SLAS Psychology Lecturers’ Initiative to Celebrate International Women’s Day Through Appreciation

“Choose to Challenge” is the selected theme for 2021 International Women’s Day. Women still face many challenges due to multiple roles, gender stigmatization, and gender discrimination. In conjunction with the International Women's Day on 8th March 2021, the Psychology lecturers at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Taylor's University initiated an appreciation activity at the Psychology, Taylor’s University Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PsychologyTU/. This activity aimed to showcase some women who are good role models for us, to extend our gratitude and to celebrate their contribution in our lives.

All Taylor's University Psychology lecturers and students were encouraged to participate in this activity. There were 19 submissions in total showcasing a woman that they thought was their favorite role model. Seven of the submissions were from the Psychology lecturers and 12 were from the Bachelor of Psychology students. Some participants chose to showcase well-known women leaders and artists like Michelle Obama, Mary Whiton Calkins (influential Psychologist), Maria Montessori, Jessie J and many more.

Some participants acknowledged the contribution and influence of their own mothers, aunts and teachers. Through this activity, more and more women received acknowledgement and recognition. These posts received more than 1000 views and lots of engagement from the public through sharing the posts, commenting, and giving reactions. Full stories can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=PsychologyTU&set=a.223018472857095

Taylor's University Worldwide Alumni Reunion 2021

The Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Culinary Division of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management recently hosted a memorable Taylor's University Worldwide Alumni Reunion 2021. The event was held on 24th February 2021, the long-awaited first ever Online Taylor’s Worldwide Alumni Reunion 2021 has taken place. Due to the current epidemiological situation, for the first time in its history, an online soiree was conducted successfully with over 400 alumni connecting from across the world. This was officially launched by Vice Chancellor & President, Prof. Michael John Driscoll along with Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Chief Academic Officer, Prof. Dr. Pradeep Nair, the Faculty Management Team, Executive Dean, Prof. Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan and supported by the Head of Schools, Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro and Ms. Siti Ramadhaniatun Ismail; Director, Chef Frederic Raymond Cerchi and academics.

This annual session aimed to maintain our relationship and network with our precious alumni and provide key updates about the schools and the university. The memorable alumni event would not be possible without the leadership of Ms. Yong Yut Ho, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Student Administration and Ms. Choo Lai Yee, Head of Alumni & Community Engagement spearheading the alumni department at Taylor's University working closely with the respective Heads of School and Programme Directors.

The school proudly bestowed the “Distinguished Alumni Award” and “Outstanding Young Alumni Award” for their outstanding achievements. The Soiree was concluded with breakout session based on their respective field of studies for discussions and alumni activities that reminiscence of their study time. The alumni were given the opportunity to chit chat with the lecturers about the good times they spent in different campuses. The All-stars ‘Taylor’s Worldwide Alumni Reunion’ event was indeed a night of great networking for every Taylorian!!!

Welcoming Our New Industry Advisory Panel (IAP)

It is an honour for the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events (SHTE) to welcome Dato' Sri Abdul Khani Daud as our new Industry Advisory Panel (IAP). The school firmly believes in connecting with the industry and obtaining feedback to ensure our curriculum is aligned with industry practices. Therefore, we constantly engage with top industry players as our industry advisory panel. Dato' Sri Abdul Khani Daud is the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), a non-profit organisation under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Malaysia. His credibility is proven by taking the step to establish the Malaysia Business Events Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) during COVID-19 with the collaborative effort of the Malaysia Business Events Industry Partner.

Dato' Sri Khani further marks his outstanding leadership by being elected and appointed as the ICCA Board of Directors (BOD) Representative for the Asia Pacific region effective for the year 2020 to 2022. Aspiring to rebuild confidence together, he aims to focus on the region's sustainable growth and increase benefits to the ICCA members. Apart from ICCA, he also sits as the Advisory BOD member for the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) and Advisory BOD Member for MACEOS. An established leader who has been serving Malaysia's tourism sector for over three decades, Dato' Sri Abdul Khani Daud is tasked to head the country's business events industry as he officially took office on 5th February 2020.

Together with his dedicated team of experts, Dato' Sri Abdul Khani Daud implements progressive strategies to enhance Malaysia's capabilities in hosting international business events through policies, product development and marketing initiatives. His strategic views and pragmatic approaches for the industry also comes with his stint as MyCEB's Board of Director since 2017. With his knowledge of the tourism industry, he moved to the Marketing Division, where he actively participated in successful sales missions to the Australasia region. Dato' Sri Abdul Khani Daud has dedicated his career to Tourism Malaysia and has been offered many prominent roles, including Director and Deputy Director General (Promotion) of Tourism Malaysia and Director General of the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), an organization under MOTAC.

As he earned his stripes, he was assigned as an overseas Director to work in global markets such as Tourism Malaysia's offices in Australia, Singapore, South Africa, and Thailand. His exceptional marketing experience is shown by a 60% rise in tourist arrivals from Singapore between 2000 and 2004. During his tenure from 2004 to 2006, Latin America experienced a 45% increase, allowing Argentina to enter the market. In 2004, he attended the ICCA Congress & Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa, which included the 43rd ICCA General Assembly.

Dato' Sri Abdul Khani Daud was the mastermind and leader of Global Meet 2006 during his tenure as the Advertising Director of Tourism Malaysia for more than a decade. In 2018, he served as the Pacific Asia Travel Association's Organizing Chairman (PATA). In 1997, he also went into In-Plant Training (Tourism) in Japan as part of the Look East Policy at JALPAK, a Japan Airline subsidiary in Tokyo, Japan. We are pleased to welcome Dato' Sri Abdul Khani Daud as our Industry Advisory Panel with his vast experience.