By: Farhah Fakhrudin

Efective Leadership Requires More Than Just Willingness to Serve

Good leadership does not solely depend on the desire to serve; it also requires effective training and guidance. In an effort to prepare a more professional and competitive student leadership lineup, the UPM Student Representative Council (MPP) Induction Course was held to provide early exposure to the MPP members. This program aims to equip student leaders with leadership, communication, and organizational management skills in a more systematic manner.
The course emphasizes key elements of leadership, including communication skills, personal appearance, understanding of university administrative structures, and strategic planning for a more organized leadership

Public Speaking Techniques: Strengthening the Voice of Student Leaders

As intermediaries between students and the university, leaders must possess strong communication skills. The Public Speaking Techniques session in this course helps MPP members improve their speech delivery, express their opinions more clearly, and handle discussions more effectively. Through this training, MPP members learned effective vocal techniques, persuasive body language, and structured argument presentation so that every message delivered is easily understood and impactful to the audience. The session was conducted by Associate Professor Dr. Norazlina Mohd Kiram from the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, UPM.

Leader’s Personal Appearance: Reflecting Credibility and Charisma

In addition to communication skills, personal appearance and leadership ethics also play a crucial role in shaping the image of a respected leader. This session emphasized professional appearance, manners and ethics in leadership, and how a leader should conduct themselves in all situations. Guest speaker Puan Izzatul Nadiah Ibrahim from Luxe Image Works highlighted that a leader is not only judged by their words but also by how they dress, interact, and handle both formal and informal situations. This session helped MPP members understand the importance of a good image in building confidence among students and university stakeholders.

Understanding University Administrative Structure

To ensure the MPP's role is more effective in voicing student issues, the course also included a special session with the Head of the UPM Student Affairs Division and the Chief Administrator of the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni - HEPA). In this session, MPP members were given insights into the university's administrative structure, procedures for handling student issues, and the areas of collaboration between MPP and the university. This enables MPP members to understand how decisions are made and how they can play a role in ensuring student welfare receives proper attention.
The session also provided an opportunity for MPP members to ask questions and share their perspectives on student-related issues, thus opening doors for closer working relationships with university management

MPP Calendar Refinement: Planning More Strategic Leadership

Effective leadership requires systematic planning. Therefore, the course also featured a special session on MPP Calendar Refinement, where members planned and structured activities throughout their term. During this session, discussions focused on planned programs, priority areas, and strategies to ensure each activity benefits students. MPP members also examined potential challenges and obstacles, along with solutions to ensure the smooth execution of their programs.

Towards More Effective and Visionary MPP UPM Leadership

Through this induction course, MPP members not only gained exposure to their responsibilities and roles but also acquired the skills needed to perform their duties more efficiently and professionally. The challenges of student leadership are becoming increasingly complex, and MPP UPM must always be ready with more dynamic strategies to ensure student welfare remains a priority. With the knowledge and training gained, MPP UPM is expected to become a competent, proactive, and competitive leadership team in championing student rights and interests.

Date of Input: 30/03/2025 | Updated: 30/09/2025 | nureedayu