UTAR Knowledge Transfer Programme empowers high school students with writing skills

The UTAR Research Fund (UTARRF) team, under the Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP), successfully conducted a series of training workshops at Chong Hwa Independent High School, Kuala Lumpur (CHKL) to enhance students’ writing skills. The programme, titled “Enhancing students’ awareness, authority and engagement on metadiscourse in the writing of current issues,” was designed to help Form 4 students develop a structured and engaging writing approach.

Led by Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI) academic Dr Hooi Chee Mei, the UTAR KTP team meticulously planned four training sessions over four months, culminating in a competition on 10 January 2025, where students showcased their learning by applying metadiscourse strategies. The trainers were FCI academics Dr Hooi, Ms S. Thinusha, Dr Swagata Sinha Roy, Ms Norhaniza binti Md Ismail, Ms Josephine Anak Freni Affrin, Mr Muhamad Elyas Bin Md Nor, Master of Arts (Communication) student Mr Chow King, Darryl and Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) student Kuik Rui Luan.

The workshops focused on metadiscourse, an essential component in academic and persuasive writing. The first training, which was held on 4 October 2024, saw students completing a pre-test and post-test to assess their metadiscourse awareness. They learned to structure their writing to ensure a smooth flow of ideas. In the second training on 25 October 2024, students engaged in reader response activities to enhance their understanding of engagement in writing. During the third training on 29 November 2024, the participants explored detailed guidelines on metadiscourse use, ensuring clarity and coherence in their essays.

Throughout the training, interactive discussions, structured modules, and guided facilitation helped students grasp key writing concepts. Trainers were assigned to small groups to ensure effective learning, and the sessions were well-received by participants.
The competition served as a platform for students to demonstrate their improved writing skills. Winners were recognised for their outstanding performance, and the session ended on a celebratory note, with students expressing gratitude to the UTAR team.
CHKL students provided positive feedback, highlighting that the training was engaging, well-structured, and beneficial for their writing development. Many expressed confidence in applying metadiscourse techniques in their essays.

UTAR extends its sincere appreciation to CHKL Vice Principal Ms Chan Yoke Lee and team Ms Tan Jia Sin, Ms Chang Siang Yee, Ms R. Sabrina, Ms Siti Sarah binti Suhaini, Ms H. S. Sukhpreet Kaur, Ms Hung Ming Yaw, and Ms V. Neeshanthi for their invaluable support throughout the programme.