Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Being able to present and participate in global forums is undoubtedly a dream for most students. However, communicating effectively in front of a worldwide audience is certainly challenging. So, what steps can students take to succeed on the international stage?

Dr. Ir. Okkie Putriani, S.T., M.T., CIAR, a lecturer and expert in communication and public speaking, shares her unique insights on the importance of confidence. She believes that confidence is the primary key to overcoming nervousness and delivering messages effectively to the audience.

"When we talk about presentation, the most important thing is confidence. If we are confident, we can control our emotions and nervousness when conveying ideas or the essence of the presentation in front of an international audience," Dr. Okkie explained during the International Conference Preparation session on Saturday (19/10/2024) at the FEB UGM Learning Building.

In an activity organized by the Career and Student Development Unit (CSDU) of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), Okkie was invited to provide provisions for FEB UGM students to face communication challenges in international forums. This training session aims to prepare and support students to communicate effectively internationally. This activity was attended by eight FEB UGM students who will conduct conferences in various international forums as speakers and participants.

During the training session, Okkie also provided practical guidance on visualization techniques to help students overcome anxiety or nervousness when speaking in public. In addition, students are taught how to capture the audience's attention through an interesting delivery style.

In addition to speaking techniques, Okkie taught the importance of a professional appearance when attending international conferences. Students are taught to prepare best, including choosing clothing that conforms to the Code of Ethics. This preparation is considered crucial to their performance on the international stage.

In this session, students were allowed to practice their public speaking skills through a presentation simulation exercise. They received direct feedback, especially on delivering messages, overcoming nervousness, and managing interactions with the audience. This feedback aims to increase the student's confidence in the upcoming conference.

One of the participants, Nanda Bayu Saputra, a student in the Management Study Program Class of 2020, admitted that the training helped him a lot. He became more confident in communicating in international forums. Shortly, he will be attending the 7th International Conference EMMA+ 2024 International Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam.

"After attending this session, I better understand how we can present with a better structure and interestingly deliver the material," he said.

Reportage: Mahendra Hermawan Santoso
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum 

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