UTAR academic wins Best Thesis Award at international conference

In recognition of her scholarly excellence, Dr Hooi Chee Mei from the Department of Modern Languages, Faculty of Creative Industries, UTAR, received the Best Thesis Award for her PhD research at the 1st Teaching and Testing of English Language and Literature (TNTELT) Conference 2025, held at the Grand Swiss-Belhotel, Melaka on 21 to 22 August 2025. The award ceremony took place during the conference, which brought together academics and researchers from around the world.

Dr Hooi’s award-winning thesis, titled Writers’ Awareness, Linguistic Realisations and Readers’ Responses of Metadiscourse Features in Malaysian Business News, examines the role of metadiscourse (textual and interpersonal features that enhance coherence and reader engagement) in shaping online business journalism. Using a mixed-methods approach with news articles from The Star Online and Focus Malaysia, as well as responses from English major university students, her research offers new insights into making Malaysian business news more comprehensible and reader-friendly.

Reflecting on her achievement, Dr Hooi said, “I was surprised to receive this Best Thesis Award because I was competing with other PhD graduates’ at the TNTELT Conference. It was a shock to me that, even after completing my PhD four and a half years ago, this research is still considered important by others. I usually take part in various competitions and conferences to ensure that my research and innovation remain up to standard. Joining and presenting at the TNTELT Conference gave me great joy as I was able to learn from and understand the work of like-minded researchers. At the same time, I wanted to test how far I could stretch my research skills and knowledge by presenting at the conference. It was indeed a rewarding experience.”

Her study found that both textual and interpersonal metadiscourse were widely used in the analysed news portals, with The Star Online showing a stronger preference for textual features. It also revealed that readers, particularly students, responded more positively to news containing metadiscourse, citing improved clarity and engagement. These findings highlight the broader implications of Dr Hooi’s work for media literacy, journalism education, and public communication in the digital age.

Along with the award title, Dr Hooi also received a RM100 cash prize in recognition of her academic contribution. Her research not only advances linguistic scholarship but also aligns closely with UTAR’s commitment to fostering impactful academic work that resonates beyond the classroom.