The Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) Alumni Committee recently organised a session titled “The Art of Effective Communication for Engineers,” led by Mr. Yogendren Palanivelu. The session, tailored for Robotics and Automation (RE) students, took place on 30 April 2024, with approximately 30 participants.
Mr. Yogendren, an esteemed FET alumnus, graduated with a Bachelor of Electronics Engineering (Hons) in Robotics and Automation Engineering in 2017. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Malaya-Wales in 2024. Currently, he serves as the Plant Director at Advantek Malaysia Sdn Bhd in Penang.
The session began with a brief YouTube video titled “How Effective Communication Can Save You,” highlighting the importance of the topic. Mr. Yogendren then discussed the 5Cs of communication—clarity, cohesiveness, completeness, conciseness, and concreteness—using real-life examples to explain each principle.
He emphasised that clear communication stems from coherent thoughts and expressions, avoiding verbosity and concluding with a clear call to action. Cohesiveness ensures that ideas align with the intended message, while completeness eliminates confusion or ambiguity. Conciseness involves articulating messages clearly and succinctly, using straightforward language. Lastly, concreteness emphasizes the use of consistent terminology and precise language, incorporating measurable data.
In conclusion, Mr. Yogendren reiterated the importance of effective communication for engineers, highlighting its role in facilitating efficient meetings, navigating diverse cultural contexts, and engaging with stakeholders beyond the engineering realm. The Q&A session was highly informative, with Mr. Yogendren’s practical examples inspiring numerous inquiries from the students. Many were intrigued by his journey from a classroom backbencher to a leadership position, motivating them to pursue their own professional growth.
