“Back to One”: Taylor’s University Students Take Their Film from Campus to Pinewood Studios, UK

Back to One, a student short film from the Digital Media Production 2025 cohort of Taylor’s University’s School of Media and Communication, has been officially selected for screening at the Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions Volume 9 held at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. The film was chosen as part of the Lift-Off Global Network’s initiative to spotlight emerging voices in independent cinema worldwide, offering young filmmakers a global platform to showcase their work, connect with international audiences, and engage in learning opportunities.

Directed and written by Muhammad Rifky Akmal Ramadhan, Back to One tells the story of Rafi, a young production assistant navigating the chaos of an overworked film set while grappling with burnout, self-doubt, and ambitions of success. Drawing on Rifky’s personal experiences in Southeast Asia’s film industry, the film delivers a grounded portrayal of resilience and the unseen challenges faced by crew members behind the camera. Rifky, an Indonesian filmmaker with professional experience across Asia, describes the project as “a reflection on the human side of filmmaking, the quiet ambition and perseverance that keep us moving forward.”

The project is a testament to international collaboration, bringing together Taylor’s University students from Indonesia, Malaysia, and China. The core team includes Producer Ang Shi Quan, Cinematographer Rosandy Zain Ilmi, 1st Assistant Director Nadia Arikanti Rahardjo, Associate Producer Wang Ziyi, Production Designer Long Xinyi, and Art Director Song Jiameng. Their combined talents brought Back to One to life, exemplifying cross-cultural teamwork and Taylor’s dedication to nurturing globally minded storytellers.

Bridging Borders: PATA Student Chapters Build Momentum and Empower Future Tourism Leaders at Taylor’s University

The School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events at Taylor’s University hosted a vibrant cross-border networking session with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Macau Chapter – Student Club and the PATA Malaysia Taylor’s Student Chapter (PATA MTSC), reaffirming PATA’s commitment to developing future-ready tourism leaders across the Asia-Pacific region. The session provided a strategic platform for connection, learning, and collaboration, during which both student chapters showcased their portfolios, shared updates on ongoing initiatives, and highlighted upcoming projects. Their discussions demonstrated how student-led initiatives created meaningful impact in tourism through innovation, sustainability, and community engagement.

The dialogue also paved the way for cross-chapter collaboration, including potential joint initiatives, knowledge exchange, and shared project development. These interactions strengthened regional student engagement and fostered a network of emerging leaders aligned with PATA’s mission. The session was supported by Dr. Thanam Subramaniam, Advisor of PATA MTSC, alongside tourism lecturers Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jeetesh Kumar, Dr. Nagathisen Katahenggam, Dr. Chia Kei Wei, Dr. Lazey Doma Bhutia, and Mr. Nantha Gopal Muniandy. Their guidance reinforced SHTE’s commitment to cultivating strong industry–academia–community linkages while empowering students through international exposure, professional networks, and leadership-driven learning experiences.

This exchange represented a significant step forward in student-led tourism collaboration, emphasising shared values of responsible tourism, youth empowerment, and tangible impact. The connections established during the session are expected to evolve into future collaborations, joint initiatives, and strengthened regional partnerships within the PATA student community, illustrating the transformative potential of youth-led engagement in shaping the future of tourism across borders.

From Planning to Execution: Event Management Students Lead the Power Women Summit 2025

Thirty-one students enrolled in the Events Operation module (September 2025 semester) gained hands-on, practice-based experience through their involvement in the Power Women Summit 2025, held on 26 November 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur. Supervised by module leader Ms. Dhiya Hikmahana Abdul Razak, the initiative was designed to immerse students in the realities of professional event management, spanning the full event lifecycle from planning to live execution.

The learning journey began with structured classroom sessions with the client, led by Ms. Jennifer Ong who is Coach, Trainer, Speaker and Entrepreneur, during which students explored the summit’s objectives, operational scope, and professional expectations. These sessions encouraged students to move beyond theoretical frameworks and critically examine the practical demands of delivering a high-profile event, including stakeholder coordination, operational standards, and decision-making under professional constraints.

Students’ understanding was further reinforced through a site inspection at MITEC on 11 November 2025. During the visit, they assessed the venue, analysed spatial layouts, evaluated crowd flow, and reviewed technical and logistical requirements. The experience enabled students to translate conceptual knowledge into practical awareness, highlighting the importance of precision, foresight, and situational responsiveness in managing large-scale events.

On the day of the summit, students applied their preparation in a live operational environment, assuming key roles including registration, crowd management, speaker liaison, food and beverage coordination, and brand activation support. Working in a fast-paced, high-pressure setting required adaptability, teamwork, and professional communication, while responding effectively to real-time operational challenges. The experience provided students with valuable insight into industry expectations and the responsibilities involved in executing a major event. More importantly, it fostered professional confidence, operational competence, and reflective awareness, skills that extend beyond classroom learning.

This initiative exemplifies the value of industry-engaged education in bridging theory and practice, preparing students to transition from academic learners to emerging event professionals equipped with both practical expertise and a reflective understanding of professional practice.