Janessa Yeoh showcasing her research paper on the role of feminist branding by K-Pop idols in challenging gender stereotypes.
Scholars, students and educators at TAR UMT FCCI CMCR Symposium.
Assoc Prof Dr Chook Ka Joo delivering his symposium launching speech.
Assoc Prof Dr Moniza Waheed (right), keynote speaker, receiving a token of appreciation from Ms Dearna Kee June Chen, Dean of FCCI.
TAR UMT’s Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries (FCCI’s) Centre for Media and Communication Research (CMCR), organised its sixth annual symposium on 11 - 12 March 2026, as part of the faculty’s ‘Beyond Education’ initiatives of yearly events including academic-industry forums, practitioners’ sharing and students’ campaigns.
The CMCR Symposium 2026, themed ‘Navigating the Future of Communication: Trends, Technology, and Transformation in Media and Society’, gathered scholars, lecturers and students from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Indonesia, Sunway University Malaysia, as well as budding researchers from the host, TAR UMT’s KL, Penang and Perak campuses.
Keynote speaker, Assoc Prof Dr Moniza Waheed from Universiti Putra Malaysia, also a Media Officer at the Ministry of Higher Education, reminded educators and students of the accelerated nature of communication in our contemporary social life, where confusion is rife and could lead to misinformation within public discourse, hence constant verification and critical understanding are essential prior to making decisions.
Assoc Prof Dr Chook Ka Joo, Vice President of TAR UMT, in his launching address, exhorted that as society stands at a crossroads where daily lives are constantly reshaped by global media and digital networks, which advance human interaction and drive economic innovation, we must confront the rising threats of misinformation and disinformation that are aggravated by the manipulation of artificial intelligence.
Assoc Prof Dr Tang Mui Joo, Deputy Dean of FCCI, Chairperson of the symposium committee, said: “Our annual research symposium provides young researchers and lecturers a valuable platform and scholarly opportunity to share their detailed findings, critical analyses and to discuss their perspectives on various aspects of the communication and creative industries.”
Janessa Yeoh Mei Wen, student-presenter and a TAR UMT Bachelor of Public Relations student who showcased her research paper on the role of feminist branding by K-Pop idols in challenging gender stereotypes, said: “It is great to be back on campus from my internship and to be on stage to present my findings, as this symposium allows students to share their studies with fellow students and other researchers.”
In addition, the two-day symposium covered the fields of Advertising, Broadcasting, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations by providing a platform for TAR UMT’s final-year students to showcase their skills in researching, writing and presenting their academic findings on various aspects of communication, media and their relations to societal issues and daily lives.
