ISKANDAR PUTERI, Jul 30 – UTM Toastmasters Club (TMC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), demonstrated its commitment to bridging the gap between academia and industry by organizing a Knowledge Transfer Program (KTP) on Effective Communication and Leadership Skills for Industry Professionals at the premises of TechnipFMC, FMC Wellhead Equipment Sdn. Bhd., Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
Held at the NJ7A Building, TechnipFMC, the program brought together UTM academics, researchers and students as knowledge providers, delivering structured and impactful sessions to TechnipFMC employees as the target industry community. The initiative was formalized through a Letter of Collaboration (LoC) signed between UTM TMC and TechnipFMC NJ Toastmasters Club on 20 July 2026.
The program was led by Project Leader Dr. Rozana Alik from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), UTM, under the overall stewardship of the President of UTM Toastmasters Club, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Suhana Mohamed Sultan. TechnipFMC NJ Toastmasters Club, represented by its President Jagadeeshwar Patlolla, served as the collaborative industry partner, facilitating the participation of TechnipFMC employees throughout the program.
The KTP covered key professional development areas, including public speaking, structured communication and critical thinking, all delivered based on the established Toastmasters International methodology.
Sessions were designed to be practical and interactive, exposing participants to techniques that strengthen their ability to communicate with clarity and confidence in the workplace.
TechnipFMC employees engaged in guided speech presentations, real-time evaluations and structured feedback throughout the program. Each session was carefully structured to create a supportive yet challenging learning environment, allowing participants to step outside their comfort zones, develop greater self-confidence in expressing ideas, lead discussions more effectively and engage diverse audiences in a professional setting.
The use of the Toastmasters methodology, which is internationally recognized and proven, further assured the quality and consistency of the learning experience delivered to industry participants.
A team of UTM staff and students served as facilitators and speakers for the program. They included Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Suhana Mohamed Sultan and Dr. Rozana Alik from FKE, Dr. Abdulmumini Inda from the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST), Dr. Mohammad Ridhwan Reyaz Ahmad from the Faculty of Science, as well as PhD candidates Yong Zhi Yuan from the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC) and Ang Chin Xiang from the Faculty of Science.
Their involvement reflects the multidisciplinary strength of UTM’s academic community, bringing together expertise from across faculties to deliver a well-rounded and enriching knowledge transfer experience for industry professionals.
This knowledge transfer initiative reflects UTM’s ongoing effort to extend its academic expertise beyond the campus, contributing directly to the professional development of the industry workforce.
Programs such as this demonstrate that the role of a university extends well beyond teaching and research, encompassing active engagement with industry to build human capital that is competent, communicative and ready to meet the demands of a dynamic professional landscape.
