Faculty of Business and Management (FBM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has successfully organized Malaysia’s first-ever National Pitching Research Competition (NPRC).
The competition was launched on 1st November 2021 whereby Professor Robert Faff’s (2015) Pitching Research Tool was used as the main tool for the participants to communicate their research ideas. Participants had to pitch their research at a national-level and whoever was selected as the winner will then proceed to the global stage.
This prestigious competition was spawned from the InSPiR2eS International Research Network’s networking initiatives and collaboration with Professor Robert Faff. It received quite an overwhelmed response, whereby about 40 pitching scripts were submitted by the postgraduate research students and early career researchers (ECR) throughout Malaysia.
There were three categories in this competition: Early Career Researchers, PhD students, and Master’s students.
For each category, only five best scripts were chosen by the appointed academic judges to advance to the final stage. During the grand finale, held on 23 February 2022 via online platform, each contender was given two minutes to pitch his or her research. Three distinguished academicians, Associate Professor Dr. Amirul Afif (UiTM), Dr. Abdul Rais Abdul Latiff from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Dr. Ihtisham Malik from University of Queensland, judged the finalists.
Winners from each category were awarded with cash prizes and e-certificates. Dr. Yvonne Ang, from FBM, UiTM Puncak Alam campus won the competition (for the ECR category) and has qualified for the semi-final round of the InSPiR2eS Global Pitching Research Competition (IGPRC).
She will be competing against several others contestants from various universities in this pitching competition.
The 1st NPRC was a success under the leadership of its chairperson, Dr. Norliza Che Yahya, support from its advisors, Professor Dr. Noryati Ahmad (Dean of FBM) and Associate Professor Dr. Amirul Afif Muhamat (FBM Deputy Dean of Research) and commitment from the organizing committees.
The organizing committee, and in particular FBM, were honoured to host to this inaugural prominent event and to collaborate with InSPiR2eS network. It was a milestone for the faculty and participants to share their research ideas and expand their networking with various universities.