Innovating Social Skills Training Through Virtual Reality: MyRAKAN Autism Earns Silver Award at i-ACHIEVE 2026

The Psychology programme at Taylor’s University is pleased to announce that Dr. Mohd Akif Farhan Ahmad Basri from the Master of Clinical Psychology programme received the Silver Award at the i-ACHIEVE 2026 Innovation Competition, held in conjunction with the International Allied Health Conference on Innovation & Excellence (i-ACHIEVE 2026). The competition took place on 16 June 2026 at the Resources Centre, Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI) Park Hall, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and innovators from across the allied health sector.

The award-winning project, MyRAKAN Autism: Innovating Social Skills Training Through Virtual Reality, was developed through a collaborative partnership between Taylor’s University and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Dr. Mohd Akif Farhan collaborated with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Salwina Wan Ismail and Dr. Farah Deena to develop the intervention, which integrates virtual reality with evidence-based therapeutic approaches to support social skills training for individuals on the autism spectrum.

By creating realistic social scenarios within a safe and controlled virtual environment, the intervention enables individuals to practise and strengthen essential social competencies at their own pace. The project demonstrates the potential of immersive technologies to complement conventional therapeutic approaches and enhance the delivery of psychological interventions.

This recognition reflects the value of interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration in advancing research and innovation in mental health and allied health practice. It also underscores Taylor’s University’s continued commitment to research excellence and the development of evidence-informed solutions that address real-world challenges in healthcare and psychological practice.