SoSE 2023 CHAIRPERSON

Assistant Professor

Department of Modern Languages

Faculty of Creative Industries

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman

Dr Saraswathy Thurairaj holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). She possesses an impressive academic background, including a Doctor of Philosophy (English Language Studies) from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), a Master of Arts (English Language Studies, TESL), and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communication from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). In addition to her academic qualifications, she has earned professional credentials from Toastmasters International as a Competent Communicator and Proficiency in Engaging Humour.

Dr Saraswathy is not only an accomplished educator, but also possesses a diverse range of skills as a trainer, consultant, professional speaker, moderator, emcee and Toastmasters International officer. She currently holds the position of Area Director for Toastmaster District 102, Area E4. and is the founder of the Share & Inspire Toastmasters Club as well as the Club adviser for UTAR Sg Long Toastmasters Club. Her primary focus in training is to empower participants, facilitating the transformation of their mindsets into positive generators that ultimately drive performance towards excellence. With 23 years of experience teaching at the tertiary level, she has garnered more than 60 awards in various competitions including public speaking, teaching, and research.

Recently, Dr Saraswathy has achieved notable accomplishments, including becoming the champion of the UTAR Sg Long Toastmasters Club Table Topics Contest 2023 and securing the third place at the 102 Division Level table Topics Contest 2023 organized by Toastmasters International, Division 102, Malaysia. Furthermore, she has received recognition and award as a resourceful speaker from the London School of Public Relations- Jakarta (LSPR) Institute Academic Forum with Malaysia Universities. Her effective and interactive communications skills, as well as her hands-on teaching methods, have earned her widespread acclaim. As a result, she has been invited to conduct various training sessions and workshops, where she shares her expertise and knowledge both locally and internationally.