Sharifah Fariah (fifth right) and Firdaus (fourth left) in a group photo with the programme’s top contenders.
KUCHING (June 23): Lack of communication skills can prevent technical expertise from being effectively conveyed to the public, industry and policymakers.
In stating this, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn described communication skills as complementing academic and professional excellence.
“Therefore, public speaking is not merely a talent, but an essential tool in shaping transformative future leaders, while also enhancing participants’ command of the English language.
“Competitions such as this also test an individual’s ability to manage emotions and engage with audiences, while developing persuasive arguments supported by evidence and qualities,” he said in his speech for the closing ceremony of the International Inter-Varsity Public Speaking Competition (IIPSC) 2026 closing ceremony at Tegas Digital Village here on Monday.
Sagah was represented the ministry’s higher education division head Sharifah Fariah Syed Junaidi.
On the IIPSC, Sagah stressed that such programme could provide students with opportunities to strengthen their English proficiency in preparation for entering the workforce.
“The participation of students from various higher learning institutions in Sarawak, alongside participants from Universitas Panca Bhakti in Pontianak, Indonesia is a reflection of the commitment to regional academic collaboration.
“Such international cooperation is in line with efforts to support the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with English serving as a bridge for cross-border collaboration and the development of global citizens,” he added.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak Rector Prof Dr Firdaus Abdullah said the competition would be expanded in future with more categories.
“We hope this programme would not be a one-off event, but would continue in the years ahead on a larger scale, with more participants, more universities and more categories.
“This platform also allows participants to sharpen their thinking and listen to a variety of different perspectives, including teamwork, adaptability and shared responsibility.
“Stepping outside one’s comfort zone is also important for lifelong learning and mental wellbeing,” he said.
The three-day programme brought together 32 participants representing 16 teams from public and private higher learning institutions including UiTM Sarawak, Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Tun Abdul Razak, IPG Batu Lintang, Santubong Community College, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Politeknik Betong, Sarawak Skills, i-Cats University College, Unitar, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, and Universitas Panca Bhakti.
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