The academic staff at UiTM Sabah had the opportunity to attend three writing workshops this year, held in February, March, and June. The last two workshops focused specifically on the literature review and findings/discussion sections of academic papers. These workshops were organised by the Forward Research Dialogue (FRD) Committee in collaboration with PJIMA (Research, Industry Linkages, Community and Alumni), UiTM Sabah. It is also part of the Rector’s Special Project. The event took place successfully at Ujana Sarjana, UiTM Sabah Branch, Kota Kinabalu Campus. The workshop’s guest speaker was Laura Hancock (US Embassy), a highly experienced professional from Michigan, United States. Laura has extensive expertise in teacher training, academic editing, and ghostwriting. Since December 2022, she has been teaching at UiTM Sabah with the Academy of Language Studies.
The one-day workshops were divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The main objectives of these workshops were to enhance participants’ understanding of academic writing fundamentals, particularly in organising ideas and structuring academic papers effectively. The workshop aimed to develop participants’ knowledge and skills in academic writing, focusing on key aspects such as the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and discussion sections of an academic paper. Additionally, the speaker emphasised clarity, coherence, proper citation practices, and overall paper structure.
The workshop series also provided participants with an informal platform to convene within their respective research groups, engaging in discussions and collaborations over coffee. These interactions allowed participants to explore exciting topics in their fields of study. The workshops incorporated interactive sessions after each speaker’s presentation. Peer review exercises encouraged participants to share their write-ups, exchange feedback, and learn from each other’s work. Q&A sessions were also held to address participants’ questions and clarify any doubts related to academic writing. Notably, the group discussions were vibrant, with each research group having its own unique cheer and group names, such as “Funtastic Five”, “Trans4mers” and “Awesome Rose Clover Team”.
The academic writing workshop series proved highly beneficial for the participants. They gained an enhanced understanding of key academic writing principles, improved their ability to express ideas effectively in writing, developed critical reading skills, and gained confidence in approaching academic writing tasks. The interactive nature of the sessions, including group discussions and peer-review exercises, facilitated practical learning and knowledge sharing. Moreover, the speaker was knowledgeable and approachable, further enriching the participants’ experience.
The academic writing workshops conducted at UiTM Sabah this year provided a valuable learning experience for both the participants and the organisers, enabling them to enhance their academic writing skills and knowledge. These workshops laid a strong foundation and fostered the participants’ interest in academic writing. The FRD Committee looks forward to organising similar workshop sessions in the near future.