KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
ICCOMAH VI 2025
ICCOMAH VI 2025
OPEN TO ALL
KEYNOTE SPEECHES FOR ICCOMAH VI 2025
26 June 2025
2.O0 p.m. - 5.15 p.m. (MYT)
1.00 p.m. - 4.15 p.m. (WIB)
Zoom Link to join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83486383588?pwd=JsjSSC6S3GV17UOahmTjUBZxRMXFHy.1
Meeting ID: 834 8638 3588
Passcode: 783068
KEYNOTE SPEECHES FOR ICCOMAH VI 2025
26 June 2025
2.O0 p.m. - 5.15 p.m. (MYT)
1.00 p.m. - 4.15 p.m. (WIB)
Zoom Link to join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83486383588?pwd=JsjSSC6S3GV17UOahmTjUBZxRMXFHy.1
Meeting ID: 834 8638 3588
Passcode: 783068
Keynotes Speaker 1
DR. KUMARAN GENGATHARAN
Lecturer / Head of Research Unit
Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPGKSAH)
MALAYSIA
Lecturer / Head of Research Unit
Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPGKSAH)
MALAYSIA
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Kumaran Gengatharan is a dynamic educator, prolific researcher, and award-winning innovator with a specialization in Sports Science and Educational Research. Currently serving as a lecturer at Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPGKSAH), Kedah, Malaysia, he also leads the institution’s Innovation and Research Unit. With over 50 keynote, plenary, and guest speaker appearances across international conferences and academic summits, Dr. Kumaran is widely recognized for his thought leadership in research methodology, innovation in education, and teacher professionalism. His scholarly contributions include more than 40 publications in Scopus- and ERA-indexed journals, particularly in health education, module development, and multidisciplinary education. His PhD and postdoctoral research focus on assessment module design and the impact of physical training on psychological well-being. Dr. Kumaran is also a multiple gold medalist in international innovation competitions, a certified innovation judge, and a recipient of the Most Outstanding Innovative Educator and Researcher Award (2024). As a passionate advocate for quality education and sustainable innovation, his sessions are known to inspire, challenge, and empower educators and researchers globally.
ABSTRACT
Title: Journal Writing as a Cross-Border Tool for Lifelong Learning and Global Citizenship
In an era where scholarly visibility determines not only individual reputation but also institutional credibility, mastering journal-article writing is mission-critical. This keynote distils years of mentoring and editorial experience into a step-by-step roadmap for lecturers, graduate students and early-career researchers who aspire to publish in reputable, indexed journals. Participants will examine the mind-set shifts required to move from casual writing to systematic scholarly production and learn how to align topics with societal needs, the Sustainable Development Goals, and funding priorities, thereby strengthening both personal and institutional performance indicators. Moving from macro strategy to micro technique, the session unpacks every section of a manuscript, sharing heuristics on crafting a title that dominates searches, building an abstract that sells the story in 250 words, weaving literature into a compelling problem statement, and selecting a methodology reviewers trust. Real-world exemplars, including the speaker’s SCOPUS-indexed articles, spotlight common pitfalls such as redundant tables, self-congratulatory discussion and inadequate ethical disclosure. Next, journal evaluation metrics Impact Factor, CiteScore, SJR and Quartile rankings are demystified, enabling participants to position their work strategically while avoiding predatory journals. Guidance on database navigation and keyword optimisation accelerates the quest for the perfect editorial match and raises acceptance probability. The peer-review labyrinth is mapped step-by-step, from drafting a persuasive cover letter to negotiating revisions, responding to reviewers diplomatically, and rebounding constructively from rejection. Supplementary resources a submission checklist, a reusable cover-letter template and a three-month writing schedule equip attendees to act immediately. By translating publishing concepts into actionable strategies, this keynote empowers educators and researchers to turn ideas into citable, high-impact contributions, driving personal growth and catalysing the collective advancement of Malaysian scholarship on the global stage.
Keynotes Speaker 2
PROF. DR. NENI YULIANITA, MS.
Professor of Communication Science
Faculty of Communication Science, Bandung Islamic University (UNISBA)
INDONESIA
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
PROF. DR. NENI YULIANITA, MS. is a Professor of Communication Science, Faculty of Communication Science, Bandung Islamic University. Born in Cirebon, July 23, 1958. Completed her undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies at Padjadjaran University, Bandung. She has served as: Head of Public Relations Department, Head of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) UNISBA, Dean of the Faculty of Communication Science UNISBA, Vice Rector for Cooperation and Public Relations UNISBA, Head of the Center for Women's Studies (PSW) UNISBA, Head of the Postgraduate Communication Science Study Program UNISBA, Head of the Anti-Corruption Study Center (LPPM-UNISBA), Director of the Postgraduate Program UNISBA, and currently serves as Head of the Doctoral Program in Communication Science UNISBA. Prof. Dr. Neni Yulianita is also a lecturer at various universities. Conducts research both within the scope of the University, companies, nationally, and internationally. She has written many scientific works that have been published in the form of books, articles, journals, proceedings, book chapters, and others. Internal Reviewer of Research Proposals and Community Service LPPM UNISBA, Reviewer of Dikti for Research Proposals, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Final Research Reports, Examiner of the Public Relations Professional Certification Institute at UNISBA.
ABSTRACT
Title: Sharpening Students' Effective Speaking and Writing Communication Skills to Improve Academic Performance in International Forum
Good speaking and writing skills help students to convey ideas systematically and easily understood. In international forums such as in seminars, workshops, conferences, or academic presentations, clarity and effectiveness of communication, speaking skills, and writing skills greatly determine the acceptance of ideas by audiences in international forums who come from various backgrounds. In addition to speaking skills, students are also required to have writing skills such as writing theses/dissertations, journals, book chapters, and writing other scientific articles. In its implementation, not a few students have difficulty in expressing their ideas effectively and innovatively in scientific works that will be presented. Speaking and writing skills are important aspects for students in supporting effective communication in international academic forums. The PKM-KLN program implemented by FIKOM UNISBA in collaboration with AID Academy Malaysia aims to hone students' scientific communication skills so that they are able to convey ideas systematically and innovatively. This activity includes speaking workshops for international seminars and writing for international standard book chapter publications. The main objective of this activity is to increase students' self-confidence in presenting scientific works, as well as building academic achievement through strengthening communication skills. Evaluation of effectiveness is carried out through pre-tests and post-tests using a descriptive approach. The workshop results showed significant improvements in students' speaking and writing skills. In the future, it is hoped that this will support their active participation in international conferences.
Keynotes Speaker 3
DR. S. MAARTANDAN SUPPIAH
Senior Lecturer
School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Universiti Utara Malaysia
MALAYSIA
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
S. Maartandan Suppiah is a senior lecturer at the School of Multimedia Technology and Communication, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). He earned a Bachelor of Communication and a Master of Science in Managerial Communication. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication, where his doctoral research explored "Mahathir's Leadership Communication for Social Change in the Indian Community in Malaysia: Indian Hindu Spiritual Values." His academic expertise encompasses political communication, communication for social change, intercultural communication, and public relations. He has distinguished himself as a scholar who calls critical attention to the lived experiences and marginalisation of the Indian community in Malaysia. His work includes the SCOPUS-indexed article, “The Marginalised Tamil Indians and Their Lived Experience in Multicultural Malaysia” (2024), which highlights systemic issues faced by Tamil Indians and their pursuit of identity and inclusion. His scholarly trajectory also includes numerous studies on the intersection of leadership communication and Indian cultural or religious frameworks, particularly in relation to former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s role in shaping social change. He holds certification as a trainer from the Human Resource Development Corporation and serves as an assessor for the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). He is a senior associate with the Public Relations Consultant Association (PRCA). He holds the title of Certified Master Trainer for the ASEAN Digital Literacy & Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Programme.
ABSTRACT
Title: Leadership Communication and Cultural Identity: Reclaiming the Narrative of Marginalised Communities in the Global South
In an era of polarisation, rapid globalisation, and contested national narratives, leadership communication plays a crucial role in preserving or transforming society's structures. With a focus on the Indian minority in Malaysia, this talk investigates how leadership discourse could be an effective tool for reclaiming the voices and identities of marginalised groups. Grounded in postcolonial viewpoints and critical communication theory, this talk examines how inclusive, ethical, and transforming leadership could be informed by cultural values, especially those anchored in spiritual traditions. The talk examines how symbolic communication, narrative framing, and public discourse may promote social change using case studies, including the leadership style of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the lived experiences of Malaysian Indians. The presentation also discusses the broader implications for other marginalised groups in the Global South by offering a framework for culturally intelligent and socially responsive leadership communication. Attendees will leave with a renewed understanding of how strategic communication can challenge dominant narratives, empower communities, and serve as a catalyst for national cohesion and global relevance.
