Pictures Mohd Farid Fadly Mohammad Fuad
SINTOK, 20 May 2026:The graduate schools of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) successfully organised the university-level Three Minute Thesis (3MT) 2026 Competition, showcasing the exceptional research communication abilities of its postgraduate scholars.
Held at the OYAGSB Studio, the competition challenged active Ph.D. candidates who had successfully passed their proposal defence to present their complex research in a clear, engaging, and creative manner within just three minutes using only a single static presentation slide.
The competition was officially officiated by Prof. Dr. Hasnizam Shaari, Dean of the Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB). In his opening remarks, he highlighted the growing importance of effective research communication in today’s fast-paced and interconnected world.
“This competition serves as a unique platform to train future researchers to communicate the impact of their work to a broader audience in a concise and engaging manner,” he said.
He further emphasised that the ability to transform technical and academic findings into meaningful narratives is no longer optional, but essential in bridging the gap between academic innovation and societal needs.
Emerging as the champion was Mohd Shafiq Abdullah from School of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (STHEM) who impressed the judges with his presentation entitled “Integration of Budget Hotel Operational Process with Muslim-Friendly Attributes.” He received a cash prize of RM500, a hamper, and a certificate of participation.
The first runner-up title was awarded to Ho Xia Eq from Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy (TISSA) for the presentation “Why is Malaysia Missing Out on the World’s Wealthiest?” The winner received RM300 in cash, a hamper, and a certificate.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Jawhar Mohammad from School of Law (SoL) secured third place with his presentation entitled “Behind the Click: Protecting Parties in E-Contracts,” earning RM200, a hamper, and a certificate. Consolation prizes worth RM100 and certificates were also presented to the remaining eight finalists.
The presentations were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges chaired by Prof. Dr. Nor Azila Mohd Noor. Other panel members included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hendrik Lamsali, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Adzrool Idzwan Ismail, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narentheren Kaliappen.
In her closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Nor Azila commended all participants for their impactful and creative presentations. She noted that the finalists successfully captured the judges’ attention and demonstrated remarkable ability in communicating complex research ideas effectively within a limited timeframe.
The 2026 edition of the competition was jointly organized through a collaborative secretariat involving the Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB), Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government (GSGSG), and Awang Had Salleh Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (AHSGS).
Following the competition, two outstanding participants will advance to represent UUM at the national-level 3MT competition, which will be hosted by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) serving as co-host, on 8 July 2026. – Nur Shazwani Shariffudin
