Practitioners Society Malaysia Launches Young Practitioners Intiative To Bridge Academic-Industry Gap

SUBANG JAYA, Jan 6 (Bernama) – The PRactitioners Society Malaysia has launched Young Practitioners Malaysia, an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academic studies and industry experience in public relations and communications.

PRactitioners Society Malaysia chairman Datuk P Kamalanathan said the initiative would provide young students, especially those studying mass communication and public relations both at public and private universities a platform to connect with industry professionals. 

“Today, we signed a knowledge-sharing agreement with INTI (INTI International College) to equip students with essential skills, knowledge, and experience. Our goal is to bring these experiences to university campuses, and we plan to extend this initiative across all universities offering mass communication programs.

“We have previously partnered with institutions such as the International Advertising, Communication, and Technology College (IACT), and we look forward to collaborating with more universities in the future,” he said after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the launch of Young Practitioners Malaysia by INTI and the PRactitioners Society Malaysia.

Kamalanathan, who is also a former deputy education minister, highlighted the vital role of young practitioners in shaping Malaysia’s future, especially in mass communications field.

“Since our goal is to help students navigate societal challenges in the future, I find it relevant to discuss communications because one of the challenges future society students will face is cultural sensitivity, which is an essential issue for youth,” he said. 

Kamalanathan emphasised that real-world experiences are vital to guiding students in managing cultural sensitivity in Malaysia, a country renowned for its diversity in cultures, ethnicities, and religions.

“It is most important for us to understand the values of each religion, culture, and ethnicity in Malaysia and ensure mutual understanding exists among them. I believe public relations can play a key role in emphasising and finding the best ways to help students address and overcome these issues,” he added. 

Meanwhile, INTI International College Subang chief executive Dr Jane Lim highlighted the importance of equipping students with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. 

“Programmes like Young Practitioners Malaysia provide students with invaluable exposure to real-world practices while fostering connections with industry leaders who can guide them to success,” she said. 

The event also featured a dynamic discussion session with prominent figures, including Tunku Munawirah Putra (granddaughter of Tunku Abdul Rahman), Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo (granddaughter of Tun Tan Cheng Lok), and Deva Kunjari Sambanthan (daughter of Tun Sambanthan), who reflected on Malaysia’s legacy of unity, harmony, and progress while encouraging the younger generation to uphold these values in both their personal and professional lives.

– BERNAMA