Mr. Geoff Andrews, President of MIM Toastmasters Club of Kuala Lumpur briefing UCSI University’s MBA students and Alumni members. He will also be mentoring them on steps to charter their own Toastmasters club.

Kuala Lumpur, 06 November, 2010 - Cultivating leadership and soft skills among students is one of the main objectives for UCSI University in producing career-ready graduates. In line with this, the University’s Masters in Business Administration students together with the University’s Alumni members initiated the groundwork to bring in the Toastmasters to the University. 

The Toastmasters is an international non-profit organisation that offers a proven and enjoyable way to practice communication and leadership skills. Participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly atmosphere in weekly or biweekly meetings through public speaking and debates. 

To start the University’s own Toastmasters club, the students together with the Alumni members are currently on a fact-finding mission – a standard practice before the club can be established in the community. Thus, the students are mentored by members of a practising Toastmasters club from the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM). 

Recently, the aspiring group made a trip to MIM to witness for themselves how a Toastmasters meeting is conducted. This gave them the opportunity to observe how a real meeting by the Toastmasters is carried out, while appreciating the art of public speaking, and learning the finer points of the skill. 

Dr. Ebi Ofrey, one of the MBA students starting the club said that not many people are aware of the big role that the Toastmasters play in cultivating leadership skills. “Anybody considering leadership positions should take full advantage of the opportunity to become members of the Toastmasters club, as the knowledge and exposure gained are invaluable.” 

The Toastmasters technique of inculcating leadership qualities is through their “learn-by-doing” technique whereby members were assigned responsibilities rather than being lectured on it. Members then evaluate each other’s presentations, with the feedback process being the key to the programme’s success. Members also learn valuable communication skills, such as the use of humour, gestures, eye contact and speech organisation through manuals specifically designed by Toastmasters International. Those who are interested to be part of UCSI University’s very own Toastmasters Club may contact Ms Shannen Choi at 03 9101 8880 (ext. 5026) or email her at: [email protected].