Published:
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia celebrated Happiness Day, this week.
A happiness forum was held to look at a business model for happiness at its campus in Putrajaya.
The forum was one of the main highlights of the University's A Happier U initiative - introduced to promote a caring community and opportunities that lead to positive emotions and well-being.
The special forum shed light on latest research revealling happiness can be taught, learnt and made into a viable business model.
And the forum explored on strategies needed to be adopted by businesses, educational institutions, policymakers, and individuals so that people can live a happier, purposeful and a more connected life.
Happiness isn't only about positive emotions. It is also about resilience and meaning. We will all have difficult times, and resilience is important to deal with that. Working towards something meaningful is also important to keep us motivated and resilient.”
Datin Paduka Ir Siti Hamisah, said: "We recognise the importance of developing Holistic, Entrepreneurial and Balanced Graduates. This the first shift in the Blueprint. We are also advocating humanising the fourth industrial revolution as we see this as an important pre-requisite for our youth and our nation to remain productive and play a key global role in this century."
Initiatives such as A Happier U by Heriot-Watt University Malaysia will go a long way in ensuring that graduates are resilient, emotionally intelligent, happy as well as life and career ready.
Guest speakers were also invited to launch the A Happier U campaign, with special performances held to mark the festive occasion.
Now the campaign by led by Heriot-Watt will begin in September, with members on board earning the title of Happiness Agents.
The agents will be academics and professional service staff members from each department.
Nicholas Ong, Head of Registry and Student Support of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia and one of the driving force of the campaign, said: “I hope to see programmes organized under the A Happier U project touch as many people as possible, beyond just our staff and students.
"Many of us are already practicing one or more of the keys to happier living in our daily lives without even realising it. All that is needed is to continue doing what is good for our happiness and to try other ways to boost our happiness and influence others to help create a happier world for all to live in."
The forum featured notable individuals across multiple sectors including: YB Datin Paduka Ir Siti Hamisah Tapsir, Director General of the Ministry of Higher Education; Paul Rennie OBE, Deputy Head of Mission of British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur; Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi, Provost and Chief Executive Officer of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia; Dr Karen Jennifer Golden, Psychology Honours Program Coordinator of Monash University and Co-Founder of Positive Minds; Mr Michael Warren, Director & Team Lead – Strategy, Advisory & Services of Invest KL; and Dr Ke Guek Nee, Associate Professor for Psychology of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.