Workshop acknowledges administrative assistants as being ‘super employees’

Miri – 1 April 2011 – 27 administrative assistants of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently attended a workshop entitled ‘Super Employees: A Workshop for Administrative Assistants’ organised by the university’s Human Resources Department.

The workshop was aimed at enhancing the administrative assistants’ understanding of the administrative roles and responsibilities entrusted to them, educate them on effective and efficient task management, as well as ensure they are aware of their importance to the organisation. The two-day workshop also saw them engage in interactive sessions, group presentations and sharing sessions.

The majority of the participants concurred that the workshop gave them an opportunity to better understand crucial administrative skills, including listening skills, minute taking and report writing, use of information technology, filing and archiving, e-mail correspondence as well as use of the English language for effective communication.

In addition, they learned how to identify and deal with different types of bosses, colleagues, and customers, and the importance of proper grooming and behaviour, telephone etiquette and work professionalism.

Tayah Munggang, an administrative assistant from the School of Foundation and Continuing Studies was pleased to have gained additional knowledge from the workshop.

“It has helped me improve my communication skills, note-taking, knowledge of ICT, and writing skills. Interestingly, I also learned how to deal with my superior and how to meet his expectations,” said Tayah, who hopes to learn more about writing and communicating in English, customer service, leadership and grooming skills in future workshops.

Jacqueline Martin from the School of Engineering and Science commented that the most useful skills she acquired from the workshop were minute-taking and listening skills.

“I would like to learn more about report and business writing skills in future. Hopefully, there will also be more case studies on relevant administrative issues for us to learn from,” said Jacqueline.

Meanwhile, according to Jamil Keri from the Campus Services Department, the workshop taught him crucial new skills and, most importantly, enlightened him on how to work smart as well as interact with staff from different management levels.

Among the workshop’s facilitators were Beena Giridharan, Dean of the School of Foundation and Continuing Studies, and Viziaty Drahman, Manager of the General Administration Department.

For more information of Curtin Sarawak, visit its website at www.curtin.edu.my.

The participants posing for group photo with the workshop facilitators