Human Resilience and Potential Centre
Founded in 2021, the Human Resilience and Potential Centre (HRPC) stands as a catalyst for resilience research, innovation, and community wellbeing at the Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development (FCSHD), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). The Centre brings together scholars, practitioners, and communities to explore the science of human potential and the art of resilience—empowering individuals and organizations to thrive amid challenges.
The Human Resilience and Potential Centre (HRPC) was officially established on 26th November 2021 by the former Vice-Chancellor, Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ir. Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi.
The establishment of HRPC was initiated under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr Surena Sabil, former Dean of FCSHD, with strong support from the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Yang Berbahagia Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim, and the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Centre (RIEC), UNIMAS. The idea emerged in response to the mental health challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to build a more resilient nation through evidence-based interventions and research. The proposal was approved by the UNIMAS Dean’s Council in 2021, leading to the official establishment of the Centre.
Dr Amalia Madihie was appointed as the founding Director of HRPC. During her tenure, the Centre successfully secured nearly half a million ringgit in research grants within its first year, marking a strong start in advancing human resilience and potential studies. The first commercialization milestone was achieved through the launch of a Resilience Toolkit product, demonstrating HRPC’s commitment to translating research into practical, impactful solutions for community wellbeing.
Currently, Associate Professor Dr Sopian Bujang leads HRPC. Under his leadership, research and consultancy grants have reached close to one million ringgit within just three to four years since the Centre’s establishment.
Vision:
To become an international centre focusing on human resilience and human potential through research ecosystem, professional services and continuous lifelong learning.
Missions:
To study human development which focuses on resilience and potential.
To innovate human resilience and potential interventions.
To provide professional service in building human resilience and potential.
To establish an industrial research lab.
To bridge the gap between universities, industry, and society through human resilience and potential research.
• Malaysia Resilient Adolescents Study (MRAS) – in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and UNICEF Malaysia
• Assessment Consultancy Project – with the Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service
• Grief Study – with Yayasan Dee Hati
• Resilience-Grief Orphans Study – funded by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
• And several other resilience and potential-driven initiatives
Beyond research, HRPC also serves as a hub for professional counselling and psychology services, empowering research fellows to contribute to national mental health enhancement through evidence-based resilience and potential initiatives.
Among its current outreach efforts is Projek Klinik Kaunseling Wasathiah, a community counselling service open to the public.
To translate research innovation into community impact, HRPC has developed several award-winning resilience-based products, including the Resilience Assessment Tool 43 (RAT-43), Grief Module, Resilience-Grief Module, and the Human Resilience Library.
HRPC continues to build international collaborations with partners from Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Brunei, Thailand, the Philippines, and beyond.
In 2025, HRPC launched its first International Resilience Symposium (IReS’25), bringing together professionals, scholars, and communities on one platform to share innovations and best practices in resilience.
Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, 11, and 17, as well as Sarawak Wellbeing 2030 and post-pandemic development policies, HRPC remains committed to advancing the resilience agenda.
To date, the Centre has appointed more than 10 research fellows from various disciplines, working collaboratively to realize HRPC’s vision and mission of optimizing human potential through resilience
Meet Our Experienced Team Members
