“Psychology: No Glamour, No Fame” — UPSYC Corner Returns With Remarkable Lineup of Speakers

By, Syuhadah Fitri

GOMBAK, 20 November 2025: The Secretariat of Psychology (PSYCSTA) of IIUM organised PSYC DAY ’25, a two-day event featuring various engaging activities aimed at enriching students’ academic and professional exposure.

One of the major highlights of PSYC DAY ’25 was the UPSYC Corner, a forum-based programme designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world practice by allowing students to learn from the invaluable experiences of three esteemed alumni of the IIUM Psychology programme from diverse fields of specialisation.

The forum brought together three speakers, each offering unique insights from their backgrounds in psychology. The first speaker was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Geshina Binti Mat Saad, specialised in Criminology and Industrial and Organisational Psychology. The second speaker, Ms. Lydia Binti Che Long, is a Psychology Lecturer at IJN University College who holds a Master of Educational Psychology. The third speaker, Ms. Siti Rohaizu, currently serves in psychological and counselling services at the Accountant General’s Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Akauntan Negara Malaysia) and holds a Master of Counselling (Clinical Mental Health).

In the first segment, the speakers shared their early journeys and the experiences that shaped their paths toward their current specialisations. They highlighted the personal motivations and meaningful encounters that fueled their passion for psychology.

In the second segment, each speaker was given field-specific questions to discuss, such as how their interest in their respective specialisations developed, what continues to inspire them to pursue and contribute to the field and challenges they faced throughout their journey.

In the final segment, the speakers offered valuable advice to psychology students, especially those currently pursuing the programme. They emphasised the importance of passion as a guiding force throughout one’s academic and career journey, underscoring that psychology is not a discipline associated with glamour or fame, and that genuine interest should guide one’s pursuit of it.

“If you have passion, it will carry you through,” shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Geshina.

The speakers also encouraged students to participate in various programmes and be active in exploring different types of work to discover the field that truly resonates with them.

“Don’t rush yourself and explore all the possibilities and options offered,” said Ms. Lydia.

Additionally, the speakers reminded students not to allow personality traits or perceived limitations to hold them back from learning and exploring new opportunities.***