
Curriculum Vitae
BIOGRAPHY
I'm a Senior Lecturer at the English Language Department, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. After more than two decades of working in language, communication and skills development, I joined UM in 2019 to contribute to progressing the field of health(care) discourse in Malaysia and beyond. In my current role, I teach languages and linguistics courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, while supervising and conducting research.
Research Focus - Improving Health & Wellbeing by Applying a Discursive Toolkit
I study matters related to language, health(care) and wellbeing, applying qualitative and discursive perspectives to address problems and inform practice in provider-patient interaction, health education and other related topics. I am particularly interested in analysis of real-life interaction, to answer questions on how people "do things" with language in health-related contexts. For example, how do doctors and patients collaboratively make decisions about treatment, manage chronic health conditions, and discuss concerns by interacting with each other in person or online? I'm also interested in communication in healthcare education, interprofessional discourse and patient education, alongside how people express and make meaning of health-related issues via their talk and stories. My current funded projects include studies on professional socialisation of house officers (FRGS), patient experience of gum disease (IIRG, UM).
Expertise -Enhancing Language and Communication in Diverse Settings
Beyond my research and academic duties, I help enhance language and communication in academic and professional settings, applying a diverse knowledge and skillset composed over 25 years of experience. Before joining academia, I was engaged in various positions mostly as a consultant/independent contractor, including as a language/content service provider for over 15 years and as a language/communication skills instructor for over 17 years. In these roles, I provided language consulting services and skills training for corporate and individual clients in Malaysia and internationally. I have a CELTA qualification and am a HRDF certified trainer. My work history is available at https://my.linkedin.com/in/ayeshah-syed-0468293
Professional Activities and Leadership
At UM, I have been actively involved in advancement of research and academic practices. From 2022-2024, I led the research portfolio at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics as the Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, with other appointments including as the Protem-Deputy Head of the Medical Devices Centre of Excellence, UM and Taskforce member for UM's Programme Educational goals. Outside the university, I am involved in professional associations related to languages and linguistics and social advancement, including Persatuan Bahasa Moden Malaysia (President, 2022-2024, Vice President-2024 - 2026, Exco member since 2013) and the citizens' movement organisation, the Association of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (Exco member - since 2016, Treasurer-2025-present).
Research Collaboration and Supervision Opportunities
I welcome potential collaborations aligned with my expertise and also enjoy connecting with other researchers to learn about their work, gain insight into new contexts, fields and perspectives and explore how I might contribute to their research activities.
In terms of postgraduate supervision, I supervise projects that apply discursive approaches to address problems in health-related contexts, focusing on interaction. Note to potential supervisees: I have limited availability for 2025-2026 due to a heavy supervision load.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION
- PhD (Discourse Studies), (DISCOURSE STUDIES)Universiti Malaya (UM)
- MESL, (ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE)Universiti Malaya (UM)
- CELTA, (Teaching English as a Second Language)Cambridge University, United Kingdom
- BSc (Business), (SCIENCE IN BUSINESS)Indiana University, Bloomington
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
- Committee Members05 Feb 2024 - 05 Feb 2025 (University Malaya)
- Deputy Dean (Research & Innovation)09 Nov 2022 - 31 Dec 2024 (Dean Office, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics)
- Committee Members02 Jan 2024 - 24 Jun 2024 (University Malaya)
- Protem04 Jul 2023 - 31 Dec 2023 (University Malaya)
- Universiti Malaya Human ResourceManagement System (HRMS) Team - Member15 Dec 2021 - 14 Dec 2022 (University Malaya)
- Coordinator25 Nov 2020 - 24 Nov 2022 (Department of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics)
- Committee Member Jawatankuasa Tatatertib26 Feb 2021 - 28 Feb 2022 (University Malaya)
- Facilitator- Task Force 5.1 Theme 5 Transformation Plan: Transform Culture, Embrace Change & Nurture Talent04 Mar 2021 - 31 Dec 2021 (University Malaya)
- Coordinator01 Sep 2020 - 30 Jun 2021 (Department of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics)
MEMBERSHIPS
- MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS, LIFE MEMBER, MEMBERSince 2023 (National)
- INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF CONVERSATION ANALYSIS- LIFE MEMBER, MEMBERSince 2022 (International)
- PRESIDENT (2022-2024), PRESIDENT/ CHIEFSince 2022 (National)
- PERSATUAN BAHASA MODEN MALAYSIA, LIFE MEMBERSince 2012 (National)
- INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DISCOURSE STUDIES, MEMBER2021 to 2022 (International)
- MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS, MEMBER2021 to 2022 (National)
- APPLIED LINGUISTICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - SOCIETY, MEMBER2019 to 2022 (International)
AWARD AND STEWARDSHIP
- Certificate of Excellent Service2024, Universiti Malaya
- 4th Cohort of The Asia Pacific Women in Leadership (Apwil) Mentoring Program2023, APRU, 2023, (International)
- Best Paper Award (Australia/Ocenia Stream)2022, DMCA/International Society for Conversation Analysis, (International)
- Best Lecturer Award (Postgraduate)2021, Postgraduate Office Faculty of Languages & Linguistics, (University)
- Candlin Researcher Award 20192020, Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice, (International)
PUBLICATIONS
Article in Journal
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Lazim, Nor Hazila Mat; Syed, Ayeshah; Lee, Charity; Abousheishaa, Aya Ahmed; Guan, Ng Chong (2024). Using decision support tools for treatment decision making about antidepressants in outpatient psychiatric consultations, PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING. 124. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2024.108266
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Ng, Tze Chang; Teo, Chin Hai; Toh, Jia Yong; Dunn, Adam G.; Ng, Chirk Jenn; Ang, Tan Fong; Abdullah, Adina; Syed, Ayeshah; Lim, Hooi Min; Yin, Kathleen; Liew, Chee Sun (2022). Factors influencing healthcare seeking in patients with dengue: systematic review, TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH. . doi:10.1111/tmi.13695
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Albury, C.; Hall, A.; Syed, A.; Ziebland, S.; Stokoe, E.; Roberts, N.; Webb, H.; Aveyard, P. (2019). Communication practices for delivering health behaviour change conversations in primary care: a systematic review and thematic synthesis, BMC FAMILY PRACTICE. 20(1). doi:10.1186/s12875-019-0992-x
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Syed, Ayeshah; Don, Zuraidah Mohd; Ng, Chirk Jenn; Lee, Yew Kong; Khoo, Ee Ming; Lee, Ping Yein; Abdullah, Khatijah Lim; Zainal, Azlin (2017). Using a patient decision aid for insulin initiation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative analysis of doctor-patient conversations in primary care consultations in Malaysia, BMJ OPEN. 7(5). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014260
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Huang X., Gan Y.C., Syed A. (2024). Narratives of Anxiety and Depression on YouTube: A Corpus-Based Thematic Analysis, Language and Health. 2(2). doi:10.1016/j.laheal.2024.09.001
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Li W.A., Syed A. (2023). English Question Formation: A Comparison of Errors Made by English-Dominant Versus Mandarin-Dominant Learners in a Chinese Medium Primary School, 3L: Language, Linguistics, Literature. 29(4), 244-263. doi:10.17576/3L-2023-2904-16
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Syed A. (2019). Using a patient decision aid about insulin treatment in type 2 diabetes clinics: An activity analysis, Journal of Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice. 16(1), 76-108. doi:10.1558/jalpp.18797
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Zuraidah Mohd Don and Ayeshah Syed (2017) Patient Decision Aids in Doctor-Patient Consultations: Treatment Decision Making on Starting Insulin. Sains Humanika, 19(4-2): 93-103
Books
- Nadarajah, K., Abdullah, A., Bujang, M. & Syed, A. (Eds.) (2020). Women for Change and Empowerment. Association of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason.
Chapter in Books
- Yoong, D. & Syed A. Supporting Competing Narratives: A Membership Categorization Analysis of Identity Work in Police-Detainee Talk. In F. Rock and M. Mason (Eds.), The discourse of police interviews (pp. 100- 115). University of Chicago Press. Chicago IL: USA.
Other Publications
- Syed, A.,Shamsudin, A. H., Aznor Suandi, F. D., Yap, T. T., Ramalingam, S., Chang, L.W. & Baharudin, A. (2023). Guidebook for SDG Student Ambassadors. Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya. - Guidelines
- Syed, A., Yoong, D., & Nazari, N. S. (2022). From the Soup Kitchen to Zoom: Online Adaptation of a Mixed-Methods Study on Cultivating Dental Students' Empathy Through Life Story Documentation. - Case Study
RESEARCH PROJECT
National
- 2022 - 2025, Others MOHE - Top 100 (IIRG)-HWBLingua-cultural Adaptation Of Dementia Communication Toolkit For Use In Clinical And Social Settings ( Co-Researcher)
- 2022 - 2025, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)A Discourse-based Model Of House Officer Socialisation Towards Enhancing Interprofessional Collaboration In Medical Practice ( Principal Investigator(PI))
- 2022 - 2025, Others MOHE - Top 100 (IIRG)-HWBWp3: A Holistic Patient-centred Approach Towards Understanding, Preventing And Treating Periodontitis With The Use Of Synbiotic Toothpaste As An Adjunct ( Principal Investigator(PI))
- 2020 - 2023, Others MOHE - Top 100 (IIRG)-HWBEmpowering Patients With Dengue To Seek Evidence-based Health Information For Self-care Using A Gamified Patient Education Tool ? The Desca Study ( Co-Researcher)
- 2022 - 2023, Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP)-Manage by UMCARESVisi Golongan Belia Untuk Masa Depan Yang Mampan ( Principal Investigator(PI))
- 2019 - 2022, Others MOHE - Top 100 (IIRG)-HWBCultivating Empathy Among Dental Students: Documenting Life Stories Of Older Adults Relying On Soup Kitchens ( Principal Investigator(PI))
- 2020 - 2022, Covid-19 Special Research GrantCovid 19: Developing, Evaluating And Implementing A Teleconsultation System To Follow-up Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus During The Covid-19 Pandemic ( Co-Researcher)
- 2018 - 2021, RU Geran - Fakulti ProgramThe Values In Shared Interactions Tool (visit) For Integrating Patient Agendas Into Consultations: A Single-centre Block-randomized Trial ( Co-Researcher)
- 2019 - 2021, Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia research grantDeveloping a Malaysian Model of Primary Care Consultations ( Consultant)
International
- 2019 - 2024, International FundingSustainable Development Goals In Journalism Reporting (sdgsjr) ( Co-Researcher)
CONSULTANCY PROJECT
- Bengkel Academic Writing Skills: Synthesising, Summarising, Paraphrasing, and Quoting June 10 2023, ACE LEARNING EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION10 Jun 2023 - 10 Jun 2023 (National)
- Cultural & Language Enrichment Programme (Clep) 10 July 2023, SIYIDA EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD10 Jul 2023 - 10 Jul 2023 (National)
- Translation Assessment of Data Collection Instrument, Associate Professor Dr Cila Umat, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia01 Apr 2021 - 01 Apr 2021 (National)
- Lecturer for Short Term Mobility Programme With Daejin University, Daejin University01 Dec 2020 - 01 Dec 2020 (International)
PAPER PRESENTED
PLENARY SPEAKER
- Applying linguistics in the wild: 3 ways you can make a difference, 8th Postgraduate Research Conference, Postgraduate Students of Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University Malaya (National) (19 Dec 2020 - 19 Dec 2020)
INVITED SPEAKER
- Interactional structure of routine visits for type 2 diabetes utilising a patient decision aid, 21ST AILA WORLD CONGRESS 2024, International Association of Applied Linguistics, & Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics (International) (11 Aug 2024 - 16 Aug 2024)
- Methodology for Multidisciplinary Research: Bridging Disciplines for Innovative Insights, SOAS-RILCA International Writing Workshop:Community Learning Process for Sustainable Development, Phetchaburi Province, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia (RILCA), Mahidol & School of Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS), UCL (International) (24 Apr 2024 - 01 May 2024)
- What's a linguist doing in a hospital? Reflections on discourse analytic research in healthcare settings., International Malaysian Languages and Linguistic (Chinese) Workshop 2023, Jabatan Bahasa-bahasa Malaysia (International) (10 Nov 2023 - 11 Nov 2023)
- Academic Writing Skills, Academic Writing Workhsop for Higher Degree Students, Faculty of Creative Arts (University) (10 Feb 2023 - 10 Feb 2023)
- Making a Decision about Starting Insulin Therapy: Insights from Two Discourse Analytical Approaches , Discourse & Communication Webinar, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia (National) (17 Dec 2021 - 17 Dec 2021)
- ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS: SYNTHESISING, SUMMARISING, PARAPHRASING, AND QUOTING ONLINE WORKSHOP, Training Session, ACE Learning Excellence & Innovation (National) (11 Dec 2021 - 11 Dec 2021)
- Boost Your Academic Writing: Tips and Strategies for Postgraduate Students, Faculty of Education Webinar, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya (University) (24 Apr 2021 - 24 Apr 2021)
- Investigating Doctor-Patient Interaction in Primary Care Consultations Using Discourse Analysis , Video Conferencing with Universitas Airlangga (DECOTA) , Universitas Airlangga (International) (29 Sep 2020 - 29 Sep 2020)
ORAL PRESENTER
- Interprofessional Discourse During House Officer Training at a Teaching Hospital_Preliminary Findings on Interactional Organisation of Paediatrics Ward Rounds, LSP 2024 (Language for Specific Purposes), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (International) (24 Sep 2024 - 25 Sep 2024)
- Dental Students Constructions of Older Adults Identities in Multimodal Life Stories and Vlogs: A Discourse Analytic Study Incorporating Membership Categorisation Analysis, ICOM-11 International Conference on Multimodality, UCL, Institute of Education in collaboration with the UCL Network for Multimodal Research, the Multimodality Talks Series and UCL Visual and Multimodal Research Forum. (International) (27 Sep 2023 - 29 Sep 2023)
- EMPOWERING MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY DISCOURSE THROUGH MULTILINGUALISM:, INACE-International Conference on Academia-Community Engagement 2023, Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, Universiti Malaya, Universitas Airlangga (International) (29 Aug 2023 - 30 Aug 2023)
- Life Story Documentation: Early Exposure to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Dental Healthcare Education (co-author), SEAADE 2022 -South East Asia Association for Dental Education, South East Asia Association for Dental Educatio (International) (24 Nov 2022 - 26 Dec 2022)
- (re) Initiating Conversations about Starting Insulin when Using a Patient Decision Aid for Type 2 Diabetes, Digital Meeting for Conversation Analysis, International Society for Conversation Analysis (International) (31 Oct 2022 - 04 Nov 2022)
- Life-story Documentation for Empathy Development Among Dental Students: Preliminary Findings and Insights from An Interdisciplinary Communication-Focused Study Conducted During the Pandemic, 20th International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Communication, Medicine and Ethics, Hong Kong Polytechnic (International) (13 Jul 2022 - 15 Jul 2022)
- Like the Taming of the Shrew-Patients' Constructions of Control in Talk about Starting Insulin, Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics International Conference (MAALIC )2021, Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics (International) (08 Sep 2021 - 10 Sep 2021)
- Adapting Research Methodology During Covid-19: Insights from a Pilot Study on Cultivating Dental Students Empathy Number, 20th Annual Scientific Meeting of International Assocation for Dental Research - Malaysian Section 2021, International Assocation for Dental Research - M (International) (01 Sep 2021 - 01 Sep 2021)
- Which patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus are not suitable for teleconsultation? An exploratory study, Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference 2021, Nanyang Technological University  (International) (16 Jul 2021 - 17 Jul 2021)
- Does a web-based patient agenda list improve satisfaction in primary care consultations? A cluster-RCT, Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference 2021, , Nanyang Technological University (International) (16 Jul 2021 - 17 Jul 2021)
POSTER PRESENTER
- So there are a few choices that I can recommend to you lah: The use Malaysian English discourse particles in psychiatric consultations, 3rd International Connect Malaysia Confere ce, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia & Nottingham University Malaysia (International) (17 Aug 2021 - 19 Aug 2021)
PRESENTER
- Conversational Trajectories When Using a Patient Decision Aid on Starting Insulin in Malaysian Primary Care Consultations, Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice, Aalborg University (International) (16 Sep 2020 - 18 Sep 2020)
- Theme-Oriented Discourse Analysis-Findings from a Study of Decision Making about Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes, Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice 2019, UTM, Aalborg University, UCSI (International) (23 Sep 2019 - 25 Sep 2019)
- Question-Answer Sequences in Treatment Decision Making about Insulin, MICOLLAC 2018: 10th Malaysia International Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University Putra Malaysia (International) (14 Aug 2018 - 16 Aug 2018)
OTHERS
- Activity Analysis of Doctor-Patient Consultations involving a PDA about Starting Insulin: Some Findings and Challenges, Oxford Research in Conversation Analysis (ORCA) Data Session, ORCA (University) (20 Apr 2018 - 20 Apr 2018)
ACADEMIC/ PROF. SERVICES
Evaluation
- (2021) Article Reviewi, International, (Reviewer)
- (2021) 3l Journal - Article Reviewer, National, (Reviewer)
- (2021) Journal of Modern Languages - Article Reviewer, University, (Reviewer)
- (2020) Evaluation of Masters Research Report - A POSITIVE DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITY, (Internal Examiner)
Media appearance
- (2024) Bfm Radio - Top 5 At 5- a Drop in Malaysia's English Proficiency Ranking:, National, (Discourse)
- (2024) Bfm -Today I Learned Podcast - Why Do We Take Turns When Interacting?, National, (Interview)
- (2024) Bfm- Today I Learned Podcast - Can Language Shape Emotions?, National, (Interview)
- (2022) Interview With Bfm Radio Health & Living, Can Empathy Be Taught in Healthcare, National, (Interview)
- (2021) Bfm Radio Today I Learned: How Language Shapes Thought, National, (Interview)
SUPERVISION
Under Graduate Students
- (2021) Context in Social Media: The Perception of Tone Indicators Among Malaysian Twitter Users
Postgraduate Student
- (2024) Corpus-based Discourse Analysis on the International Exchange of Traditional Chinese Medicine, LI CHUNXIAO
- (2024) A Linguistic Profiling of Psychiatric Patients with Suicidal Ideation: A Discursive Psychology in Forensic Linguistics, SALINA BINTI SABRI
- (2024) Power Relations in the Institutional Discourse of Malaysian Health Practitioners, AZIRA SARFARAZ AHMAD
- (2024) ASSESSING SERVICE LEARNING AND EMPATHY VIA EXPERiENTIAL LEARNING IN GERIATRIC DENTISTRY AMONGST DENTAL UNDERGRADUATES, VAISHALI MALHOTRA
- (2024) A Complex Dynamic System Theory Perspective on Individual differences among ELF Learners Chinese-English Translation Competence, LI ZHANG
- (2024) Discourse Analysis on Celebrity Public Speaking from the Perspective of the System-Functional Linguistics, PING WANLIN
- (2024) DEMENTIA CARE COMMUNICATION IN CLINICAL SETTINGS: ANALYSIS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS, ONG YI SONG
- (2024) A Comparative Study of Treatment Decision Making in Outpatient Psychiatric Consultations for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder, NOR HAZILA BINTI MAT LAZIM
- (2024) Towards health equity: Exploring psychotherapeutic communication practices between SOGIESC minorities and mental health professionals—a discursive psychological approach., AMIRUL HAKIM BIN SHAMSUDIN
- (2024) The Saudi-Iranian (De)legitimization Strategies of the Proxy War in Yemen, ALGHAMDI, FAHAD SALEM J
- (2024) Interaction between Adolescent Patients and Psychiatrists during Psychological Counseling Sessions, NAN ZHANG
- (2024) Dentist, Pediatrics Patients and Family Engagement During Consultation and Treatment: A Narrative Analysis of Dental Health Care, NUR FAIZAH BINTI MOHD KAMARUZAMAN
- (2024) Discourse Analysis of Conflict Talk between Parents and Children on the WeChat Platform, RUNSEN HE
- (2024) Narrative Structure and Transitivity in Baba Malay Folktales, TANG KIT YEE
- (2023) Corpus-Assisted Discourse Analysis of Online News on Coastal Plastic Pollution in Kerala, GOKUL JAYAKUMAR
- (2022) PRODUCTION OF QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE BY NATIONAL-TYPE CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, WONG AI LI
- (2022) METAPHOR USE IN THE NEWS REPORTS ON THE CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR, WU KE
TEACHING
Doctor Of Philosophy
- (2023) TVX8001 - Research Methodology
Master
- (2023) TOX7015 - Approaches to Discourse Analysis
- (2021) TOX7015 - Approaches to Discourse Analysis
- (2021) TOX7007 - Discourse Analysis
- (2021) TOX7007 - Discourse Analysis
- (2020) TOX7007 - Discourse Analysis
- (2020) TOX7001 - Research Methodology
- (2020) TOX7007 - Discourse Analysis
- (2019) TOA7004 - Syntax
- (2019) TOA7009 - Systemic Functional Linguistics
- (2019) TOX7001 - Research Methodology
- (2018) TOA7004 - Syntax
Bachelor
- (2021) TIX1002 - Introduction to Sociolinguistics
- (2021) TIX1002 - Introduction to Sociolinguistics
- (2020) TIX1002 - Introduction to Sociolinguistics
- (2020) TIX2001 - Pemerolehan Bahasa
- (2019) TIX1002 - Introduction to Sociolinguistics (Groups 5 and 8)
PATENT/ IPR
- Audio narration for virtual gallery - Celebrating Women at Universiti MalayaCOPYRIGHT
- UMLinguists' Golden Jubilee Virtual Exhibition: Communicating across Boundaries-50 Years and BeyondCOPYRIGHT
- Audio narration for virtual exhibition titled UMLinguists' Golden Jubilee Virtual Exhibition: Communicating across Boundaries-50 Years and BeyondCOPYRIGHT
- Celebrating Women at Universiti Malaya: A vritual galleryCOPYRIGHT
- MySusFutureTRADEMARK
- E-book: LIFE STORIES OF OLDER ADULTS THROUGH THE EYES OF DENTAL STUDENTSCOPYRIGHT
- Audio narration for Language + Health and Wellbeing: #UMLinguists Virtual ExhibitionCOPYRIGHT
- Language + Health and Wellbeing: #UMLinguists Virtual ExhibitionCOPYRIGHT
COURSE ATTENDED
Internal/ External Course
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CARM TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONAL & WORKPLACE COMMUNICATIONS ENCOUNTERS, Online (03 Mar 2022 - 04 Mar 2022)