In an inspiring effort to bridge education with real-world skills, final-year Public Relations students from UTAR Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) organised two impactful events under their project Jom Kerja: Unlock Your Future. Conducted in collaboration with Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO), these events, namely “The Edge Workshop” and “NextGen Insight Webinar”, engaged secondary school and university students, equipping them with essential career, leadership, and digital skills.
Shaping future leaders – The Edge Workshop
Held at Westlake International School on 26 March 2025, “The Edge Workshop” provided secondary school students with invaluable insights into career development, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The event featured an engaging talk titled Boss Up Your Future: Self-Leadership and Confidence in the Next Chapter of Life by UTAR FAS Head of Master of Psychology (I&OP) Programme Ms Sanggari Krishnan, also a Master’s graduate in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Emphasising the importance of self-leadership, she urged students to take proactive steps in shaping their futures.
She said, “Without self-leadership, being a boss is merely giving orders, not truly leading a team.” Her message resonated with the students, who actively engaged by nodding in agreement and sharing their perspectives on self-leadership. She encouraged them to shift from passive waiting to taking charge of their own paths.
The workshop also introduced PERKESO’s MYFutureJobs Portal, an AI-powered career platform designed to enhance employability through job-matching and upskilling resources. In addition, students participated in the Business Pitch Challenge, where they collaborated to develop innovative business ideas and present them to a panel of judges, refining their critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Westlake International School’s Senior Head of School Culture, Ms Livien received a souvenir in appreciation of the school’s support, while esteemed judges UTAR academic Dr Nur Afni binti Halil and FAS Head of Public Relations Department Ms Bazlin Darina binti Ahmad Tajudin provided valuable professional feedback to the participants.
Students, guests and the organising team
Ms Sanggari inviting students on stage for an engaging Q&A session
Business Pitch Challenge: Students delivering their presentations to a panel of “investors”
Business Pitch Challenge: A team of students engaging in a lively discussion
Students writing down their dream careers on the message board
Ms Bazlin presenting a token of appreciation to Ms Livien, the Senior Head of School Culture from Westlake International School
AI and the future workforce - NextGen Insight Webinar
Expanding the reach of Jom Kerja: Unlock Your Future, the “NextGen Insight Webinar” attracted over 250 upper secondary school students nationwide via Zoom, offering deep insights into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on career pathways.
Project Lead Ms Lai Young Chi opened the session by highlighting AI’s growing influence on the job market. “AI is no longer just an idea or a possibility. It’s here, changing the way we work, learn, and communicate. The more we understand it, the better prepared we are to thrive in this evolving landscape,” said Lai.
The event featured a thought-provoking talk by Mr Oluwatimilehin Adekunle Ileladewa (Timi), an MSc graduate in Computer Science from Nigeria. His talk was titled AI and the Future Employee: Adapting to a Changing Workplace. He explained how AI is reshaping industries and employment opportunities, equipping students with practical knowledge on how to stay competitive in an AI-driven job market. He broke down complex AI concepts into practical takeaways, showcasing how AI is rapidly transforming industries, creating new job roles, and reshaping the career paths of tomorrow. “We all have the ability to think, learn, and make decisions. Now, with artificial intelligence, computers are being designed to do the same,” said Timi.
A hands-on Canva Learning Session followed, where Mr Timi guided students in using Canva not only for presentations but also for website design, enhancing their digital creativity and professional skill sets. To further enrich the learning experience, participants were introduced to a video demonstration of PERKESO’s MYFutureJobs Portal, offering insights into job market trends and career-planning tools.
To ensure active engagement, the organising team collaborated with secondary schools and tuition centres across Malaysia, leveraging interactive sessions and promotional videos. The event concluded on an exciting note with giveaways worth RM500, including Touch ‘n Go e-wallet credits for Q&A participants, Canva Pro subscriptions, and mystery prizes through a lucky draw.
Through these initiatives, UTAR Public Relations students demonstrated their commitment to fostering career readiness, leadership, and digital literacy among youth. By integrating experiential learning, technology, and industry collaboration, Jom Kerja: Unlock Your Future continues to serve as a catalyst for student empowerment, preparing them to navigate the evolving world of work.
Mr Timi sharing insights on AI and the Future Employee: Adapting to a Changing Workplace
Mr Timi hosting the Canva Learning Session
Introducing MYFutureJobs Portal through video presentation
Organising team engaging with secondary school students at the basketball court in Kampar
Students, guest speaker and organising team taking a group photo at the end of the webinar
Expanding impact – Shape Your Future, Start Your Journey
In addition to these two meaningful initiatives, the final-year Public Relations students also organised a career talk titled Shape Your Future, Start Your Journey under the Jom Kerja: Unlock Your Future campaign, in collaboration with PERKESO.
Held earlier on 13 March 2025 at SMK St. Michael, the event attracted over 180 Form 5 students and featured journalist Mr Lu Wei Hoong, who shared his personal journey and challenges in the media industry, and the importance of transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. His engaging session inspired students to explore diverse career paths and embrace adaptability in a rapidly evolving job market. Students were also introduced to the MYFutureJobs platform, which provides job-matching, labour market insights, and skill development support.
Students, guests and committee members taking a group photo after the talk
Invited speaker Mr Lu sharing his personal career experiences with the students
A Form 5 student sharing his career aspirations
About Jom Kerja: Unlock Your Future
Jom Kerja: Unlock Your Future is a final-year project led by a dedicated team of 90 undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Communications (Honours) Public Relations programme at UTAR, Kampar Campus. This project is conducted in collaboration with Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO) and aims to enhance career readiness, employability, and digital skills among youth and underprivileged communities. Through a series of engaging workshops, webinars, and interactive learning experiences, Jom Kerja empowers students to navigate the future workforce, fostering leadership, teamwork, and adaptability in an ever-evolving job market.
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