Dr. Kavenia Kunasegran

Senior Lecturer & Psycholinguistics Researcher

Petaling Jaya, MY.

About

Highly accomplished Senior Lecturer and Psycholinguistics Researcher with a perfect 4.00 CGPA PhD, specializing in Malay language acquisition and dyslexia intervention. Recognized for exceptional teaching, extensive research culminating in 16 journal articles and 10 books, and significant contributions to curriculum development and community engagement, evidenced by numerous national and international innovation awards. Passionate about leveraging advanced linguistic theories to develop impactful educational strategies for diverse learners.

Work

Universiti Putra Malaysia

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Senior Lecturer

Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

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Summary

Leading advanced linguistic courses and research in psycholinguistics, while mentoring graduate students and contributing to departmental administration and program development.

Highlights

Taught and evaluated advanced courses in Psycholinguistics, Language Acquisition, and Translation for undergraduate and postgraduate programs, consistently achieving high student satisfaction and academic outcomes (e.g., average scores of 4.76-5.00).

Led a research project on 'Multisensory Learning Approach in Dyslexic Students' Literacy Acquisition,' securing RM15,000 in funding from the Putra Muda Initiative Grant, UPM (2025-2027).

Supervised 6 Bachelor's and 2 Master's thesis students, guiding research in areas such as autism, second language acquisition, and visual learning approaches, ensuring timely completion and academic rigor.

Appointed Secretary for the Malay Language Department and Coordinator for Postgraduate Program Promotion, contributing to strategic planning, curriculum development, and enhancing academic program visibility (2025-2027).

Authored and co-authored over 16 journal articles and 10 books on psycholinguistics, dyslexia, and Malay language education, with several publications indexed in SCOPUS (Q2-Q4).

Universiti Putra Malaysia

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Teaching Fellow

Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

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Summary

Delivered comprehensive instruction in Malay language and linguistics, supporting student learning and academic development while actively participating in departmental initiatives.

Highlights

Instructed undergraduate courses including 'Translation Theory and Practice,' 'Computer-Assisted Translation,' and 'Malay Language in Correspondence,' consistently receiving average student evaluations ranging from 4.84 to 4.92.

Contributed to the academic community through various professional service appointments, including evaluating departmental seminars and serving on examination committees for UPM theses.

Participated in community engagement initiatives, acting as a speaker and committee member for programs promoting Malay language literacy and dyslexia awareness.

Supported faculty research initiatives through active involvement in data collection, analysis, and literature reviews, contributing to the advancement of psycholinguistic studies.

Universiti Putra Malaysia

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Graduate Research Assistant

Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

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Summary

Conducted extensive research in psycholinguistics and language acquisition, culminating in a PhD thesis awarded with excellence and contributing to innovative educational resources.

Highlights

Completed a PhD in Malay Language (Psycholinguistics) with a perfect CGPA of 4.00, earning the 'Best PhD Thesis Award' from the Faculty of Modern Language and Communication for outstanding research.

Contributed significantly to multiple research projects, including the 'Development of 21st Century Malay Language Books Program,' securing RM10,000 in funding and enhancing educational resources.

Co-authored several academic publications and developed intellectual properties focused on dyslexia intervention and Malay language learning tools, receiving numerous national and international innovation awards.

Supported faculty research initiatives through meticulous data collection, advanced analysis, and comprehensive literature reviews, significantly contributing to the advancement of psycholinguistic studies.

Volunteer

Speaker, Deputy Director, Committee Member

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Various Community & Educational Organizations

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Actively engaged in numerous community initiatives focused on Malay language education, dyslexia awareness, and teacher professionalism across Selangor and other states, impacting thousands of students and educators.

Highlights

Served as Deputy Director for the National Congress for the Preservation of Standard Malay Language (2023) and the Introduction to Equine Therapy Program for Special Needs Children (2022), overseeing program execution for over 500 participants.

Delivered over 15 presentations and workshops on dyslexia symptom identification (2023), Malay language writing enhancement (2025), and teacher professionalism (2021) to various educational bodies, training over 1,000 educators and community members.

Contributed as a committee member to significant programs like the National Language Empowerment Program (2021) and the Star Rating System Pilot Workshop (2019), directly influencing educational standards and policy.

Spearheaded initiatives such as the Reconstruction of Malay Derived Nouns Program for Tamil Primary Schools (2022), directly improving language learning resources for over 2,000 students in SJK(T) schools.

Education

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Master of Arts in Malay Language Applied Linguistics (Psycholinguistics) Grade: CGPA 4.00 (Graduate-on-Time)

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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PhD in Malay Language Psycholinguistics, Language Acquisition and Learning Grade: CGPA 4.00 (Thesis Passed with Excellence)

Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Diploma in General Translation (Honours) Translation Grade:

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Bachelor of Malay Language and Linguistics Psycholinguistics, Language Acquisition and Learning Grade: First Class Honours

Kolej Tingkatan Enam Petaling Jaya

Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
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Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) General Studies Grade: CGPA 3.84

Awards

Gold Medal

Putra InnoCreative Carnival in Teaching and Learning (PICTL)

Awarded for pioneering innovative methods and resources in teaching and learning.

Gold Medal (Top 5 Professional Award)

Virtual Innovation Competition

Recognized for outstanding innovation and professional contribution in a competitive virtual environment.

Académique D'or (Grand Award)

Virtual Innovation Competition

Received the highest distinction for academic excellence and innovative contributions.

Best PhD Thesis Award

Faculty of Modern Language and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Awarded for exceptional research and outstanding academic achievement in PhD studies.

Special Award & Gold Medal

International Invention Innovation Competition In Canada (ICAN 2021)

Honored with a special recognition and gold medal for significant international invention and innovation.

Dean's List

Faculty of Modern Language and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Achieved consistent academic excellence, recognized for outstanding scholarly performance across multiple semesters (2015-2018).

Publications

The Effectiveness of Writing Techniques for Dyslexic Students in Learning the Malay Language

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Research evaluating writing techniques to improve Malay language literacy among dyslexic students, published in a SCOPUS-indexed journal.

Exploring Multisensory in Enhancing Literacy of Dyslexic Students

International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development

Investigates the impact of multisensory approaches on enhancing literacy skills among dyslexic students.

Dyslexia and Literacy in Malay Language

Neuroquantology

Explores the intricate relationship between dyslexia and literacy development within the context of the Malay language, published in a SCOPUS Q4 journal.

Terapi Berkuda untuk Kanak-Kanak Berkeperluan Khas (Equine Therapy for Special Needs Children)

Penerbit Universiti Putra Malaysia

A published book detailing the application and benefits of equine therapy as an intervention for children with special needs.

English for Kids: Introducing Letters (Level 1)

Penerbit Universiti Putra Malaysia

An educational book designed to introduce English letters to young children at an foundational learning level.

Languages

Malay

English

Skills

Research & Analysis

Psycholinguistics, Linguistics, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Data Analysis, Academic Writing, Literature Review, Grant Writing, Curriculum Development, Experimental Design.

Teaching & Mentorship

Higher Education Instruction, Curriculum Design, Student Supervision, Thesis Advising, Pedagogical Methods, Adult Learning, Language Education, Distance Learning, Educational Technology.

Language & Literacy

Malay Language, English Language, Language Acquisition, Dyslexia Intervention, Literacy Development, Translation, Error Analysis, Multisensory Learning, Applied Linguistics.

Project Management & Leadership

Project Leadership, Program Coordination, Stakeholder Engagement, Committee Leadership, Public Speaking, Workshop Facilitation, Innovation Management, Community Engagement, Academic Administration.

Projects

Multisensory Learning Approach in Dyslexic Students' Literacy Acquisition

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Summary

Leading a research initiative to develop and evaluate multisensory learning techniques for improving Malay language literacy among dyslexic students, aiming to create evidence-based educational interventions.

Dys-Literacy Multisensory Kit (Malay Language)

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Summary

Developed a comprehensive intellectual property: a multisensory kit for Malay language literacy, including letter cards, letter cubes, and canvas boards, specifically designed to aid dyslexic students in their learning process.

Development of 21st Century Malay Language Books Program

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Summary

Contributed as a project member to the development of contemporary Malay language educational materials as part of a knowledge transfer grant scheme, enhancing resources for modern learning.

Self-Performance Assessment Instrument for Malay Language

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Summary

Created and copyrighted an instrument for self-assessment of Malay language performance, designed to provide structured feedback and track progress for learners.