Institutions for higher education are vying to encourage their students to practice their public speaking skills. It allows them to express their ideas, thoughts, feelings, and learn how to use analytical and creative skills to solve everyday problems. Speaking in front of audiences not only increases a student’s self-confidence but also develops their leadership and communication skills. Following up the importance of public speaking skill for their students in the 21st century, Universiti Teknologi Mara Malaysia (UiTM), Guangxi Minzu Normal University, and University Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI) have collaborated to organize the International Public Speaking Competition 2023. The purpose is to encourage the students’ communication skill internationally with the chosen theme, Cultural Diversity on Wednesday (15/2) in Serbaguna Room, 2nd floor of UAI and broadcasted internationally.
Before the essence of the event, Dr. Ir. Ade Jamal (Vice Rector for Innovation and Cooperation), Dr. Iin Suryaningsih, S.S., M.A. (Director of Student Affairs and Alumni), and Mohamad Ghozali Moenawar, Lc., M.M. (Head of Office of International Affairs) spent their time to encourage the students. They mentioned that it is very significant as living in a world where there are lots of differences to talk about how diversity can unite us as the citizens of the world. To interact, collaborate, and cooperate effectively, everyone must have a level of understanding about each other in the first place. Therefore, discussing this topic is very crucial. They also expressed their proud feeling to the five representatives from UAI and they all are the winners because they have become UAI’s ambassador for this important event.
All of the students have made all of us proud, especially UAI, with their sincere determination and serious efforts. I wish all of them good luck.” (Dr. Ade)
Equally important, Ruvira Arindita, S.I.Kom., M.Si. (Lecturer at Communication Department) and Nida Maisah, S.S., M.Li (Lecturer at English Language and Culture Department) as the official judges from UAI explained the rules and how the scoring worked. Everyone is allowed to give their speech no less than 4 minutes and 30 seconds and no more than 7 minutes and 30 seconds. If the candidates do not meet these criteria, they will be automatically disqualified. Meanwhile, the contents that consist of introduction, body, and conclusion will contribute 50% of their score. The Delivery that involves the use of body and voice of each candidate will be accumulated for 30%. Last but not least, the language criteria in the pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar will subscribe 20% to the valuatuion.
The candidates from UAI who were selected from several stages of assessment from variety of departments are Safaa Sabika (Student of Psychology 2022), Assa Biandry (Student of International Relations 2022), Radya Cantika (Student of Arab Language and Culture 2020), Anndita Denissa (Student of Management 2020), and Rhegina Leony (Student of Communication 2020). During the competition, they talked about cultural diversity from all different backgrounds. From How Cultural Diversity Shape People’s Characteristics, Differences between Cultural Appreciation and Cultural Appropriation, Racism, Massacre, and Discrimination through Asian, Asian-American, Pacific-American, Moslem, and Black People (AAPA), Diversity towards National Economy through Gastrodiplomacy, and Minagkabau’s culture and its own diversification.
At the end, Radya Cantika (Student of Arab Language and Culture 2020) and Safaa Sabika (Student of Psychology 2022) earned the highest scores. They will advance to the final round that is scheduled to happen at the end of March 2023 together with other candidates from Universiti Teknologi Mara Malaysia (UiTM) and Guangxi Minzu Normal University. (TSH)