Amateur writers write for the sake of writing. While this may create copious amounts of inconsequential content or provide them personal pleasure, it does nothing to increase business prospects, improve the world, or move their audience to take action.
So what is the goal of great writing, and how can it change your presentations? Professional writers always have one main goal in mind with everything they write: to transform their audience. Great writers strive to help their audience see through different eyes, act differently, change the way they interact with the world.
Anyone can throw words together and make complete sentences (case in point: most of the blogosphere), but if you want to actually have impact through your writing, you must learn to write for transformation. It's the difference between being merely informative and being compelling and persuasive. There are three simple steps to transformational writing: 1) writing for a specific audience, 2) using the right venue, and 3) choosing and executing the right type of transformation (there are three).
1. Specific Audience
If you want to reach your audience, it’s absolutely crucial that you understand them, get out of your own perspective, and write to their perspective. One of the first things I do with every piece I write is identify my target audience, things such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, location, income level, purchasing habits, hobbies, talents, interests, etc.
When I know who I’m talking to, I’m prepared to custom tailor the message to resonate with them specifically. For example, words such as “revolutionary,” “cutting-edge,” “fresh,” or “in vogue” will more likely resonate with an 18-25 age group, whereas a 60-70 age group will probably have negative reactions to them, who prefer things that are “proven,” “safe,” and “sensible.”
2. The Right Venue
By venue I mean the medium used to convey your message, including such things as magazines, newspapers, journals, books, radio and TV ads, blogs, websites, etc. The venue you choose is, in large part, determined by your audience.
For example, if I’m writing a lengthy article on monetary policy intended for scholars and economists, the best venue is probably a scholarly journal. Few people can stand to read long blocks of meaningful text on a computer screen, I probably won’t have enough space to make my case in most magazines, etc. On the other hand, if my content is concise, simple, and intended for a broad audience, perhaps a newspaper article makes sense.
All of us are exposed to written communications that we skim or ignore, yet if that same message is presented in a venue more palatable to us, we’re much more likely to spend time reading it. Writing for transformation requires utilizing the best venue for our subject matter and audience.
3. The Right Transformation
There are three types of transformations: know, feel, and do. A know transformation seeks to give the readers new information, or old information arranged in a different way, to help them to learn and know things they didn’t know before, in such a way that changes their life and perspective. A feel transformation obviously seeks to evoke strong emotion in the audience, while a do is designed to get an audience to take very specific, immediate, and tangible action.
Amateurs look at this list and try to do all three; professionals focus on one and nail it, because doing so affects the others. How do you want people’s lives to change because they read your message? What do you want to see occur in them? Do you primarily want them to know, feel, or do something? Pick one–yes, just one–and execute it well, and the others will take care of themselves.
If you want your message to actually have impact, you must learn to write for transformation. Know who you’re writing to, use the right venue to reach them, and choose the right transformation and execute it well. After all, transformational writing is the only writing worth reading.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
5 Tips To Better Public Speaking
If you search in Google for the term “public speaking tips” you get roughly 2.6 million responses. That seems like a lot, but when you have to be the one standing in front of the group there isn’t enough information in the world that could get you over that fear.
Believe it or not, most of those fears are self imposed. What do I mean? The people listening to you don’t really care how the information is disseminated, they just want at the information. It’s the speaker that puts themselves through the ringer weeks before the event. Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but once completed, will really put your mind at ease, trust me.
Public Speaking Tip #1
KNOW YOUR TOPIC! I don’t mean know your topic, I mean inside and out, upside down, what ever question someone could throw at you, you know the answer. You really need to be prepared to reach this level. You need to know your speech almost by heart; you need to know the products you will be discussing. Do your homework, you will know you have reached public speaking Nirvana when you get that “feeling”, it will come with knowledge. Believe!
Public Speaking Tip #2
Greet as many of the attendees prior to your speech as possible. Familiarity promotes confidence. Besides, think of the benefit you provide the topic you are to speak on when you take the time to meet people before you go on.
This strategy also prevents you from pacing back and forth and worrying yourself to death until you go on. There is no point in cramming now, if you don’t know it, you wont, and it will show.
Public Speaking Tip #3
DON’T think everyone in the audience is naked, this in fact will hurt your chances of a successful public speaking outing.
Public Speaking Tip # 4
When you find yourself with only a mouthful of uhs and ums, stop yourself, repeat the sentence as if to add importance, and replace the uhs and ums with silence to allow your points to hit home.
Public Speaking Tip # 5
Animate your speech. Most people think that good communication is mouth-centric. Nothing could be farther from the truth! To be a powerful communicator, you have to use your entire body. Gestures and body language add energy and enthusiasm to your speech.
These are tips can really help you take your next step in public speaking. Do you realize that people pass up promotions because they will be required to speak publicly?
Do you realize people fear speaking in public more than they fear dying? Maybe because dying is abstract and appears far away while the podium is right in front of them. Either way, you really can come to grips with your fear and maybe you won’t enjoy it, but you’ll be able to get through it easier. I can’t emphasize enough that half of your battle will be just knowing what you are going to say, and anticipating what others are going to ask. It can be easy!
Believe it or not, most of those fears are self imposed. What do I mean? The people listening to you don’t really care how the information is disseminated, they just want at the information. It’s the speaker that puts themselves through the ringer weeks before the event. Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but once completed, will really put your mind at ease, trust me.
Public Speaking Tip #1
KNOW YOUR TOPIC! I don’t mean know your topic, I mean inside and out, upside down, what ever question someone could throw at you, you know the answer. You really need to be prepared to reach this level. You need to know your speech almost by heart; you need to know the products you will be discussing. Do your homework, you will know you have reached public speaking Nirvana when you get that “feeling”, it will come with knowledge. Believe!
Public Speaking Tip #2
Greet as many of the attendees prior to your speech as possible. Familiarity promotes confidence. Besides, think of the benefit you provide the topic you are to speak on when you take the time to meet people before you go on.
This strategy also prevents you from pacing back and forth and worrying yourself to death until you go on. There is no point in cramming now, if you don’t know it, you wont, and it will show.
Public Speaking Tip #3
DON’T think everyone in the audience is naked, this in fact will hurt your chances of a successful public speaking outing.
Public Speaking Tip # 4
When you find yourself with only a mouthful of uhs and ums, stop yourself, repeat the sentence as if to add importance, and replace the uhs and ums with silence to allow your points to hit home.
Public Speaking Tip # 5
Animate your speech. Most people think that good communication is mouth-centric. Nothing could be farther from the truth! To be a powerful communicator, you have to use your entire body. Gestures and body language add energy and enthusiasm to your speech.
These are tips can really help you take your next step in public speaking. Do you realize that people pass up promotions because they will be required to speak publicly?
Do you realize people fear speaking in public more than they fear dying? Maybe because dying is abstract and appears far away while the podium is right in front of them. Either way, you really can come to grips with your fear and maybe you won’t enjoy it, but you’ll be able to get through it easier. I can’t emphasize enough that half of your battle will be just knowing what you are going to say, and anticipating what others are going to ask. It can be easy!
Staff Sharing Session (3S VII )– Event Management Workshop
Staff Sharing Session (3S) introduced an Event Management Workshop to promote awareness amongst non-executive staff on the UTP Corporate Sustainability Framework. Mrs Nor Baizura, GPED Admin Assistant has attended this session.
The session, that was launched by Senior Manager of HRMA, Encik Zamri Yusof, emphasized the role of business in achieving sustainable development and UTP commitment towards the Transformation Plan to achieve Research University status.
During the first session, Madam Nur Hafizah Hafiz, Admin Assistant of Chemical Engineering Department, started the sharing session with a presentation on Work Etiquette and Application at Workplace to all participants.
The theme for the two-day workshop is Event Management where the focus was on how to use the various skills learned to organize successful events in UTP. The session continued with the 2nd Session where Madam Maznah Ramli, Senior Executive of Counseling & Career Guidance, Student Support Services Department gave her presentation on the Event Management at the Inter-University Level. Participants were taught on how to set the objectives of the event, how to contact the organizer and how to write the letter to other university.
On the second day, the 3rd Session, 3S members were also given the opportunity to discuss about the protocol in event management. During this session, the Senior Management of CRPA, Pn Shamsina Shaharun shared her experience and also had a dialog session pertaining the identification of the key elements and issues when organizing an event.
In the 4th Session , Madam Shariza M Shuhidan, Executive of Corporate Services (CRPA) Department, gave her presentation on Techniques and Strategies for Time Management where participants were taught on how to manage time and work effectively.
Finally, in the last session, Madam Azwa M Taib, Secretary to the Director of Finance & Fund Management Department, gave her presentation on Grooming for Work. All participant were given some tips and techniques on how to be presentable at the workplace.
Towards the end of the day, participants were highly motivated and showed positive commitment towards performing the duties more effectively and efficiently. This 3S workshop can be seen as a platform for knowledge sharing and will be useful for organizing future events successfully.
On behalf of the Staff Sharing Session Committee, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to Assoc. Prof. Dr Balbir Singh Mahinder Singh, Advisor of 3S, En. Zamri Yusof, Senior Manager of HRMA, 3S Presenters and others who were directly or indirectly involved to make this program a success.
“Sharing Promotes Excellent Performance”
The session, that was launched by Senior Manager of HRMA, Encik Zamri Yusof, emphasized the role of business in achieving sustainable development and UTP commitment towards the Transformation Plan to achieve Research University status.
During the first session, Madam Nur Hafizah Hafiz, Admin Assistant of Chemical Engineering Department, started the sharing session with a presentation on Work Etiquette and Application at Workplace to all participants.
The theme for the two-day workshop is Event Management where the focus was on how to use the various skills learned to organize successful events in UTP. The session continued with the 2nd Session where Madam Maznah Ramli, Senior Executive of Counseling & Career Guidance, Student Support Services Department gave her presentation on the Event Management at the Inter-University Level. Participants were taught on how to set the objectives of the event, how to contact the organizer and how to write the letter to other university.
On the second day, the 3rd Session, 3S members were also given the opportunity to discuss about the protocol in event management. During this session, the Senior Management of CRPA, Pn Shamsina Shaharun shared her experience and also had a dialog session pertaining the identification of the key elements and issues when organizing an event.
In the 4th Session , Madam Shariza M Shuhidan, Executive of Corporate Services (CRPA) Department, gave her presentation on Techniques and Strategies for Time Management where participants were taught on how to manage time and work effectively.
Finally, in the last session, Madam Azwa M Taib, Secretary to the Director of Finance & Fund Management Department, gave her presentation on Grooming for Work. All participant were given some tips and techniques on how to be presentable at the workplace.
Towards the end of the day, participants were highly motivated and showed positive commitment towards performing the duties more effectively and efficiently. This 3S workshop can be seen as a platform for knowledge sharing and will be useful for organizing future events successfully.
On behalf of the Staff Sharing Session Committee, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to Assoc. Prof. Dr Balbir Singh Mahinder Singh, Advisor of 3S, En. Zamri Yusof, Senior Manager of HRMA, 3S Presenters and others who were directly or indirectly involved to make this program a success.
“Sharing Promotes Excellent Performance”
HOD Address and Dean's List Award Ceremony for July 2009 Semester
The department has organizing GPED HOD Address and Dean's List Award Presentation on 24 Feb 2010 / Wednesday.
Venue: Pocket D3
Time: 4.00pm to 5.30pm
In this event, Ir A Aziz given a speech to our undergraduate PE and PG students and followed by certificate presentation to students who have managed to obtain an outstanding results in last semester.
Venue: Pocket D3
Time: 4.00pm to 5.30pm
In this event, Ir A Aziz given a speech to our undergraduate PE and PG students and followed by certificate presentation to students who have managed to obtain an outstanding results in last semester.
UTP - The Champion of National Novice Debating Championship 2010
UTP English Language debate team had emerged as the Champion in the National Novice Debating Championship 2010. The competition was organized by Universiti Teknologi MARA on 19th to 21st February 2010 in Shah Alam, Selangor. Ninety-six teams from various institutions had participated in the competition, making it the largest English Language debating championship in Malaysia to date. UTP had sent three English Language Debating teams to participate in this championship.
In this competition, it was compulsory for the debaters to go through 6 preliminary rounds before the top 16 teams were ranked and moved into the octo-finals. UTP-Team-1 and UTP-Team-2 managed to break to the octo-finals and UTP-Team-1 won against Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia hence qualified themselves to the quarter-finals. UTP-Team-1 won over University College of Technology and Innovation (UCTI) and advanced themselves to the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, UTP-Team-1 won against International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM-team-3), with the motion ‘This House would use genetically modified food to feed impoverished countries’. UTP had emerged as the Champion and won against IIUM-Team-1 in the final round. The motion for the final was ‘This House wants to support Iran's rights to develop nuclear weapons’. Kong Fook Ann, 1st Year 2nd Semester, was the Best Speaker in the final round. We are also proud to share that two UTP student adjudicators: Ismal Ishak and Vignesh Kumar had qualified themselves as adjudicators from the beginning of the competition right to the semi-final round. The list of UTP debaters are as follows:
UTP 1 (Champions)
Mukhariz Muhamad
Business Information System 2nd Year 1st Semester
Kong Fook Ann
Petroleum Engineering 1st Year 2nd Semester
Mohd Ashraf Bin Nor Azrol
Petroleum Engineering 2nd Year 1st Semester
UTP 2
Mohd Shafiq Bin Shaffa'ee
Chemical Engineering Foundation 1st Semester
Sean Suraj Jeremiah
Chemical Engineering Foundation 1st Semester
Ahmed Ali El-Fadil Hassan
Petroleum Engineering Foundation 1st Semester
UTP 3
Lee Yin Yin
Petroleum Geoscience Foundation 1st Semester
Chin Yong Bao
Chemical Engineering 1st Year 2nd Semester
Alex Liew Vun Ping
Electrical Engineering 1st Year 2nd Semester
We would like thank En A Mutalib b Embong (M&H) for his support and assistance as the Accompanying Officer throughout the competition.
The UTP Debate Club would like to express our heartiest gratitude to YBhg. Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Hj. Kasim and the Management of the University for being very supportive. We also would like to thank Tn Hj M Noor Rosli, the Director of Student Services, for his continuous encouragement. With the support from YBhg. Datuk Rector, the Management and the Student Support Services, we hope to develop more students to excel in the debating arena
Merdeka Award Series by Professor Dato’ Ir Dr Zaini Ujang
By
YBhg Professor Dato’ Ir Dr Zaini Ujang
Recipient of Merdeka Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Category
YBhg Professor Dato’ Ir Dr Zaini Ujang
Recipient of Merdeka Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Category
Title: Value Creation In Water Sustainability
Date : 3rd March 2010 (Wednesday)
Venue : Chancellor Hall, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
Date : 3rd March 2010 (Wednesday)
Venue : Chancellor Hall, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
Programme
2.00 pm
Arrival of Guests
2.25 pm
Arrival of YBhg Professor Dato’ Ir Dr Zaini Ujang, Recipient of Merdeka Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Category
2.30 pm
Merdeka Award Video Presentation
Welcoming Speech by YBhg Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Hj Kasim, Rector of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
Lecture by YBhg Professor Dato’ Ir Dr Zaini Ujang,Recipient of Merdeka Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Category
Question & Answer Session
5.00 pm : End of Programme
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Education Trip To Sabah - Part 1
Educational Trip to Sabah (ETS) will be schedule on 13th – 20th March 2010. It will be organized by Student Support Services Department (SSSD), Student Representative Council (SRC) and International Student Council (ISC).
The objectives of the program are to expose UTP students with industry in East Malaysia, expose international students to the diverse culture, history and traditions of Borneo, familiarize students with the incredible diversity of the eco system, understand its importance and enhance the love for it and encourage a caring society by reminding students of their responsibility towards the surrounding community through community service activities.
ETS program is very unique and different from any other educational trip especially on 16th – 17th March 2010, of which the participants will climb Mountain Kinabalu. The Mountain Kinabalu height is 4095 meters (13,435 ft) above sea level, ETS participants will try their best to climb the mountain with one objective to conquer the peak of Mountain Kinabalu with a group of 40 people (UTP students and PETRONAS officials).
The organizing committee has scheduled few phases of selection process to select qualified candidate to participate in the ETS. This includes interview sessions, fitness tests and climbing Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill), Taiping Perak. The Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) height is 1036 meters (3,398 ft) above sea level.
For the interview sessions and fitness tests about 120 turned up after the committee screened the applications. Among them 56 candidates qualified to climb Bukit Larut after passing the fitness tests. On 05th – 06th February 2010, all candidates went to Kamunting to climb Bukit Larut, Taiping, Perak. The delegates stayed at Youth Complex Kamunting and were warmly welcomed by Mr. Kahiruddin Bin Abdullah, Assistant Youth Officer Taiping who guided and gave some advice and tips to climb Mount Kinabalu. They will again climb Berincang Mountain, Cameron Highlands, Pahang schedule on 26th – 27th February 2010 for the final selection. The Berincang Mountain height is 2031 meters (6666 ft) above sea level. Those successful candidates will be announced on 01st March 2010 to represent UTP and their countries.
International Student Unit would like to give our utmost gratitude and thanks to our Vice President of Education PETRONAS, Y.Bhg Puan Juniwati Bt Rahmat Hussin, Honorable Rector, Y.Bhg Datuk Dr. Zainal Abidin Bin Haji Kasim, Director of Student Services, Tuan Haji Mohamed Noor Rosli Bin Baharom, Senior Manager of Student Support Services Department, Encik Muhammad Syazwan Amarjit Abdullah, Sports and Recreation Unit of Student Support Services and others who were involved directly or indirectly in making this program a success.
The objectives of the program are to expose UTP students with industry in East Malaysia, expose international students to the diverse culture, history and traditions of Borneo, familiarize students with the incredible diversity of the eco system, understand its importance and enhance the love for it and encourage a caring society by reminding students of their responsibility towards the surrounding community through community service activities.
ETS program is very unique and different from any other educational trip especially on 16th – 17th March 2010, of which the participants will climb Mountain Kinabalu. The Mountain Kinabalu height is 4095 meters (13,435 ft) above sea level, ETS participants will try their best to climb the mountain with one objective to conquer the peak of Mountain Kinabalu with a group of 40 people (UTP students and PETRONAS officials).
The organizing committee has scheduled few phases of selection process to select qualified candidate to participate in the ETS. This includes interview sessions, fitness tests and climbing Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill), Taiping Perak. The Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) height is 1036 meters (3,398 ft) above sea level.
For the interview sessions and fitness tests about 120 turned up after the committee screened the applications. Among them 56 candidates qualified to climb Bukit Larut after passing the fitness tests. On 05th – 06th February 2010, all candidates went to Kamunting to climb Bukit Larut, Taiping, Perak. The delegates stayed at Youth Complex Kamunting and were warmly welcomed by Mr. Kahiruddin Bin Abdullah, Assistant Youth Officer Taiping who guided and gave some advice and tips to climb Mount Kinabalu. They will again climb Berincang Mountain, Cameron Highlands, Pahang schedule on 26th – 27th February 2010 for the final selection. The Berincang Mountain height is 2031 meters (6666 ft) above sea level. Those successful candidates will be announced on 01st March 2010 to represent UTP and their countries.
International Student Unit would like to give our utmost gratitude and thanks to our Vice President of Education PETRONAS, Y.Bhg Puan Juniwati Bt Rahmat Hussin, Honorable Rector, Y.Bhg Datuk Dr. Zainal Abidin Bin Haji Kasim, Director of Student Services, Tuan Haji Mohamed Noor Rosli Bin Baharom, Senior Manager of Student Support Services Department, Encik Muhammad Syazwan Amarjit Abdullah, Sports and Recreation Unit of Student Support Services and others who were involved directly or indirectly in making this program a success.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lessons in the research line
ANI B. AROPE,
Kuala Lumpur
I READ with interest the setting up of bio-technology parks in Malaysia. I would like to share some of my experiences with others so that the mistakes of the past would not recur in our desire to reclaim our rightful place in the development of science and technology in our country.
One of the few lessons learnt in my career stint in the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi and the then world renowned Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) was the inadequacy of research staff trained in the right disciplines and at the desired levels.
There was still this colonial hangover by some of the board members that scientific practices in a developing country like Malaysia were at such a low level that graduates with a minimum exposure to science and technology were enough to guide the country in its scientific and technological development.
To me, this was faulty reasoning and had to be addressed and addressed quickly.
There were some heated debates in the board room on this matter. It was pointed out that it was unreasonable to expect those trained through the first degree levels to have the depth of understanding in any of the specialised fields to enable them to plan and guide effective research.
Research capability, including the competence to identify the nature of the problems and the planning of experiments to solve them, is developed usually in training through to the post-graduate levels.
The importance of the massive investment in human intellectual capital, never seen in the 75-year history of the RRIM at that time, was based on a simple yet profound concept: the ultimate competitive advantage of the RRIM would come from a single imperative – our ability to grow and develop our human intellectual capital faster than the others.
The quicker we got every single person in the institute trained to enhance his/her performance, the quicker we would be in the forefront of research. The aim was to upgrade our staff fast and develop a culture of excellence before others did.
I must acknowledge that the late B. C. Sekhar, as controller of the Rubber Board, gave me a free hand in this exercise.
However, there were objections raised and they came from the most unexpected quarters – the Malay members representing the estate sector and the representative from the Department of Agriculture, saying that I was producing “tin-can” PhDs’ as the scientists were trained outside the UK in universities in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, the US and even Poland.
There were some heated arguments but good sense prevailed at the end and I got my way.
The “tin-can” PhDs from the institute eventually were the ones who helped run the agricultural-based organisations viz the oil palm and natural rubber industries, universities and even the Telecoms.
Despite our past prominence in driving research in natural rubber, we allowed our focus to be diverted elsewhere instead of improving research systems and research governance: we defaulted by leaving research leadership to technical illiterates. An effective and innovative research system requires a cadre of professionals with advanced skills and mindsets.
In retrospect, Malaysia should have gone into joint ventures to plant rubber outside the country as is happening with oil palm.
We could import the raw material back to this country for value-added export products as we have the management and technical expertise, and the capital needed to produce them.
However, we have lost the initiative and the expertise. Now the research is low-keyed, more on a care and maintenance basis.
The time I spent at the RRIM was incredible. It gave me an opportunity to help others shine.
All I cared about was doing my part to help the staff get to their greatness, to encourage them find happiness at home and make their mark in their careers.
Kuala Lumpur
I READ with interest the setting up of bio-technology parks in Malaysia. I would like to share some of my experiences with others so that the mistakes of the past would not recur in our desire to reclaim our rightful place in the development of science and technology in our country.
One of the few lessons learnt in my career stint in the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi and the then world renowned Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) was the inadequacy of research staff trained in the right disciplines and at the desired levels.
There was still this colonial hangover by some of the board members that scientific practices in a developing country like Malaysia were at such a low level that graduates with a minimum exposure to science and technology were enough to guide the country in its scientific and technological development.
To me, this was faulty reasoning and had to be addressed and addressed quickly.
There were some heated debates in the board room on this matter. It was pointed out that it was unreasonable to expect those trained through the first degree levels to have the depth of understanding in any of the specialised fields to enable them to plan and guide effective research.
Research capability, including the competence to identify the nature of the problems and the planning of experiments to solve them, is developed usually in training through to the post-graduate levels.
The importance of the massive investment in human intellectual capital, never seen in the 75-year history of the RRIM at that time, was based on a simple yet profound concept: the ultimate competitive advantage of the RRIM would come from a single imperative – our ability to grow and develop our human intellectual capital faster than the others.
The quicker we got every single person in the institute trained to enhance his/her performance, the quicker we would be in the forefront of research. The aim was to upgrade our staff fast and develop a culture of excellence before others did.
I must acknowledge that the late B. C. Sekhar, as controller of the Rubber Board, gave me a free hand in this exercise.
However, there were objections raised and they came from the most unexpected quarters – the Malay members representing the estate sector and the representative from the Department of Agriculture, saying that I was producing “tin-can” PhDs’ as the scientists were trained outside the UK in universities in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, the US and even Poland.
There were some heated arguments but good sense prevailed at the end and I got my way.
The “tin-can” PhDs from the institute eventually were the ones who helped run the agricultural-based organisations viz the oil palm and natural rubber industries, universities and even the Telecoms.
Despite our past prominence in driving research in natural rubber, we allowed our focus to be diverted elsewhere instead of improving research systems and research governance: we defaulted by leaving research leadership to technical illiterates. An effective and innovative research system requires a cadre of professionals with advanced skills and mindsets.
In retrospect, Malaysia should have gone into joint ventures to plant rubber outside the country as is happening with oil palm.
We could import the raw material back to this country for value-added export products as we have the management and technical expertise, and the capital needed to produce them.
However, we have lost the initiative and the expertise. Now the research is low-keyed, more on a care and maintenance basis.
The time I spent at the RRIM was incredible. It gave me an opportunity to help others shine.
All I cared about was doing my part to help the staff get to their greatness, to encourage them find happiness at home and make their mark in their careers.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
UTP Student Invention finalist in Malaysia Innovative Carnival (Northern Region)
REO has sent 11 applications to the MALAYSIA INNOVATIVE 2010 competition for selection and glad to announce that LAVIN RAJ a/s S. KRISHNAN from the CIVIL Engineering Dept under the supervision of Dr Amirhossein Malakahmad has been selected as the sole finalist from UTP.
The finalist is identified based on criteria set by MOSTI. Our student will be competing against other finalist from the Northern Region under the “PEREKA MUDA” category. His project title is “Laser Lining Device” an invention which uses laser and sensor to produce straight line for bricks arrangement during construction. The existing method which uses string lining has many limitation and sometimes is not accurate and unstable.
The finals of the competition will be held from 27th till 28th February in Kangar, Perlis. This event is organized in conjunction with the Malaysia Innovative Carnival for Northern Zone. Besides our student, Professor Dr Ahmad Fadzil has also been invited by MOSTI to showcase his DR prototype during the two-day exhibition.
REO wishes our delegates all the best and to make UTP proud and for those who has submitted their application but did not get through the selection, REO will seek other channels to bring out the potential of their projects.
The finalist is identified based on criteria set by MOSTI. Our student will be competing against other finalist from the Northern Region under the “PEREKA MUDA” category. His project title is “Laser Lining Device” an invention which uses laser and sensor to produce straight line for bricks arrangement during construction. The existing method which uses string lining has many limitation and sometimes is not accurate and unstable.
The finals of the competition will be held from 27th till 28th February in Kangar, Perlis. This event is organized in conjunction with the Malaysia Innovative Carnival for Northern Zone. Besides our student, Professor Dr Ahmad Fadzil has also been invited by MOSTI to showcase his DR prototype during the two-day exhibition.
REO wishes our delegates all the best and to make UTP proud and for those who has submitted their application but did not get through the selection, REO will seek other channels to bring out the potential of their projects.
H1N1 Advisory #1
All staff and students are requested to observe guidelines provided by the University and Ministry of Health Malaysia in order to prevent the possible spread of Influenza A (H1N1) in the campus due to the second wave of infection pattern.
We would like to reiterate the following advisory on personal hygiene and travel advisory.
We would like to reiterate the following advisory on personal hygiene and travel advisory.
- Practice personal hygiene, especially washing of hands with soap and water after sneezing and coughing as this remove germs from the skin and prevent diseases from spreading. It is advisable to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.
- Bring your own H1N1 kit such as mask, hand sanitizer and hand tissue wherever you go.
- All staff and students coming back from holiday and with symptoms of fever, flu, cough, difficulties in breathing are required to report and seek treatment from the in-house clinic.
Intern-Share Forum 2010
This year forum titled ‘Graduates Competitiveness in Global Job Market’ is an annual event joint-coordinated by Student Industrial Internship Unit and Student Support Services in support of Technology, Education and Career (TEC 2010) week.
With focus on global job market and career opportunity, the forum will set to unblock UTP student’s mindset to venture into workforce market beyond the Malaysia’s shores, as much as the overall objective is to reduce the industry gap. Even though it is a well-known fact that UTP graduates are the most lethal product in the market produced by the University so far, the management is being resolute in continuous industry-university engagement to enhance graduate’s competitiveness amid gloomy economic outlook.
The University could not ask for better industrial support for the forum as panels are coming from various global industries such as motorsports/automotive, oil and gas and maritime/shipping. Indeed, we are privileged to have our local home-grown F1 engineer on board to share his past experience working at Sauber Engineering headquarters, in Switzerland and latest news on motorsports business. It will be an all PETRONAS affair in this year event and to put icing on the cake, two of the speakers are our UTP’s alumni who are currently being attached at overseas outfit. Significantly, these living examples (if not a role model) will be a strong reason for our students to believe in themselves to scale greater heights.
As the forum is targeting out-going interns and graduating students, we also would like to extend this invitation to all UTP’s academicians and staff to come and add value to this discussion event. And yes, for the early birds – you are entitled to get our door gift too. Below are the event’s details.
Thank you.
With focus on global job market and career opportunity, the forum will set to unblock UTP student’s mindset to venture into workforce market beyond the Malaysia’s shores, as much as the overall objective is to reduce the industry gap. Even though it is a well-known fact that UTP graduates are the most lethal product in the market produced by the University so far, the management is being resolute in continuous industry-university engagement to enhance graduate’s competitiveness amid gloomy economic outlook.
The University could not ask for better industrial support for the forum as panels are coming from various global industries such as motorsports/automotive, oil and gas and maritime/shipping. Indeed, we are privileged to have our local home-grown F1 engineer on board to share his past experience working at Sauber Engineering headquarters, in Switzerland and latest news on motorsports business. It will be an all PETRONAS affair in this year event and to put icing on the cake, two of the speakers are our UTP’s alumni who are currently being attached at overseas outfit. Significantly, these living examples (if not a role model) will be a strong reason for our students to believe in themselves to scale greater heights.
As the forum is targeting out-going interns and graduating students, we also would like to extend this invitation to all UTP’s academicians and staff to come and add value to this discussion event. And yes, for the early birds – you are entitled to get our door gift too. Below are the event’s details.
Thank you.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
International Conference on Human Capital for Sustainable Economies
A two-day International Conference on Developing Human Capital for Sustainable Economies will be held from May 27th to 28th, 2010 in the "green" city of Karlsruhe, Germany. This event will bring together academia, senior executives of public and private organisations, chief human capital officers, executives and practitioners, economists, policy makers, environmental management experts, representatives of international development agencies and other relevant stakeholders to discuss key emerging issues including: global warming and the emergence of the green economy; how is the transformation from high to low carbon and sustainable economy impacting human capital management; and effective initiatives needed to develop and manage human capital for the next economies – the green economies.
Further to the knowledge sharing on greening human capital; the upcoming event also provides an excellent networking opportunity with academia, members of international agencies, governmental and non-governmental institutions, senior corporate and hr executives, economists, sustainable development practitioners and other relevant stakeholders in Europe and beyond.
You are cordially invited to attend this international event and/ or nominate the member(s) of your institution.
For further information, please see the event details:
http://www.etechgermany.com/HCConference.pdf
Further to the knowledge sharing on greening human capital; the upcoming event also provides an excellent networking opportunity with academia, members of international agencies, governmental and non-governmental institutions, senior corporate and hr executives, economists, sustainable development practitioners and other relevant stakeholders in Europe and beyond.
You are cordially invited to attend this international event and/ or nominate the member(s) of your institution.
For further information, please see the event details:
http://www.etechgermany.com/HCConference.pdf
Sunday, February 7, 2010
OBE Course Outcome Review - Mini Workshop
Date: 10 February 2010, Wednesday
Time : 2.30 – 5.00 pm
Venue: GPED Meeting Room, Level 2
The objectives of this mini workshop are to:
• Review and deliberate on the new course outcomes for each PE courses
• Update the courses vs PO matrix
The tentative agenda of the event is as follows:
2.30 – 2.45: Short briefing
2.45 – 4.00 : Breakout Session (all lecturers will be divided into 3 grps)
4.00 – 4.15: Tea break
4.15 – 4.30: Deliberation and Consolidation
4.30 – 5.00: Courses versus PO matrix
Grouping
Reservoir Engineering: Reservoir Rock&Fluid, Principles of RE, Res Mod & Sim, Gas Field Eng
Drilling / Prod / Facilities: Drilling Eng, Well Comp, Well Testing, Facilities, Pet Econ
Geosciences: Intro to Pet Geo, Reservoir Geo, Well Logging
Others: Fund of PE, Statics & Dynamics
In preparation for this workshop, all course lecturers must come up with 4 course outcomes for their courses.
Thank you
Faiza Mohd Nasir
Time : 2.30 – 5.00 pm
Venue: GPED Meeting Room, Level 2
The objectives of this mini workshop are to:
• Review and deliberate on the new course outcomes for each PE courses
• Update the courses vs PO matrix
The tentative agenda of the event is as follows:
2.30 – 2.45: Short briefing
2.45 – 4.00 : Breakout Session (all lecturers will be divided into 3 grps)
4.00 – 4.15: Tea break
4.15 – 4.30: Deliberation and Consolidation
4.30 – 5.00: Courses versus PO matrix
Grouping
Reservoir Engineering: Reservoir Rock&Fluid, Principles of RE, Res Mod & Sim, Gas Field Eng
Drilling / Prod / Facilities: Drilling Eng, Well Comp, Well Testing, Facilities, Pet Econ
Geosciences: Intro to Pet Geo, Reservoir Geo, Well Logging
Others: Fund of PE, Statics & Dynamics
In preparation for this workshop, all course lecturers must come up with 4 course outcomes for their courses.
Thank you
Faiza Mohd Nasir
Heart for Islam Campaign 2010
This event is organized by Rakan Masjid UTP together with Tronoh Theater Shop.
4th World Engineering Congress (WEC2010)
WEC 2010 is jointly organized by the Malaysian Society for Engineering & Technology (mSET) and Federation of Engineering Institution of Islamic Countries (FEIIC) and will be held from 2nd - 5th August 2010. WEC has grown over the years and at this 4th gathering in the series, we are expecting attendance of over 1000 from all over the world.
WEC 2010 offers a unique opportunity to discuss issues related to Engineering and Technology. WEC 2010 offers eight parallel conferences in different focus areas that will attract engineers, technologists, academics, researchers, scientists and other professionals in related field.
We are calling for papers for presentation in any relevant aspects within theme “Engineering & Technology and Global Stability and Security”.
The WEC 2010 shall include the following conferences:
• Engineering and Technology Education
• Buildings and Infrastructural Technology
• Natural Resources and Green Technology
• Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology and Management
• Advanced Processes and Materials
• Electrical and Electronic Technology
• Information Security
The deadline for full paper is 31st March 2010. Please be informed that paper submission must be online. The details of the convention can be accessed on http://www.mset.org.my/wec2010. Please find herewith the brochure of the Congress. For further enquiries and details please contact our secretariat at +603-8946 6451 or email to feiic.wec2010@gmail.com.
WEC 2010 offers a unique opportunity to discuss issues related to Engineering and Technology. WEC 2010 offers eight parallel conferences in different focus areas that will attract engineers, technologists, academics, researchers, scientists and other professionals in related field.
We are calling for papers for presentation in any relevant aspects within theme “Engineering & Technology and Global Stability and Security”.
The WEC 2010 shall include the following conferences:
• Engineering and Technology Education
• Buildings and Infrastructural Technology
• Natural Resources and Green Technology
• Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology and Management
• Advanced Processes and Materials
• Electrical and Electronic Technology
• Information Security
The deadline for full paper is 31st March 2010. Please be informed that paper submission must be online. The details of the convention can be accessed on http://www.mset.org.my/wec2010. Please find herewith the brochure of the Congress. For further enquiries and details please contact our secretariat at +603-8946 6451 or email to feiic.wec2010@gmail.com.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Photoshoot Competition by IRC
Information Resource Centre, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS will be organizing Information Resource Centre Carnival 2010 on 21st February 2010 until 25th February 2010.
Generally, IRC Carnival aims to promote leisure-based learning to the society regardless of age and class. One of the events under IRC Carnival 2010 is the Photo-shoot Competition; in which we would be glad to have you as our participants. Photo-shoot is an event that aims to develop skill of participants in photography.
Details of the competition are as follows:
Fees: RM 10 (maximum 3 photos)
Theme: IRC or Campus Life
Participants: UTP students and staffs
Registration Date: 1st February 2010 – 10th February 2010
For any inquiries, kindly contact our representatives:
SYAFIQA BINTI ABDUL MANAN
Event Manager,
Activities and Event Department,
IRC Carnival 2010,
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
Phone : (017) 368 7901
Email : ane.irccarnival@gmail.com
TUNKU OZAIR BIN TUNKU MAHMUD,
Head of Activities and Event Department,
IRC Carnival 2010,
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
Phone: (017) 323 6179
Email : tunkuozair@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Student Selected to IOGCEC
Lim Hwei Shan (Shanny), 2nd year 2nd semester, PE student, has been selected to represent UTP to International Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition in Beijing, China (IOGCEC) from 6th till 10th June 2010.
IOGCEC will cover travel and accommodation expenses for the invited
Student Chapter President in the Asia Pacific Region.
Shanny is the only scholar of UMW Oil & Gas, a 4 flat scorer in every semester, held various extra curricular positions including SPE-UTP-SC President and Asst. Project Manager CASFUMAL 2009.
IOGCEC will cover travel and accommodation expenses for the invited
Student Chapter President in the Asia Pacific Region.
Shanny is the only scholar of UMW Oil & Gas, a 4 flat scorer in every semester, held various extra curricular positions including SPE-UTP-SC President and Asst. Project Manager CASFUMAL 2009.
Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign
Date: 3rd February 2010
Venue: Undercroft, UTP
2.00 p.m.
Registration
Free Health Checks
Registration for Subsidized Mammogram by LPPKN
Exhibition
2.30 p.m.
Welcoming Speech by Puan Nasirah Aris,
PRIDE Advisor
2.35 p.m.
Breast Cancer Awareness Talk
Dr.Sumithra Sivasuntharam, Medical Specialist
3.35 p.m.
Healthy Eating
Ms. Ng Sue Yee, Dietician
4.05 p.m.
Sharing Session
Puan Faridah Mohd Zin, Breast Cancer Survivor
4.15 p.m.
Free Health Checks
Free Clinical Examination
Refreshments
Collection of Door Gifts and Certificates
Brought to you by PETRONITA Perak
Venue: Undercroft, UTP
2.00 p.m.
Registration
Free Health Checks
Registration for Subsidized Mammogram by LPPKN
Exhibition
2.30 p.m.
Welcoming Speech by Puan Nasirah Aris,
PRIDE Advisor
2.35 p.m.
Breast Cancer Awareness Talk
Dr.Sumithra Sivasuntharam, Medical Specialist
3.35 p.m.
Healthy Eating
Ms. Ng Sue Yee, Dietician
4.05 p.m.
Sharing Session
Puan Faridah Mohd Zin, Breast Cancer Survivor
4.15 p.m.
Free Health Checks
Free Clinical Examination
Refreshments
Collection of Door Gifts and Certificates
Brought to you by PETRONITA Perak
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTEGRATED PETROLEUM ENGINEERING AND GEOSCIENCES (ICIPEG2010)
A Conference of World Engineering, Science & Technology Congress (ESTCON) June 15-17, 2010 KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
The first International Conference on Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences (ICIPEG2010) will be held on 15 to 17 June 2010 at the KLCC Conference Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Organized by Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), ICIPEG aims at bringing together Petroleum Engineers and Geoscientists. Discipline integration is much talked about and will be crucial in achieving optimum reservoir management and hydrocarbon recovery in the future. This conference will focus on contacts and collaboration between disciplines to improve approaches to reservoir knowledge, reservoir management and EOR.
You are strongly encouraged to present original, unpublished work at that conference in the following or other relevant areas:
• Cases of successful collaboration and integration between disciplines
• EOR: Past, present and future
• Chemical EOR, WAG, Gas injection EOR (miscible/immiscible.sour/CO2 and others)
• Other EOR (microbial, etc.)
• Pilot studies and field trials
• Well design and completion challenges
• Construction and operating challenges
• CO2 challenges
• Surface surveillance and monitoring
• Reservoir characterization
• Reservoir modeling
• Rock typing and upscaling
• Challenges in EOR applications in carbonate and clastics reservoirs
• Representing and quantifying reservoir heterogeneity
Prospective authors are invited to submit A4-size abstracts describing original, previously unpublished work, addressing state-of-the-art research and development in the above areas. Guidelines for online submission and other information are available at the conference website:
http://www.utp.edu.my/icipeg2010.
Authors of accepted papers must guarantee that they will be there to present the papers at the conference. At least one author of each accepted paper must be registered for the conference, for that paper to appear in the proceedings and be scheduled for presentation.
Conference information is available here: www.utp.edu.my/icipeg2010
Paper submission can be done directly through http://edas.info/N8173
The following are important dates pertinent to the conference:
Deadline for abstract submission: 28 February 2010
Notification of acceptance: 15 March 2010
Camera ready / full paper submission: 30 April 2010
Early-Bird Registration Deadline: 14 April 2010
Late Registration Deadline: 15 May 2010
For any query related to ICIPEG2010, please send an e-mail to: icipeg2010@petronas.com.my.
We look forward to your participation in ICIPEG2010.
Thank you and best regards.
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