In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, academic excellence alone is no longer sufficient to prepare graduates for professional success. Employers increasingly seek individuals who possess strong communication skills, leadership qualities, teamwork, emotional intelligence and the ability to adapt to workplace expectations. Recognising this need, TAR UMT collaborated with YYC, a leading accounting and tax advisory firm in Malaysia, supported by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), to organise the YYC Graduate Leadership Experience – R.I.S.E Programme, a structured student development initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice.
The programme was built upon four core values: Responsibility, Impact, Synergy and Excellence (R.I.S.E.). These values reflect the behavioural expectations of modern professionals and encourage students to take ownership of their actions, contribute meaningfully, collaborate effectively and pursue continuous improvement. Through industry-led sessions, experiential activities and reflective learning, the programme aimed to nurture well-rounded graduates who are both competent and career-ready.
The programme targeted students from all programmes in the Faculty of Accountancy, Finance & Business (FAFB), creating a multidisciplinary learning environment that encouraged collaboration across different fields of study.
Conducted over four intensive days (4, 5, 11, and 24 July 2026), the programme featured a series of interactive workshops facilitated by industry practitioners and supported by YYC. The workshop modules included Personal Leadership, Interpersonal Leadership, Human Endowment, and Project and Presentation.
Students were assessed through participation, reflective essays, and a final group project and presentation, ensuring that learning outcomes were reinforced through both individual reflection and collaborative application.
A key highlight of the programme was the ESG Final Project Presentation Challenge, held on 24 July 2026. Students worked in teams to identify real-life campus or student-related issues and propose practical solutions within one of the three ESG dimensions: Environmental, Social or Governance.
Each team was required to present a realistic implementation plan, explain the expected impact and demonstrate how their proposal could create meaningful change. The presentations were evaluated by a panel of judges based on practicality, ESG relevance, creativity, presentation quality and teamwork.
