ALSA INTERVIEW Flashcards
(12 cards)
Tell me about yourself
- My name is Cheshter and I’m a second-year law student at this faculty.
- I’m currently the Head of External Relations for Lex ACT, a club under this faculty that focuses on activism, and making impactful change towards society.
- My previous experience as a former officer for Academics & Research in Lex ACT influenced my decision to apply for Academics and Activities as my first choice of bureau.
Essentially, I applied for the AdHoc committee because I wanted to forge a meaningful connection with the delegates and gain more professional experience.
What qualities do you have for this role?
Firstly, I’m someone who isn’t afraid to take the initiative. I really enjoy project planning, working through the details of an event, and collaborating with my team to bring everything together. That’s honestly my favorite part of being in a team—seeing how our efforts combine to create something impactful.
Secondly, I’d say I’m a sociable person, especially in a professional setting. I genuinely enjoy networking with people, particularly foreign delegates, because it’s such a great way to learn about their cultures while also sharing ours. I find those exchanges really enriching and a key part of building meaningful connections
Why are you interested in joining A&A bureau?
I love planning academic-oriented activities, mainly insightful forums, talks, seminars or workshops.
During my experience as the Head of ER of Lex ACT, I tried to make the club a powerhouse of education - be it legal or street education. For example, we have successfully executed a forum with SUHAKAM, which focused on the issue of statelessness in Malaysia.
As an ER officer, I meticulously crafted a detailed plan for the forum as well as communicating with the internal parties, which included important stakeholders such as FamilyFrontiers, DHRRA and whatnot.
In the upcoming semester, the Lex ACT team and I will be hosting another academic-oriented activities namely, (first) the SWIM Project (Sexualisation of Women in the Media) a collaboration with KRYSS and (second), LexTalk (a workshop aims ) also a collaboration with Enggang&Pipit.
Thus, my side quest is to oversee all of these projects and to streamline effective communication between the external parties and the club.
How will you handle the logistical challenges of welcoming delegates?
Personally, streamlining an effective communication between the club and the delegates are very important. This can be done through Whatsapp as the main medium for communication. This is to ensure that every need or concern from the delegates can be resolved effectively.
A strategic teamwork with fellow colleagues, specifically L&P should be forged as well. While I do believe that a delegated task should be followed strictly, I feel like on the event day or prior to it, it wouldn’t hurt so much to lend a hand to detail out the programme so that pressures can be alleviated. (BUT OF COURSE, subject to the high committee’s discretion too)
What strategies will you suggest to foster academic collaboration and cultural exchange?
How would you contribute to planning academic or cultural activities for the delegates?
One of them is to keep the flagship programme of academic lectures for MLS and Constitutional Law. I believe this flagship academic lecture is important to showcase Malaysia’s unique dual legal system to the delegates.
However, we can also pitch-in ideas for Law Career Fair Talk. It’s basically a concept of career fair – but instead of exhibition – we invited 2-3 big law firms in Malaysia (Skrine, Shearn Delamore, Azri & Associates) to deliver insightful speeches to the delegates. In a way, we’re also providing opportunities for these delegates of the internship, chambering or legal-based opportunities in Malaysia.
How will you ensure that the delegates feel welcome and comfortable?
Communication is above all kinds of importance.
Firstly, I assume there will be a language barrier. Apart from using English as a regular basis language, I feel like it’s only fair if we try to learn a few bits of their foreign language – it doesn’t have to be intermediate, suffice if facilitators learn a few basic phrases.
Secondly, having an official group Whatsapp as a way to communicate and address their issues and concerns at hand.
Thirdly, it’s important to have a welcome/survival kit. This kit may include complimentary beverages, guideful handbooks about future activities and tourism plans.
Lastly, a feedback form to garner their feedback towards the end of each day during the programme duration. This is to ensure that their expectations, needs and concerns will be addressed effectively the next day.
How would you handle situations where delegates are uninterested during an academic activity?
For now, I’ll try to suggest a few amendments that do not require extensive changes to the flow of the event.
For example, we can try to initiate Q&A sessions (but in Kahoot version) in the middle or at the end of the session.
Or, maybe at the end, delegates can be divided into a group to present their own findings (so this may include comparative analysis of their legal system and ours).
How would you handle last-minute changes in plan, such as venue changes?
Firstly, it is important to remain calm to avoid appearing unprofessional to the delegates.
Secondly, I believe that having a comprehensive detailed plan beforehand can resolve this unforeseen circumstances. For instance, for a workshop or academic activities, there should be a confirmed-venue and alternative-venue.
Then, second issue - logistical challenges. Preferably, it would be good to have alternative venue IN the faculty (Dewan Kuliah) – but presumably that a lot of logistical preparation need to be done, then we can reschedule the program to later in the evening or another day. Of course, we have to be transparent to the delegates.
How would you support main committee members in alleviating their workload?
Firstly, I’ll try to be proactive in smaller-tasks that they delegate. For example, preparing scripts for the Emcee, or planning mini interactive games during academic activities.
Secondly, while also remaining respectful, I would assist them during on-ground-execution. For example, keeping a mini checklist before the event starts so that I’m able to alleviate pressure of the main committee members.
What are your steps if there was a miscommunication among committee members or with the delegates?
Depending on the scale of the miscommunication –
1. If it’s minor, I feel like it would be better to discuss and resolve it afterwards.
- But if it’s major, I would try to discuss this backdoor, try to have open conversation, see where this communication stems from and adopt a quicker approach to resolve it.
- Towards the end of the day, there should be an update of job responsibilities so that we’ll be duly reminded, not repeating the same miscommunication.
Above all, remain composed, respectful and professional are the ultimatum at the end of the day.
What do I hope to gain from SEP?
- Professional experience
- A meaningful connection
- A memorable experience in my law school that is worth sharing.
How would you define a successful SEP?
Ultimately, where delegates feel welcomed, gain valuable insights from their visit, and return home with meaningful experiences and connections. It also involves seamless coordination between all committees and leaving a lasting, positive impression of our university and country
