Page 10 - E-BOOK PULSE@FASS ISU NO.01/2023

R E S E A R C H @ F A S S
"Analysis of the spread of COVID- What is the significance of your project from a societal
19 information on Tamil social perspective?
media in Malaysia"
Social media usage among Malaysians illustrates that the
Principal Investigator: Dr different ethnic groups were actively sharing information
Silllalee S. Kandasamy, within their own circles during the outbreak; it has played a
Department of Indian Studies role in creating awareness of the disease. In this context,

What is your ECRG project current research focuses on the role of Tamil social media in
about? informing the Malaysian Indian society about COVID-19.

The research program shows the How did the ECRG help you as an ECR?
role of Tamil social media in
disseminating information during the COVID-19 outbreak. This ECRG research grant exposed me to the development
The grant initiative of a total amount of RM 5000 is granted of a research project and made me a credible academician
by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Universiti of Universiti Malaya. Moreover, the financial support will
Malaya, to support proposed research that expanded to allow me to easily plan the scope of the research and
social media and a sociological investigation on COVID- encompass additional activities that otherwise would not
19.Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is an infectious disease that have been possible.
affects the respiratory system. The disease was initially
identified as an outbreak in the city of Wuhan, China. The Winning this coveted research award will allow me to
World Health Organisation first flagged it on 31 December promote my ideas and research while showing that my
2019, but by 30 January 2020, they had declared it a global work is essential to the community. Furthermore, getting
health emergency. this grant will also help increase my reliability as an
academician of Universiti Malaya to produce world-class
The first three cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia were imported Scopus articles. It helps stimulate long-term opportunities
cases, confirmed on January 25, 2020. Due to the rapid and growth.
spread and lack of a vaccine or antiviral treatment, the
Malaysian government initially shared real-time information Any advice for other ECRs?
to combat COVID-19 through social media. The Malaysian
government relied extensively on social media to provide While these benefits are truly significant, ECRG research
sufficient and timely information to the public. Social media candidates should work hard to progressively acquire more
has been the best platform to increase awareness and research initiatives to contribute to the community. Besides
adherence to recommended safeguards, alert users to any this, the ECRG grant should always be seen as a
updates and provide reminders on protective behaviours. In springboard to broadening knowledge and experience in
this regard, social media has become an essential the field of research.
component of the general public and a powerful means of
communication in Malaysia. "Contribution of Social Media to
Teaching and Learning Tamil
What is your ECRG project about? Language in Malaysia"

Technological or online media use in teaching and learning Principal Investigator:
has become fundamental in this modern era. This paradigm Dr Ravindaran Maraya,
shift is seen to have a major impact on education, especially Department of Indian Studies
among school and HEI students who make this technology
a major necessity for educators and students themselves. What is the significance of your
This has become a basic requirement during the pandemic project from a societal
period, where students have moved from the conventional perspective?
learning and teaching system to technology in education.
Educators are also starting to use various platforms in This study will identify the sources of Tamil academic
conducting classes during recess. In addition, students are materials in social media, assess the relevance of Tamil
also found to be trying to gain knowledge from other academic materials in social media, and analyse the
sources, especially from social media. So as a start to set importance of Tamil academic materials in social media.
foot in the world of research, UM has requested that ECRG The literature review shows that at the time of the
focus on studies related to the field of education. pandemic, various social media such as Facebook,

9 | Pulse @ FASS