“𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬” 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟐：𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲: 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
On August 19, 2025, New Era University College held the workshop “Empowering Your Research Journey: Succeeding in Your Proposal Defence” at the Menara Nantah. The session was delivered by Asst. Prof. Dr. Loo Yew Liang and attracted around 60 postgraduate students, who gathered to explore research methodologies and proposal writing strategies.
This workshop was part of the “Bridging Ideas” Research Workshop Series, jointly organized by the Graduate School and the Institute of International Education. It aimed to provide postgraduate students with academic guidance, helping them cultivate confidence, clarity, and structured thinking as they advance in their research journey.
Targeting postgraduate students in Chinese Studies, Education, ASEAN and Southeast Asian Studies, Business Studies, and Art, Design & Creative Media, the workshop focused on equipping participants with essential skills for preparing a solid research proposal. Dr. Loo emphasized the need to define clear research questions, articulate objectives, and justify the feasibility of proposed methodologies. By unpacking common evaluation criteria and presenting successful case studies, he transformed abstract academic expectations into practical checkpoints that students could readily apply to their own work.
Beyond technical guidance, the workshop also highlighted the importance of developing soft skills, such as building confidence, fostering critical thinking habits, and formulating effective strategies for proposal defence. Participants expressed that the session helped them take a more assured first step in their research journey while refining both their strategies and mindset.
