FBF postgraduate student wins Diamond Award and First Place in 5-minute thesis competition

It was another proud moment for UTAR Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF) Master of Philosophy student Britney Bong Sue Fun when she was awarded the Diamond Award and First Place in the Thesis in 5 Minutes (T5M Series 2/2023) for the Category B2: Master Social Sciences and Humanities.

Held on 21 October 2023, the competition was organised virtually for students from institutions of higher learning. Bong walked away with a cash prize of RM100.

Bong with her well-presented award certificates

Supervised by FBF Department of Marketing lecturer Dr Tan Chi Hau and FAS Department of Psychology and Counselling lecturer Dr T’ng Soo Ting, Bong clinched the diamond award and first place for her thesis project, titled “Prestige Unleash: Illuminating the journey of academic engagement in Malaysian private universities through psychological capital and career expectations” under the category of Master Social Sciences and Humanities.

The study explored the relationship between perceived organisational prestige and employee engagement and examined the mediating roles of psychological capital and career expectations among academic staff in Malaysian private universities. The results revealed that perceived organisational prestige predicts employee engagement via the serial mediation of psychological capital and career expectations among academics in Malaysian private universities.

Organised by the Mediate Nexus and Nurture a Fast Network (MNNF Network), T5M Series 2/2023 is a platform for students to present their final year projects and thesis or dissertation in the field of science, engineering, technology, mathematics, social sciences and humanities. There was a total of 14 participants from various public and private universities, including Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia University of Science and Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Asia Pacific University, Universiti Teknologi Petronas and UTAR.

Aimed at providing a platform to support the growth of graduate and postgraduate students’ presentation skills, the competition also aimed to bolster the students’ academic journey and articulate their research and their significance to a non-specialist audience in a concise five-minute video presentation.

When asked about what made her stand out from the rest of the participants, Bong explained, “Participating in the Thesis in 5-Minute competition was an incredible opportunity to distil months of research and hard work into a concise and engaging presentation. I joined the competition because I wanted to challenge myself and learn how to effectively communicate complex ideas to a broad audience. The support and guidance from my mentors, as well as the invaluable feedback from my peers, played a pivotal role in my success. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who helped me along this journey.”

Bong also relates the achievement by adding that, “My journey through UTAR has been a transformative one. UTAR provided me with an educational foundation and a nurturing environment where I could explore my academic interests. The guidance and mentorship I received from the faculty were instrumental in shaping my research skills and honing my ability to communicate complex ideas. I would not have achieved this without the support of my professors, and the resources offered by UTAR. It’s a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering excellence in its students, and I’m grateful for the platform it provided to showcase my work.”

Bong further explained her project and said, “I embarked on this project out of a deep-seated passion for understanding and addressing real-world challenges. The inspiration came from a desire to make a meaningful impact in the field of organisational behaviour. I was driven by a curiosity to explore uncharted territories and find innovative solutions. Ultimately, I wanted to contribute to the knowledge base of my discipline and hopefully, in some small way, make the world a better place through my research.” She added, “The study’s focus on career expectations, psychological capital, perceived organisational prestige, and employee engagement offers practical benefits. Organisations can use these insights to enhance workplace culture, boost employee satisfaction, and improve productivity. This study underscores the real-world value of academic research, bridging the gap between theory and practical application in the corporate landscape.”

She concluded, “The findings of this study hold significant promise for society, the environment, and the industry. By shedding light on the vital connection between employee engagement and organisational prestige, our research advocates for the creation of healthier and more positive workplaces. These improved work environments contribute to higher job satisfaction, enhanced well-being, and ultimately more motivated and engaged employees. This isn’t just about employees; it’s also about building a sustainable and ethical work culture that resonates positively with the broader community. In this paradigm, businesses can operate more efficiently and responsibly, aligning their goals with societal and environmental welfare. In essence, our research highlights a win-win scenario where happier employees, thriving organisations, and a better world go hand in hand.”