Kuala Terengganu – In an effort to empower the special needs community, the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Social Development (FPEPS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) has implemented a project entitled Empowerment Through Digital Inclusion: Enhancing Social Media Marketing Capability for The Special Needs Community.
This project, led by Dr. Yusnita binti Yusof together with three other researchers from FPEPS, aims to expose students to the importance of social media marketing. It also provides training in digital marketing techniques to help the special needs community harness technology to run online businesses.
According to Dr. Yusnita, the project has had a significant impact on students by improving their communication skills and enhancing their understanding of how social media can be effectively used in business. “Through this program, students not only learn marketing techniques but are also guided to become ethical content creators,” she said.
The one-day project involved Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kompleks Mengabang Telipot as the main collaboration partner. The program successfully trained 24 students from the Special Education Integrated Program (PPKI) as well as undergraduates from the Bachelor of Tourism Management and Bachelor of Management (Marketing) programs.
In addition to theoretical training, participants also conducted live feeds on social media and recorded promotional videos for products uploaded online. These recordings were then used to boost their competitiveness in digital business.
Project Success and Impact
With funding of RM2,000 from the Environmental and Social Sustainability Fund (ESSF) by UMT’s Centre for Sustainability Management, the project successfully achieved 100% of its targeted objectives. The school and UMT also provided full cooperation to ensure the success of the program.
Dr. Yusnita stated that the project not only helped students acquire digital skills but also benefited the university through the achievement of KPIs in university social responsibility (USR) projects. “Participants are now more confident in using technology in business, which is an essential skill in this digital era,” she added.
With the success of this project, it is hoped that more similar initiatives can be carried out to empower the special needs community so they are better prepared to face the challenges of the digital world.
Kuala Terengganu- Dalam usaha memperkasakan komuniti berkeperluan khas, Fakulti Perniagaan, Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Sosial (FPEPS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) telah melaksanakan projek bertajuk Empowerment Through Digital Inclusion: Enhancing Social Media Marketing Capability for The Special Needs Community.
Projek ini, yang diketuai oleh Dr. Yusnita binti Yusof bersama tiga penyelidik lain dari FPEPS, bertujuan untuk memberikan pendedahan kepada para pelajar mengenai kepentingan pemasaran media sosial. Ia juga memberi latihan dalam teknik pemasaran digital bagi membantu golongan berkeperluan khas memanfaatkan teknologi untuk menjalankan perniagaan dalam talian.
Menurut Dr. Yusnita, projek ini memberi impak besar kepada pelajar dengan meningkatkan kemahiran komunikasi serta kefahaman mereka tentang bagaimana media sosial boleh digunakan secara efektif dalam perniagaan. “Melalui program ini, para pelajar bukan sahaja mempelajari teknik pemasaran, malah mereka juga dibimbing untuk menjadi pencipta kandungan yang beretika,” katanya.
Projek yang berlangsung selama sehari ini melibatkan Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kompleks Mengabang Telipot sebagai rakan kerjasama utama. Program ini berjaya melatih 24 pelajar daripada Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi (PPKI) serta mahasiswa dari program Sarjana Muda Pengurusan Pelancongan dan Sarjana Muda Pengurusan (Pemasaran).
Selain latihan teori, para peserta turut menjalankan sesi live feed di media sosial dan merakam video promosi bagi produk yang dimuat naik secara dalam talian. Hasil rakaman tersebut kemudian digunakan untuk meningkatkan daya saing mereka dalam perniagaan digital.
Kejayaan dan Impak Projek
Dengan peruntukan dana sebanyak RM2,000 daripada Environmental and Social Sustainability Funds (ESSF) oleh Pusat Pengurusan Lestari UMT, projek ini telah mencapai 100% objektif yang disasarkan. Pihak sekolah dan UMT turut memberikan kerjasama penuh bagi memastikan kejayaan program ini.
Dr. Yusnita menyatakan bahawa projek ini bukan sahaja membantu pelajar memperoleh kemahiran digital, malah turut memberikan manfaat kepada institusi pengajian tinggi melalui pencapaian KPI dalam projek tanggungjawab sosial universiti (USR). “Peserta kini lebih yakin menggunakan teknologi dalam perniagaan, satu kemahiran penting dalam era digital ini,” tambah beliau.
Dengan kejayaan projek ini, diharapkan lebih banyak inisiatif serupa dapat dilaksanakan untuk memperkasakan komuniti berkeperluan khas agar mereka lebih bersedia menghadapi cabaran dunia digital.