Rising Above: IMU Clinical Psychology Student Clinches Best Poster Award at MAPSA 2025

The Malaysian Psychology Students Assembly (MAPSA) is an annual academic conference that convenes psychology students from diverse universities throughout Malaysia. It functions as a distinguished platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students to showcase their research, establish connections, and acquire knowledge from experts and colleagues. The event was held at University of Cyberjaya on 10 May, 2025.

I, Annie Yu Mei Ying, proudly represented IMU University by presenting my Master of Clinical Psychology research project and was honoured to receive the Best Research Poster award. This recognition, achieved amidst competition from students at other prestigious Malaysian universities, signifies a personal milestone and underscores IMU’s dedication to fostering research excellence in clinical psychology.

“Securing the Best Research Poster award validates the efficacy of IMU’s training in research design, data analysis, and critical thinking. It demonstrates how IMU enables its students to become thought leaders and agents of change in psychology.” – Annie Yu

My research poster, entitled ” The Relationship Between Psychological Factors Moderated by Employee Resilience,” elicited stimulating discussions among both attendees and judges.

The project examined how resilience can mitigate the impacts of stress and psychological strain in professional environments. I appreciated the opportunity to demonstrate the practical significance of psychological science in organisational contexts, a subject of great passion for me.

The conference provided engaging Q&A sessions and significant scholarly interactions. I received insightful questions and constructive feedback that pushed me to reflect critically on my methodology.

Engaging with psychology students from different institutions expanded my understanding of the diverse research conducted throughout Malaysia.

The Master of Clinical Psychology programme at IMU equipped me with the requisite knowledge, framework, and mentorship essential for my success at MAPSA. The comprehensive training in research methodology, statistics, and ethics enabled me to execute high-calibre research that adheres to national standards. Weekly tutorials and presentation opportunities enhanced my communication and public speaking skills, essential for confidently delivering my poster presentation.

IMU primarily cultivates a culture of inquiry and autonomous learning. This environment has supported the development of my critical thinking, the formulation of research questions, and the independent exploration of novel concepts. I am grateful to my lecturers and supervisors at IMU for their continuous support and for consistently challenging me throughout this journey. 

MAPSA 2025 was not merely a competition; it was a commemoration of the diligence and intellectual curiosity of psychology students. Receiving the Best Poster Award is an experience I will treasure for years to come. Moreover, it demonstrates how IMU consistently cultivates resilient, research-oriented clinical psychologists prepared to make a global impact.

I hope to see IMU host future MAPSA conferences, where we can share our research culture and vibrant psychology community with peers from all over Malaysia.

To my juniors and fellow students: elevate your efforts, showcase your work, and seize these opportunities. IMU has empowered us to excel.