Distinguished Professor Joins IMU’s Teaching Staff

THE International Medical University (IMU) has recently appointed Professor Raymond Thomas James Wilks to head its psychology department.

“We are delighted with the appointment of Professor Wilks who has joined our Faculty of Medicine,” says IMU president, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman.

“With his vast experience, we look forward to his contribution in the training of students in IMU,” he said.

Wilks holds academic qualifications from Australia that include a Trained Primary Teachers certificate, BA in Psychology from Monash University, a graduate diploma in Applied Child Psychology from RMIT University, an MA in Psychology from Deakin University and a PhD in Psychology from RMIT University.

He is a registered psychologist in the State of Victoria, a member of the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists and is a Member of the Australian College of Education.

He has worked as a primary school teacher, a research officer in the Victorian Department of Education, a psychologist in a school and as a lecturer in psychology at RMIT University.

During his 18 years at RMIT he coordinated the fourth-year Honours and Graduate Diploma programmes, the Post-graduate Professional Training programmes in clinical, educational and developmental psychology, and was Director of the RMIT University psychology clinic before becoming head of the division of psychology in the university’s School of Health Sciences.

He was, for a number of years, a member of the College of Clinical Psychologists’ National Accreditation panel.

On his retirement from RMIT University in 2007, he was made a senior associate of the university.

He is currently chairman of the Academic Advisory Committee for Learning Capital in Singapore as well as a professor and head of psychology at IMU.

Wilks has published many articles and presented his findings at many conferences and supervised the completion of many Honours, Masters, and PhD research projects.

His current research interests are in adolescent obesity, impact of parental separation on children and adolescents, and relationships between teaching practices and academic performance.

July of this year saw the first intake of students into the new BSc (Hons) Psychology programme at IMU.

The three-year course which will focus on the needs of the health sector will be different from other psychology programmes.

Consequently, these graduates will be well positioned to contribute significantly to the promotion of health and the prevention of mental health problems in Malaysia.

For more information, visit www.imu.edu.my

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