GELANG PATAH, Aug 27 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through the UTM Toastmasters Club, strengthened its engagement with industry through an Inter-Club Knowledge Transfer Program (KTP) on Communication and Leadership Skills conducted in collaboration with Flex PTP Toastmasters Club at Flex PTP, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas.

The programme was jointly led by Dr. Mohammad Ridhwan Reyaz Ahmad, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, UTM, and Jeff Edward Peregrina of Flex PTP.

Formalised through a Letter of Collaboration (LoC), the initiative created a structured platform for university and industry participants to exchange practical expertise in communication and leadership.

Designed around experiential learning, the programme focused on public speaking, structured communication, critical thinking and leadership. Participants applied these competencies through prepared speeches, impromptu speaking, structured evaluations and leadership roles, enabling them to practise communicating ideas clearly, responding under time constraints and providing constructive professional feedback.

The prepared speech session reflected the two-way nature of the collaboration. Huswa Sahada from Flex PTP delivered a prepared speech alongside Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Suhana Mohamed Sultan and Dr. Nor Ain Husein from UTM. Their participation brought together perspectives from industry and academia while demonstrating how communication skills can be developed through practice, observation and peer evaluation.

Participation from Sacred Heart Toastmasters Club and Sutera Utama Toastmasters Club further broadened the learning environment. Their involvement connected university staff, industry professionals and members of the wider Toastmasters community, creating opportunities for cross-organisational networking, shared learning and professional exchange.

For UTM, the programme extended knowledge sharing beyond the university campus while strengthening engagement with an industry partner. The interaction also exposed UTM participants to workplace perspectives and professional communication practices, complementing the University’s efforts to develop individuals who can communicate effectively, collaborate across organisational boundaries and assume leadership responsibilities.

Flex PTP and other participating members benefited from an interactive platform to strengthen communication, leadership and critical-thinking competencies relevant to contemporary professional environments. The programme also demonstrated that knowledge transfer can be reciprocal: UTM contributed expertise in structured communication and leadership development, while industry participants shared practical perspectives shaped by the workplace.

Held ahead of Malaysia’s National Day, the session carried the theme “Merdeka – The Courage to Find Your Voice”, linking the occasion with the confidence to communicate ideas responsibly and effectively.

The initiative strengthens the foundation for continued collaboration between UTM and Flex PTP while supporting UTM’s commitment to impactful university–industry engagement, lifelong learning, and knowledge sharing that benefits both the University and the wider professional community.