What is your full name?
Mimi Iznita Mohamed Iqbal
What year did you graduate?
2001
What was your IRK & Human Sciences major in IIUM?
Psychology
What is your Current Position & Company?
Lecturer at Department of Psychology, International Islamic University Malaysia
Currently, I am one of the academic staff at the Department of Psychology. I teach undergraduate Psychology courses such as Abnormal Psychology and Clinical Psychology. I am also part of the Clinical Psychology cluster and we are currently working to improve the quality of the masters in Clinical Psychology programme to ensure that it meets the market demands and prepares the students for the working world.
In addition to that, at the Department of Psychology, we have started offering psychological services for students on campus and the outside community through the Al-Balkhi Psychological Services Unit. I currently provide individual psychotherapy sessions, consultancy and clinical assessments as needed. The PSU also provides forums and workshops on psychology-related matters.
Please share your work history, companies you've worked for, your responsibilities in each role and your achievements in those roles
I have not travelled far from IIUM since my undergraduate days. After graduating in 2001, I worked as a research assistant on a joint research project for the Department of Psychology and Department of Sociology & Anthropology for a brief 6 months. Then I started my masters programme at the Department of Psychology, IIUM, specialising in Clinical & Counselling Psychology. Alhamdulillah, during the programme, I was able to complete two practicums.
My first practicum was with the Department of Psychiatry, IIUM Kuantan Campus and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan. During my final semester of my masters, I worked as a tutor in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. At that time, UTAR was just planning to offer a Bachelor degree in Psychology so my work was more on the administrative side. I worked closely with the other faculty members on the documentation to get the program up and running.
As I was finishing my thesis, I was asked if I wanted to apply for an academic position in IIUM. I was taken aback, as I did not know if I was capable to do so. But I had strong support from my supervisor and several lecturers and professors. So I applied for the post of lecturer at Department of Psychology, IIUM and I joined the department in November 2004. I have been with the department since then, with a 4 1/2 break when I was completing my doctoral studies.
What are some of the challenges you faced as a IRK & Human Sciences student while you were studying at IIUM?
For me, my challenges was more of adapting to the culture of IIUM. Prior to joining IIUM, I was schooling in the United States due to my father's work. So coming back to Malaysia for my undergraduate studies meant I have to re-acculturate with the Malaysian culture. It did not take long, but it was a challenge in the beginning. Having to take Arabic language courses was also challenging. Sadly enough, one of the more difficult courses for me as an undergraduate was Bahasa Malaysia since I did not have much formal educational training in Malaysia. But I can fondly look back at that now.
What are some of the challenges you faced as a fresh graduate?
As a fresh graduate, the challenge was trying to explain to people what is Human Science and what is Psychology. People have a lot of misconceptions and myths about Psychology, so trying to tell the prospective employers how you can contribute to their organization with the knowledge you learned in Psychology can be tricky. In addition, some people expect you to have work experience, so a fresh graduate without any working experience can be seen as a liability at times in the workforce.
What advice would you give to IRK & Human Sciences students seeking to pursue careers using their qualifications?
My advice would be to immerse in the learning process while they are in the university. Learning does not just mean in the classroom. You need to gain some life experience as well, which you can gain from working, from co-curriculur activities, from sports, from joining programs and societies, and from doing voluntary work. Do not limit yourself to just academic qualification. You must balance the two, that is make sure you keep up your grades as well as you make time for other experiences outside the classroom and textbook.
Additionally, it is important for you to find a strength that you have, which can make you a unique candidate, that stands out from others. For me, one of the unique qualities I had was that I was well versed in three languages, BM, English and French. In addition, I had very good command of the English language so that helped during the interview process.
Lastly, the most important aspect, is the values that you bring. Communication and personality will show your value system.
What else would you like to tell the IRK & Human Sciences students currently studying at IIUM?
I think it is very important that students get involved with research work. This will be an added skill that you have when you go out and work. At the same time, when you do research, you get to learn more from your professors and this can be a good opportunity for you. There is possibilities of networking while being involved with research.
In addition, as a social scientist, we must be evidenced-based. So what we do should be based on what has been documented as being effective. Do not practice "syok sendiri." Look at what has been done by others and assess the situation before you do anything.
If you would like to ask more, email to: iznita@iium.edu.my
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