Gerbang Bakal Kaunselor

Monday, April 18, 2011

KENALI TOKOH KAUNSELING : Y. Bhg. Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Abdul Halim Othman

Abdul Halim Othman, lahir di negari Kedah Darul Aman, pada 14 September 1938. Beliau menerima pendidikan awal di Sekolah Melayu Gurun, Kedah 1944-1948, dan melanjutkan pendidikan menengah di Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Alor Setar, Kedah sehingga tingkatan 3, pada tahun 1953. Kemudian beliau menyertai Federation Military College, Port Dickson (Royal Millitary College, Sg Besi.) Pada tahun 1954 dan lulus setahun kemudian, dengan 5 pendidikannya.

Kerjaya akademiknya bermula tahun 1958, ketika beliau terpilih untuk bergabung dengan Malayan Teachers College, Brinsford College, United Kingdom.
Setahun kemudian, beliau memasuki 'Summer School' (Psikologi) di Boston University, Amerika Syarikat dan pada tahun 1967, beliau berdaftar di universiti Hawaii, Honolulu, Amerika Syarikat dan lulus dalam Sarjana Muda Psikologi pada tahun 1970. Pada tahun berikutnya, beliau menerima Sarjana dalam Sarjana Pendidikan (Psikologi) dari universiti yang sama. Beliau menyelesaikan Master of Science (Psikologi Pendidikan) di Indiana University, USA dan dianugerahkan Gelaran Doktor Pendidikan dalam Psikologi Kaunseling pada tahun 1979 dari universiti yang sama.

Beliau memulakan kerjayanya sebagai seorang ahli akademik ketika dilantik sebagai pembantu pensyarah psikologi di Jabatan Antropologi dan Sosiologi, UKM pada tahun 1971. Pada tahun 1974, beliau dilantik sebagai pensyarah dalam bidang psikologi di Jabatan Psikologi, yang merupakan jabatan pertama psikologi di institusi pendidikan tinggi di Malaysia.
Pada tahun 1980, beliau dilantik sebagai Associate Professor dalam Psikologi dan pada tahun 1986, beliau dinaikan pangkat menjadi Profesor penuh dalam Kaunseling Psikologi di Jabatan Psikologi, UKM. Beliau menjawat jawatan sebagai Profesor di Sekolah Psikologi dan Kerja Sosial, UMS dari tahun 1996 hingga 2003. Pada 14 Ogos 1999 beliau menyampaikan pidato Guru Besar pertama yang pernah pengukuhan UMS, 'Kaunseling untuk Pembangunan Manusia: Sebuah Pengalaman Malaysia'. Beliau kemudian dilantik sebagai adjunct Professor di UKM dari tahun 2006 hingga 2008.

Abdul Halim Othman mempunyai rekod teladan tidak hanya sebagai ahli akademik, tetapi juga sebagai pentadbir.
Pada peringkat universiti, ia menduduki berbagai posisi senior seperti Ketua Jabatan, Timbalan Dekan, Dekan dan Timbalan Naib Canselor (Student Affairs) di UKM dari 1972 hingga 1996. Jawatan terakhir sebagai pentadbir iaitu sebelum bersara adalah sebagai Dekan Fakulti Psikologi dan Pekerjaan Sosial, UMS dari tahun 1996 hingga 2003. Beliau juga dilantik untuk berada di beberapa jawatankuasa sementara di UMS.
Beliau adalah Ketua untuk Jawatankuasa Pembentukan Sekolah Sains UMS Sosial, pada tahun 1995; Senat Perwakilan di Jawatankuasa untuk Staff Staf Perkhidmatan Promosi / Panitia Seleksi Akademik, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Etika Akademik dari tahun 1998-2001. Kini, beliau merupakan Fellow akademik insaniah dan pensyarah bagi bidang Sarjana Kaunseling di Kolej Universiti Insaniah, Kedah.

Abdul Halim Othman masih aktif dan terlibat dalam badan profesional peringkat antarabangsa.
Di antaranya, Beliau adalah ahli penuh dalam American Association of Counseling and development (1980-sekarang); ahli Antarabangsa Persidangan Meja Bulat untuk Kemajuan Kaunseling (1982-sekarang); ahli New York Academy of Sciences (1986 - sekarang). Dia juga Ahli Dewan dari Persatuan Psikologi dan Pendidikan canselor dari Asia (1986-1988) dan Timbalan Presiden Afro-Asia Psikologi Association (AAPA) dari 1992-1994.

Pada peringkat kebangsaan, dia menduduki jawatan penting, antaranya sebagai anggota dewan dan Presiden Persatuan Kaunseling Malaysia (Perkama) dari 1988-1992, dan kemudian terpilih sebagai Presiden, Persatuan Psikologi Malaysia dari tahun 1989-1991.
Dia adalah seorang ahli Kaunseling Majlis Kebangsaan dan ahli-ahli dewan, Lembaga Kaunselor Pertama 1998-2000.
Beliau juga adalah Naib Commander (Leftenan Kol.), PALAPES, UKM (1984-1994) dan masih merupakan anggota dari Perkama sejak Julai 1993.

Sebagai Akademis, beliau berjaya menyelia banyak mahasiswa pasca-sarjana termasuk 10 calon doktor Falsafah dan menyelia dari berbagai peringkat dan program-program seperti Advanced Diploma dalam Psikologi, UKM dan Master di bidang Pentadbiran Perniagaan. Beliau juga diamanahkan untuk mengawasi pelajar luar negeri, antara lain dari Western Michigan University dan Indiana University, khususnya di bidang Bimbingan dan Kaunseling bagi pelajar praktikal.

Di bidang penyelidikan dan penerbitan, Abdul Halim Othman telah terlibat secara langsung dengan universiti tempatan dan luar negeri serta jabatan kerajaan.
Beliau telah menerbitkan lebih daripada 26 kertas sejak 1972. Beliau juga membentangkan hasil kajian dalam pelbagai persidangan, seminar, dan bengkel. Beliau juga menulis sejumlah buku dan sumbangannya telah diterbitkan dalam jurnal tempatan dan antarabangsa serta majalah. Sementara di UMS beliau telah menghasilkan 7 kertas kajian (1996-2001) dan 29 pembentangan kertas kerja 1997-20001, 4 kertas teknikal dan 11 artikel yang ditulis oleh beliau yang diterbitkan dalam jurnal akademik, sebuah kompilasi esei dan 2 buku. Selain itu, kesediaannya untuk bekerja dengan orang lain dan berkongsi pengetahuan yang luas dan kemahiran telah memuncak dalam penerbitan kertas secara bersama.

Beliau adalah ketua penerbit untuk Jurnal Perkama (1984-2002); Malaysia Jurnal Psikologi (1985-1994) dan Jurnal Pelajar Personelia (1989-1991); Editor untuk Prosiding Persidangan Pengetua Asrama Institusi Pengajian Tinggi di Malaysia; Editor Penasihat untuk International Journal of Advancement on Counseling (1989-sekarang); Dewan Editor untuk Indiana Journal of Personality and Clinical Studies (1985-1991) dan Editor Consulting Editor for Pakistan Journal of Psychology Research (1992).

Abdul Halim Othman juga menerima beberapa penghargaan negara dan kebangsaan.Pada peringkat negara, beliau dianugerahkan Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan oleh DYMM Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, pada Julai 1986; Dato 'Setia Di Raja Kedah oleh DYMM Sultan Kedah, pada bulan Januari 1988; Johan Mangku Negara oleh DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong, pada bulan Jun 1990.

Dato 'Abdul Halim Othman adalah seorang ahli akademik yang berjaya di dalam bidangnya. Dari latar belakang keluarga miskin, dia sangat bertekad untuk mencari ilmu dengan cara apapun yang mungkin. Dalam kalangan pensyarah muda, beliau dianggap sebagai figur ayah, mentor, sangat disukai dan dihormati kerana keperibadiannya. Diantara rakan, nasihatnya sering dicari dalam berbagai hal. Beliau benar-benar adalah salah seorang antara pelopor psikologi di Malaysia.


Abdul Halim Othman, was born in the state of Kedah Darul Aman, on the 14th September 1938. He received his primary education at Sekolah Melayu Gurun, Kedah from 1944 to 1948, and continued his secondary education at Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar, Kedah until Form 3, in 1953. He Joined Federation Military College, Port Dickson (Royal Military College, Sg. Besi) in 1954 and graduated a year later, with his 5 education.
His academic career began in 1958, when he was selected to join the Malayan Teachers College, Brinsford College, England. A Year later, he entered ‘Summer School’ (Psychology) at Boston University, USA and in 1967, he enrolled at university of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology in 1970. The following year, he received his Master’s Degree in Education (Psychology) from the same university. He completed his Master of Science (Educational Psychology) at Indiana University, USA and was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology in 1979 from the same university.
He started his career as an academician when he was appointed as assistant lecturer in psychology at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, UKM in 1971. In 1974, he was appointed as a lecturer in psychology at the Department of Psychology, which was the first department of psychology in higher education institution in Malaysia. In 1980, he was appointed as Associate Professor in Psychology and in 1986, he was promoted to full Professor in Counseling Psychology at Department of Psychology, UKM. He served as Professor at the School of Psychology and Social Work, UMS from 1996 until 2003. On the 14th of August 1999 he delivered the first ever inaugural professorial speech at UMS, entitled ‘Counseling for Human Development: A Malaysian Experience’. He was appointed as an Adjunct Professor at UKM from 2006 until 2008.
Abdul Halim Othman has an exemplary record not only as an academician, but also as an administrator. At university level, he held several senior positions such as Head of Department, Deputy Dean, Dean and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs) at UKM from 1972 until 1996. His final administrative post before he retired was as Dean of School of Psychology and Social Work, UMS from 1996 until 2003. He was also appointed to be on several committee while at UMS. He was the Chairperson for the Committee for the Establishment of UMS Social Science School, in 1995; Senate Representative on the Committee for Staff Service Promotion/Academic Staff Selection Committee; Chairman for the Academic Ethical Committee from 1998-2001.
Abdul Halim Othman is still actively involved in international level professional bodies. Among them, he is a full member of the American Association of Counseling and Development (1980-now); member of the International Round Table Conference for the Advancement of Counseling (1982-now); member of New York Academy of Sciences (1986-now). He was also the Council Member of the Association of Psychology and Education Counselor of Asia (1986-1988) and the Vice President of Afro-Asia Psychology Association (AAPA) from 1992-1994.
At national level, he held several important posts, such as council member and President of Persatuan Kaunselor Malaysia (PERKAMA) from 1988-1992, and later was elected as President, Persatuan Psikologi Malaysia from 1989-1991. He was a member of Majlis Kaunseling Kebangsaan and board member, Lembaga Kaunselor Pertama from 1998-2000. He was Deputy Commandant (Lt. Kol.), PALAPES, UKM (1984-1994) and still is a member of PERKAMA since July 1993.
As an Academician, he successfully supervised numerous post-graduate students including 10 Doctor of Philosophy candidates and supervised students from various levels and programs such as Advanced Diploma in Psychology, UKM and Master in Business Administration. He was also entrusted to supervise overseas students, among others from Western Michigan University and Indiana University, especially in the field of internship and degree Guidance and Counseling.
In the area of research and publication, Abdul Halim Othman has been involved directly with local and overseas universities as well as government departments. He has published more than 26 papers since 1972. He has also presented the findings of his research in various conferences, seminars, and workshops. He has also written a number of books and his contributions have been published in local and international journals and magazines. While at UMS he had produce 7 research papers (1996-2001) and 29 working papers presented between 1997-20001, 4 technical paper and 11 articles authored by him which were published in academic journals, a compilation of essays and 2 books. In addition to this, his willingness to work with others and share his vast knowledge and expertise has culminated in the publication of numerous jointly authored papers.
He was the Editor-in-Chief for Jurnal PERKAMA (1984-2002); Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia (1985-1994) and Jurnal Personelia Pelajar (1989-1991); Editor for Prosiding Persidangan Pengetua Asrama Institusi Pengajian Tinggi di Malaysia; Advisory Editor for International Journal of Advancement on Counseling (1989-now); Board Editor for Indiana Journal of Personality and Clinical Studies (1985-1991) and Consulting Editor for Pakistan Journal of Psychology Research (1992).
Abdul Halim Othman was also the recipient of a number of state and national awards. At state-level, he was conferred Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan by DYMM Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, in Julai 1986; Dato’ Setia Di Raja Kedah by DYMM Sultan Kedah, in January 1988; Johan Mangku Negara by DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong, in June 1990.
Dato’ Abdul Halim Othman is undoubtedly a successful academician in his field. From a poor family background, he was very determined to seek knowledge by whatever means possible. Among younger lectures, he is regarded as a father figure, mentor, well-liked and respected because of his personality. Among peers, his advice is frequently sought in various matters. He truly is one was the pioneers of psychology in Malaysia.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

ikAn-ikAn belaan PERKUM