mentoring and counselling students.

While counsellors in other countries face a considerably high level of depression and suicidal tendencies among their students, their counterparts in Brunei are blessed in the sense that students face a more manageable level of pressure in UBD, she said.

One of the guest speakers for the programme, Dr Hj Zulkifli Md Rasid, a senior lecturer in Psychological Studies and Human Development with UBD's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE) said students usually approached him during the period where they are most stressed — the examinations period.

Hjh Suhaina Mat Ludin, a counsellor with the Counselling Services Unit of UBD's Student Affairs Section told The Brunei Times that there was a need to create a conducive environment for students while they are studying with UBD.

"The academic mentors need to be good friends to the students, and help turn the stress they face into positive and manageable pressure," said Hjh Suhaina.

She added that academic mentors should be more approachable and friendly to help students enjoy their four-year university experience in UBD.

The Basic Counselling Programme is running for two days, and it is aimed at providing basic skills of counselling and identify the role of academic mentors.

It is also hoped that the programme would improve collaboration between counsellor and faculties through the academic mentors.The Brunei Times