TRAINING OF FACILITATORS SERIES 1 2024: TRANSFORM AND THRIVE FOR HE ELCa
18 May 2024 – In anticipation of Higher Education English Language Carnival (HE ELCa 2024) which is expected to take place on November 9, 2024, a Training of Facilitators (ToF) programme was recently conducted. This year, the ToF aims to equip student facilitators with necessary skills, especially to enhance their facilitation and communication skills for online and offline competitions and activities that will be carried out on the day of the event. Organised by the Language Support Unit, the programme took place at Block X, UMPSA Gambang from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., and it involved 40 UMPSA undergraduate students from various faculties selected to serve as facilitators for HE ELCa 2024.
Additionally, the programme featured a diverse group of trainers from the departments involved in HE ELCa 2024, including Ms. Aisyah Hanum Abu Bakar, Ms. Arulselvi Uthayakumaran, Ms. Farah Liyana Ahmad A’azmey, Ms. Hamizah Zahari, Ms. Hanisah Bon@Kasbon, Ms. Wan Noor Farah Wan Shamsuddin, Mr. Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahim, Ms. Siti Asma’ Yaacob, Ms. Noor Azlinda Zainal Abidin, Ms. Siti Ainun Jariyah Hassan, Ms. Nur Anisnabila Dianah, Ms. Nurkarimah Yusof, Mr. Khairul Amri Abdul Aziz, and Mr. Mohd Shafiq Abdul Jabar.
The programme commenced at 8.00 a.m. with registration and breakfast, followed by a briefing on the programme by Ms. Nur Anisnabila at 9.00 a.m. An ice-breaking session which was led by Ms. Arulselvi and Mr. Abdul Jalil allowed students to get acquainted in a relaxed setting. After the morning tea break, Ms. Wan Noor Farah conducted a session on the “Do’s and Don’ts as Facilitators”, covering general guidelines and appropriate attire. She emphasised the importance of maintaining professionalism in all interactions with participants. Ms. Wan Noor Farah also provided examples of effective facilitation techniques and encouraged students to ask questions and seek clarification. The session concluded with a practical activity where the students role-played various scenarios to apply the guidelines discussed.
Following this, the students were grouped by different departments for Module 1: Get to Know Your Department, as the trainers introduced each department’s scope and engaged students in activities to deepen their understanding. At 12.30 p.m., the programme paused for lunch and prayers, and resumed at 2.00 p.m. with Module 2: Department Dynamics in Action. Each department presented its roles and responsibilities, and the trainers evaluated these presentations. The atmosphere was supportive and collaborative among the students.
Subsequently, the final session, Module 3: Reflection that was facilitated by Ms. Arulselvi encouraged students to reflect on the day’s learnings and the overall programme. The reflections were thoughtful and constructive, indicating a high level of engagement and understanding among the participants.
Finally, the programme concluded with a montage presentation by Ms. Siti Asma’, followed by a closing ceremony officiated by Ms. Azimah Ahmad Zaki, the programme advisor and the head of the Language Support Unit. Ms. Azimah also conveyed the regards of Dr Umi Kalsom, Director of HE ELCa 2024, who is currently on pilgrimage.
In summary, ToF Series 1 2024 was a successful event, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the committee members, trainers, and facilitators. The programme managed to equip the students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become effective facilitators for HE ELCa 2024. With enthusiastic feedback and reflections from the participants, it is evident that the programme has laid a solid foundation for their roles in the upcoming event. Students are looking forward to potential future iterations of the ToF programme, anticipating further opportunities for growth and learning. This preparation underscores UMPSA’s commitment, ensuring the success and impact of HE ELCa 2024, setting a promising tone for the event later this year.
Prepared by,
Nur Anisnabila Dianah, Wan Noor Farah Wan Shamsuddin, Arulselvi Uthayakumaran, Abdul Jalil Abdul Rahim, & Siti Asma’ Yaacob
