UTM Gazettes the English Week to Increase Staffs Proficiency in the Second Language

UTM Office of Sustainability | Hafizan

JOHOR BAHRU, 10 November 2014 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will take steps to proclaim the third week of each month as English Language Speaking Week as a step to empower the proficiency of the second language among its staffs.
This is in accordance with UTM position as a Research University (RU) and also practiced internationalization policy in the admission of students to the institution.
UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir Dr Wahid Omar said that the measures are implemented in order to facilitate the communication between the staff and the international community in the campus.
“Starting from the third week of this November 2014, seven days in a month will be designated as the English Speaking Week where all the staffs will be communicating each other using this second language as a medium.
“For Johor Bahru campus, this programme will be starting on Sunday until Thursday while the Kuala Lumpur campus begins on Monday till Friday,” said Prof. Wahid when delivering a speech at Staffs Monthly Gathering held at UTM Kuala Lumpur.
Also attending the ceremony was UTM Kuala Lumpur Campus Director, Prof. Dr. Hamdani Saidi.
This is not a new thing but a continuation of the past policy as UTM has set every Thursday throughout a year as an English Speaking Day but due to the amendment of weekend day off from Sunday to Friday, changes must be made.
Besides, the changes also have shortened Thursday working hours until 3.30 pm making it less effective to continue with the previous policy.
In order to made this programme successful, the Office of the Registrar and Language Academy have been directed to provide all the necessary assistance to staffs.
Prof. Wahid also criticized some of the Centre of Responsibilities Head or Pusat Tanggungjawap (PTJ), which failed to take any action against employees under their supervision that were absent from work without leave.
“Some PTJ Heads who were not serious in taking action in this matter and in accordance with the regulations, failure to act could result the bosses themselves got suspended,” he said.