2025 – Series of Communication
In October 2025, Van Deventer-Maas Indonesia held a Series of Communication with the theme “Professional Presentation” with Dr. Yesi Puspita, M.Si., CPPS (communication lecturer at Andalas University and public speaking practitioner). The activity was held in four sessions via Zoom Meeting and aimed to improve communication skills, particularly presentation and persuasion skills in front of an audience.
The first session (October 14, 2025) focused on mapping participants’ abilities in delivering short presentations. Students were asked to present themselves and topics of their choice, such as sustainable agriculture, coral reef conservation, and mental health. This activity aimed to measure initial abilities and identify strengths and weaknesses, such as language use, eye contact, and presentation structure. Facilitators provide in-depth feedback on voice intonation, body language, presentation structure, and media usage. As a result, participants understand the importance of thorough preparation and the ability to adapt to the audience for more effective communication. Participants also gain insight that good presentation techniques are not only about the material, but also about delivering it naturally and confidently.
The second session (October 17, 2025) discussed how to prepare a structured and engaging professional presentation. Participants were introduced to the 3V principle (Verbal, Vocal, Visual), which emphasizes not only content, but also how messages are conveyed through words, intonation, and body language. Participants are invited to reflect on their previous presentations and discuss how to adapt their communication style to diverse audiences. This session is also interactive, with a Q&A on how to open an engaging presentation and overcome nervousness when speaking.
The third session (October 21, 2025) focused on the art of persuading audiences through ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic). Participants learned to build relationships with audiences through open-ended questions, eye contact, and delivering messages warmly and clearly. Participants gain a deeper understanding that effective persuasion combines content, delivery style, and the speaker’s attitude to build trust and touch the hearts of the audience.
Final session (October 24, 2025) hands-on practice of stage mastery and confidence building. Participants are asked to record and compare their live and recorded presentations. Dr. Yesi provides a comprehensive evaluation covering technical setup, visual presentation, intonation, and body language. Examples of evaluations for several participants show significant progress but also areas that need improvement, such as material preparation, slide visual layout, and more relaxed and confident facial expressions.
Participants stated that this training was highly beneficial and relevant to their academic and professional needs. The interactive and supportive learning methods employed by the facilitator created an enjoyable learning environment. Thank you to the participants who attended the full series of communication training. We look forward to seeing you at other VDMI Capacity Building events.
