Insightful NTW at UTAR provides opportunity for learning and development

In support of the National Training Week (NTW), an initiative by the Malaysian Government, the Centre for Corporate and Community Development (CCCD) of UTAR organised several training sessions from 24 to 27 June 2024 at its Kampar and Sungai Long Campuses, and via Zoom.

This year, NTW focused on enabling Malaysians to play active roles in advancing the nation’s growth and well-being. It also emphasised on equipping individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in today’s dynamic job market, instilling a culture of lifelong learning and fostering collaborations.

Left photo: Ms Geetha explaining the benefits of gamification
Right photo: Ms Geetha and participants at the end of the training

Each training session was catered to specific audiences, but overall, the training sessions were platforms that fostered a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability. For instance, the “Unlocking Engagement: Gamification Strategies for Higher Education” session by Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) academic and trainer Ms Geetha Veerappan, explored the benefits of gamification in making lectures and tutorials interesting and engaging for students. From the several gamification demonstrations that Ms Geetha displayed, participants learnt new methods and gained ideas to improve existing gamification methods.

Left photo: Dr Tee elaborating on team management
Right photo: All smiles at the end of the leadership training

Meanwhile, the “Sun Zi’s Art of War Series: How to Create Team Leadership《孙子兵法》系列：如何建立团队领导力” session by Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF) academic and trainer Dr Tee Chee Wee taught participants the applications of Sun Zi’s Art of War in nurturing leadership and team management. Participants also understood the role of leadership as the primary factor in organisational success and sustainability. The training session also included a discussion on the four essentials of team management, namely talent recruitment, talent development, talent engagement and talent retention.

Left photo: Dr Goh explaining the impact of Industry 4.0
Right photo: Participants of the insightful training

Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes and trainer Assoc Prof Ts Dr Goh Hock Guan reiterated on the smart industry. His training session titled “Introduction to Industry 4.0: Smart Industry Framework” aimed to prepare participants to be well-informed about Industry 4.0 and teach them ways to embrace these digital transformations. He spoke about the evolution of industries, the key technology of Industry 4.0, and the concept of vertical and horizontal integrations.

Mr Ng explaining LPI

A day for enhancing emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence was highlighted in “Fostering Emotional Excellence and Resilience with LPI” training by Department of Student Affairs (DSA) of Kampar Campus Manager and trainer Mr Ng Foo Yek. He introduced Dr Leonard Yong’s groundwork on Leonard Personality Inventory (LPI) and emotional intelligence, and elaborated on LPI assessment and self-awareness, which help recognise preferred behaviours. Participants also learnt strategies for self-regulation and impulse control to manage emotional blind spots; the application of empathy, social awareness, and interpersonal skills to build effective interpersonal relationships; and the application of the LPI Holistic Model for self-transformation.

The importance of maintaining one’s health and well-being was also emphasised in the “Workplace Wellness the Power of A.H.F to Nourish Your Employee for Better Engagement” training session by Faculty of Science academic and trainer Mr Sim Kheng Yuen, and “Music Appreciation for Stress Management” training by Division of Strategy and Performance Measurement Manager and trainer Dr Yue Jing Wen.

Mr Sim stressed on the importance of health and wellness in the workplace and elaborated on the six pillars of health. He also taught participants ways to substitute delicious food with better choices, and methods for reducing the impact of stress. Meanwhile, Dr Yue’s training provided an enlightening session on the power of music, the physiological and psychological effects of music, and the therapeutic benefits of music for stress management. In addition to learning strategies for incorporating music into daily routines, the activities arranged for participants to learn mindfulness techniques in listening and experiencing music, also helped them develop their own stress-relief playlists, and reflect on their emotional responses towards different genres of music.

Left photo: Mr Sim introducing himself
Right photo: Participants after learning about empowering workplace wellness

Dr Yue explaining the physiological and psychological effects of music

The end of the musical session

The “Introduction to Excel VBA” training, conducted via Zoom by Mr Chew Chun Yong, an academic and trainer from Heriot-Watt University, provided an overview of developing macros. He explained the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) environment, helping participants gain a deeper understanding of the project explorer, its properties, and the object browser. Mr Chew also demonstrated VBA code writing, covering properties, methods, objects, subroutines, the immediate window, the watch window, and performing calculations. Additionally, participants learned more about creating user-defined functions in detail.

 

Participants with their trainers, Dr Saraswathy (fifth from right) and Mr Soosai (far right)

The “Boost Your Social Skills in Just 2 Hours with Emotional Intelligence training session led by Faculty of Creative Industries academic Dr T. Saraswathy from the Faculty of Creative Industries and Co-Trainer Mr S. Soosai, engaged participants in gaining valuable insights into enhancing their interpersonal abilities and emotional intelligence. Attendees learned practical strategies aimed at improving communication effectiveness, cultivating empathy, and fostering the development of strong and meaningful relationships. The session also provided a collaborative environment where participants practised applying these skills through interactive exercises and role-playing scenarios.

About NTW

Introduced in 2023, NTW is a full week of nationwide training events and activities bringing together organisations and people from various industries and backgrounds for learning and development opportunities. The training, which is conducted through various learning methods and platforms, is provided by local industry players for FREE to all Malaysians in many locations. The objectives are to (1) Make lifelong learning a culture for Malaysians; (2) Increase strategic inter-government cooperation for training and development; and (3) Equip Malaysian talents with future work skills and knowledge.