The preliminary round of “So You Think You Can Pitch?” was successfully organized by the Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), in collaboration with the UTM Library Department under the English Village initiative, which promotes the use of English communication in an interactive and engaging learning environment. The programme was held at the Sultanah Zanariah Library, UTM Johor Bahru, on 15 May 2026 (Friday). It served as a platform for participants, particularly students enrolled in the UHLB3132 Professional Communication Skills course, to showcase their creativity, confidence and public speaking abilities through pitching activities.
The programme aimed to provide students with the opportunity to present their ideas at the university level while enhancing their self-confidence and professional communication competencies. In addition, the programme encouraged students to develop and practise professional English communication skills in a structured academic environment, while promoting initiatives organized by the Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), at the university level.
“So You Think You Can Pitch?” was conducted under the New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI) initiative and aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. This alignment was reflected through the programme’s central theme, “Solutions to Campus Problems,” which encouraged students to propose innovative and practical solutions to issues within the university environment.
Throughout the preliminary round, participating teams presented their ideas before a panel of invited judges, including Dr. Nurhidayah Mohd Sharif, Senior Lecturer from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH). Participants were evaluated based on four key aspects: presentation skills, responses to questions, vocabulary usage and grammatical accuracy. The structured evaluation process, combined with the presence of experienced judges, contributed to a professional and competitive atmosphere throughout the programme.
Sincere appreciation is extended to the organizers, judges, participants and all parties involved for their commitment and contribution towards the success of the preliminary round. Several outstanding teams were selected to advance to the final round of the competition, which will be held on 22 May 2026 (Friday). The journey continues as the finalists prepare to compete in the grand finale.
Author : Cik Nurul Nadhirah Hamzah
