TAWAU, 28 June 2024: In line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, the 1 Book 1 Semester 3R: Read, Review, and Revive Competition (1B1S3RC) programme has returned with another exciting book review competition to promote reading as a tool for lifelong learning among students.
The book review competition was organised by the Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch (UiTMCSH) Tawau Campus. A total of 55 Pre-Diploma students of Semester March – August 2024 have participated in the seven-week reading programme, which was held every Friday, from May 10 to June 28, 2024.
This year’s book review competition introduced students to the timeless gem of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” authored by the late Professor Dr. Stephen R. Covey. The book was published in 1989, and has since become a powerful book that provides useful lessons for self-improvement and personal growth. With clear and convincing exposition and vivid personal life stories, Dr. Covey walks his readers through the seven essential habits for achieving personal and professional effectiveness. The April 2020 edition of the book, having sold more than 40 million copies, is believed to have influenced and transformed many lives, both young and old.
The self-help book has been chosen this semester to promote reading for self-development among the Pre-Diploma students on UiTMCSH Tawau Campus. As denoted by its title, the book contains seven habits, of which the first three are related to personal victory, including Habit 1: Be Proactive, Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind and Habit 3: Put First Things First. The remaining four habits concern public victory, comprising Habit 4: Think Win/Win, Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, Habit 6: Synergize and lastly, Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw.
In the second 1B1S3R Competition 2024, each student was assigned to read and review a chapter of the book. Every week, eight students were required to present their chapter reviews during the Readers Club Meeting. The evaluation of their chapter reviews was based on four main criteria: main idea, praise and critiques, real life application and rating and rationale. Two winners of each week were identified to compete with other weekly winners in vying to become winners of 1B1S3RC 2024.
The chair of the organising committee, Dr. Choo Siow Chin, said, “There are at least three new things that we have introduced in the second 1B1S3R Competition. First, we have added Best TikTok Video Presenter, a new category based on the chapter reviews, to promote creating healthy audio-visual content among students. Second, we have also echoed the go green movement by using e-books, digital review forms and a digital programme booklet. Third, in order to promote the culture of lifelong learning among our Pre-Diploma students, we have prepared 10 English books worth more than RM 900.00 as lucky draw prizes to be won by students.
Since the launch of the reading programme, the book review competition has received tremendous support from the Pre-Diploma students on UiTMCSH Tawau Campus. Most of them find the principles in the book relevant to their university life and they can relate to the habits easily. It is believed that the reading programme has impacted the lives of many students.