Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah Branch, Tawau Campus has once again achieved a significant breakthrough in organising a youth forum competition for its pre-diploma students, despite having to navigate through another semester of online teaching and learning. The virtual forum competition was held from October 29 to December 10, 2021, over a duration of six weeks.
The online contest which was conducted on Zoom has exposed sixty new pre-diploma students to the real-life experience of participating in university activities. With the slogan “Let Your Voices Be Heard”, the small, yet remarkable campus has provided its students with the opportunity to voice out their opinions on current issues, including Punctuality among Malaysian Citizens, Mental Health among Malaysians during the Pandemic, Changes to Daily Life Caused by Covid-19, The Importance of Education, The Importance of English Language among Malaysian Undergraduates, and Effects of Social Media on Youngsters. These interesting topics have allowed the participants to present and argue their views in an orderly and logical manner – an important public speaking skill that prepares the students for their future academic and career pursuits.
“Student engagement in such a campus activity is important to develop communication skills, problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills as well as leadership skills, which are crucial to building well-rounded university students,” said the programme Chair, Dr Choo Siow Chin.
The honourable judges of the online forum contest consisted of Mr. Daniel Wong Li Kai, President of Ixora Toastmasters Club Tawau and Madam Gan Si Wah Roselind, a committee member of Tawau Toastmasters Club. After six weeks of tough competition, Group S emerged Champion by their formidable logical, intellectual prowess and verbal fluency, displayed in their engaging discussion on The Importance of Education, making their forum shine.
On the whole, the Campus Forum Youth Contest by UiTM Sabah Branch, Tawau Campus has achieved its aim in creating a healthy and conducive environment, where students can freely and openly speak out their minds without fear or favour.