UTM 3MT 2026: Postgraduate Researchers Rise to the Challenge of Communicating Big Ideas in Three Minutes

Eka Amira Rahim

📝 Summary

The Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully organized the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Final Competition 2026, where 53 postgraduate students showcased their research communication skills. The top five finalists from each category were selected, and the winners will represent UTM at the National 3MT Competition 2026. The competition aims to help postgraduate students communicate complex research ideas in a clear and concise manner.

JOHOR BAHRU, May 20 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully organised the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Final Competition 2026, bringing together outstanding postgraduate students from various disciplines to showcase their research communication skills.

The competition was jointly organised by the Postgraduate Students Society (PGSS) UTM and the School of Graduate Studies (SPS) UTM. This year’s competition received encouraging participation from 53 postgraduate students, comprising 18 participants from Engineering, 18 from the Science and Technology and 17 from the Social Sciences disciplines. From this strong pool of presenters, the top five finalists from each category were selected to compete in the final round.

Contestants presenting their thesis and research outcomes during the event

The competition featured three main categories: Engineering, Science and Technology, and Social Science. In the Engineering category, Yat Yaw Huei from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT) emerged as the champion, followed by Aisyahira Melan from the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FKA) in second place, while Muhammad Firdaus Husin from the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FKT) secured third place.

For the Science and Technology category, Elis Osman from the Faculty of Science claimed first place. Farhana Mohd Razif from the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying (FABU) was named second-place winner, while Intan Diyana Munir, also from the Faculty of Science, finished in third place.

Meanwhile, in the Social Science category, Hanis Nazurah Abu Hassan from FABU emerged as the champion. Iskandar Idris from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) secured second place, while Angela Ee Si Jie from the Faculty of Educational Science and Technology (FEST) was awarded third place.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Prof. Ts. Dr. Intan Zaurah Mat Darus (front row, third from right), with the winners

The awards were presented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Prof. Ts. Dr. Intan Zaurah Mat Darus. The first-place winners from each category will represent UTM at the National 3MT Competition 2026, which will be hosted by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). The national first-round judging is scheduled from 8 to 17 June 2026, while the national final competition will take place on 8 July 2026.

The 3MT competition provides an important platform for postgraduate students to communicate complex research ideas in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. It also helps students strengthen their confidence, presentation skills, and ability to translate research into meaningful societal impact.

UTM congratulates all winners, finalists, participants, supervisors, judges, PGSS UTM, and SPS UTM for contributing to the success of the UTM 3MT Final Competition 2026.