Language Research and Innovation Competition
The Language Research and Innovation Competition (LaRIC) is a bi-annual innovation competition organised by the Language Centre, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM). Introduced in 2023, LaRIC was established to promote impactful, practice-oriented innovation in language studies. It is a competitive platform for researchers, educators, and professionals from national and international institutions.
LaRIC is not a conference, but a research-driven competition emphasising originality, applicability, and real-world impact. It welcomes participation from postgraduate researchers, academicians, students, and language practitioners committed to transforming language education through innovation.
The theme for LaRIC2025 is:
“Language as a Catalyst for Unity: Innovations in Language Education”
This theme highlights the vital role of language in fostering national unity and intercultural understanding, while underscoring the potential of innovative language practices to strengthen social cohesion.
Participants are invited to submit entries under the following sub-themes:
- Innovative Approaches to Teaching English
- Revitalising the Malay Language through Innovations
- Cultural Integration and Innovations in Foreign Language Learning
To promote inclusive participation, LaRIC2025 features three competition categories:
- Category A: UPNM participants, including postgraduate students
- Category B: Pre-university and undergraduate students (Matriculation/Foundation, Colleges, and Universities)
- Category C: Professionals (Academicians and Industry Practitioners)
These categories ensure fair and meaningful competition across academic levels and professional backgrounds, encouraging diverse language innovations from emerging scholars to seasoned experts.
The following objectives guide LaRIC2025:
- To encourage UPNM researchers and external participants to produce high-quality research in language-related fields and promote innovative teaching and learning approaches.
- To provide a platform for academics and students to share research findings, experiences, and best practices, enhancing awareness of current developments in language studies.
- To foster collaborative relationships among researchers, facilitating joint projects and more impactful innovations in language education.
Publication Opportunity
Participants of LaRIC2025 will have the opportunity to submit an extended abstract for consideration in a post-competition publication. Selected abstracts will be published in an ISBN-registered e-book by the Language Centre, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), offering contributors a valuable avenue for academic visibility and recognition.
This initiative aligns with LaRIC’s commitment to advancing the dissemination of innovative research and best practices in language studies. It provides participants, particularly postgraduate researchers and professionals, the chance to enhance their academic and professional profiles through scholarly publication.
Detailed guidelines on formatting, submission, and the editorial review process will be provided upon acceptance into the competition.