Young Leaders Mentoring Programme 2024 ignites leadership potential in youths

A major part of guiding a team towards achieving its goals in an effective and efficient manner depends on the capability of its leaders. Whether it is a small or a huge team like a conglomerate corporation, it is a leader’s responsibility to empower and unleash the potential of their followers, which is a key point towards achieving collective success.

Everyone will find themselves in leadership roles at various points in their life, whether navigating a team’s pathway or making personal decisions. Hence, it is crucial to cultivate leadership skills at a young age to ensure a solid foundation for future responsibilities.

In the quest to uncover and develop leadership skills among Malaysian youths, the UTAR Division of Programme Promotion (DPP), with support from the UTAR Career Development Club, joined hands with Yu Cai Foundation (YCF) and Yayasan DayaDiri (YDD) to organise the Young Leaders Mentoring Programme (YLMP) 2024 at UTAR Kampar Campus, from 13 to 15 September 2024.

Previously organised in conjunction with the UTARambassador Leadership Camp (ULC) 2023, YLMP 2024 marked the second year of close collaboration between UTAR, YCF, and YDD in cultivating young leaders at UTAR Kampar Campus. This year’s camp gathered a total participation of more than 100 scholars from YCF and YDD, with an addition of more than 20 teacher counsellors from 32 schools across seven states in Malaysia. It was also joined by 42 UTAR students, who assisted in the camp.

The camp entailed three days of activities, including educational talks, games, workshops, sharing sessions, stage performances, and community service. Through these diverse experiences, the participants were actively engaged in building their skills in various aspects such as communication, empathy, problem-solving, critical thinking, divergent thinking, team-building, self-discovery and adaptability, which are essential for solidifying leadership qualities.

Friendship and open-mindedness were part of the core lessons in the camp. With diverse groups of participants, YLMP 2024 also aimed to instil the spirit of mutual respect among them through its fun and unique activities. Participants were encouraged to share their viewpoints and learning experiences with their peers from other schools, creating an environment where a wide range of ideas were valued and appreciated.

Besides that, the camp exposed the participants to contemporary technological trends such as artificial intelligence (AI), and provided participants with the opportunities to interact with prominent players in the media industry, offering valuable perspectives on how technology is shaping communication and leadership in today’s world. By gaining knowledge of the media landscape, participants were engaged in exploring skills needed to thrive in the ever-evolving job market and learn about their potential future career paths.

UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat said, “Throughout the camp, the scholars have engaged in meaningful discussions, gained practical experience, and built networks with their peers and mentors. These experiences are invaluable, not just for their personal growth, but for the communities and industries that they will one day lead. Leadership is not only about knowledge and authority, but also about empathy, resilience, and adaptability, which are crucial traits in today’s ever-changing world.”

He added, “My heartfelt appreciation goes to YCF and YDD, for not only supporting this programme but for their continued trust in UTAR. Their dedication to nurturing talent and fostering intellectual growth through various initiatives is invaluable, and we deeply appreciate their partnership.”

YCF Chairman Mr Chan Chee Beng said, “As the Chinese saying goes, ‘It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate people’. Nurturing talent requires significant planning and investment. YCF and YDD have always believed in nurturing talent and supporting initiatives to uplift underserved communities. The foundations create opportunities for individuals to excel by providing a range of scholarships that cover primary education up to executive education including technical and vocational education and training, granting support for community development in Peninsular Malaysia.”

Present at the opening ceremony of YLMP 2024 were YCF Head of Foundation Ms May Quah Bee Fong, YDD Head of Foundation Ms Siti Nashrah Nur binti A. Malek, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, DPP Deputy Director Mr Tan Choon Wah, YLMP 2024 Student Organising Chairperson Khor Chun Siang, DPP Assistant Managers Ms Ng Jean Ling and Cik Nur Nafisa binti Salim, school teachers and students, organising committees and students.

Meanwhile, present at the closing ceremony of YLMP 2024 were YCF Chairman Mr Chan Chee Beng, YCF Board of Trustee Mr Ngooi Chiu Ing, YCF Head of Foundation Ms May Quah, YDD Head of Foundation Ms Siti Nashrah, UTAR Council Member Mr Hew Fen Yee, UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, DPP Deputy Director Mr Tan, YLMP 2024 Student Organising Chairperson Khor, DPP Assistant Managers Ms Ng and Cik Nur Nafisa, school teachers and students, organising committees and students.

With the successful conclusion of YLMP 2024, more Malaysian youths are now better prepared to embrace their potential as future leaders. The camp not only equipped the scholars with essential skills of the 21st century, but also instilled the spirit of unity and mutual respect, empowering them to navigate challenges and inspire innovation in their respective fields through empathy, resilience and adaptability.

UTAR is proud to collaborate once again with YCF and YDD to organise YLMP at UTAR Kampar Campus. This collaboration reflects the organisations’ commitment to providing not only a holistic educational experience, but also opportunities for personal growth and community engagement, ensuring that Malaysian students are well-equipped to face future challenges and make meaningful contributions to society.