Dr Anita Premila Paul Dorairaj

Dr Anita Premila Paul Dorairaj

  • Senior Lecturer
Yunus Social Business Centre
  • ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Business School
SDGs Focus

Biography

Dr. Anita Paul is a Senior Lecturer at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University working with Yunus Social Business Centre. With over twenty-five years of higher education experience in both academia and student support, she has crafted and delivered modules in management, community engagement and creativity. Her managerial background in Students Affairs has been instrumental in championing student leadership and community engagement initiatives, building a network of collaborators with industry, NGO’s and social enterprises. 

She has coached students from ºìÐÓÊÓƵ College and ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University for inter-varsity competitions in areas of her passion, gaining recognition for the institution. As a Service-learning advocate, she has mobilized students through student-led social impact projects benefitting various marginalized communities in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

A firm believer in employability skills, particularly self-awareness, personal brand and career discernment, she has trained students in practical skills to be work-ready interns and graduates. Her PHD framework is employed to train youth volunteerism and social consciousness. She is also a certified trainer with practical research in experiential learning, youth engagement and social impact.  

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, UPNM (2024)
  • Master of Business Administration, Nottingham-Trent University (2004)
  • Bachelor of Commerce, Curtin University, Australia (2000)

Research Interests

  • Experiential learning
  • Social Consciousness & Service Learning
  • Social Enterprise
  • Education for Social Impact
  • Career Discernment

Teaching Areas

  • Management
  • Community Engagement
  • Business
  • Creative & Critical Thinking Skills

Courses Taught

  • Principles of Management
  • Introduction to Business
  • Creativity & Innovative Thinking Skills
  • Final Year Project 1
  • Community Service

Notable Publications

  1. Paul, A. P., & Soh, C. K. (2025). Discernment-driven career decision-making model for tertiary students: A concept paper. Industry and Higher Education, 09504222251397476.
  2. Paul, A. P. (2023). A service-learning framework to enhance student engagement and social consciousness (Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia).
  3. Paul, A., Abdullah, H., & Liaw, J. O. H. (2023). Sowing seeds of social consciousness? Linking student engagement and community engagement through service learning. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(2). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368679364_Sowing_Seeds_of_Social_Consciousness_Linking_Student_Engagement_and_Community_Engagement_Through_Service_LearningDOI: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i2/16426
  4. Paul, A., Abdullah, H., & Liaw, J. O. H. (2022). Students Service-Learning Experience and Perception of Graduate Preparedness for The Workplace. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(11), 1-21. https://hrmars.com/papers_submitted/15759/students-service-learning-experience-and-perception-of-graduate-preparedness-for-the-workplace.pdf
  5. Paul, A. & Suki,N.(2018) .‘Enhancing Career Confidence in Tertiary Students: Better Career-fit and Effective Employability through Career Discernment. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352487712_Enhancing_Career_Confidence_in_Tertiary_Students_Better_Career-fit_and_Effective_Employability_through_Career_Discernment 

Achievements & Accolades

Community & Social Awareness Engagement

  1. Head of a collaborative committee for first webinar on ‘Statelessness and Education Rights’ held on 30th June 2021 with external panelist.
    /news/2021/statelessness-and-education-perspective-webinar 
  2. Initiated and collaborated with ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University School of Law and Social Justice in 2023 for the ‘Statelessness & Education Forum’ with external panelist.
     

Industry Engagement  

  1. GET REAL panel of industry engagements brought in.

     

Guest speaker Invites

  1. Invited to speak at ASEAN YOUTH FORUM representing Malaysia on Youth Social Impact
     
  2. HAKITA webinar podcast series speaker on two occasions; Child Rights to Education 2023 and Senior Citizens in Malaysia 2024

Student Competition Coaching

  1. Mentored ºìÐÓÊÓƵ College students for the Inter-college Community & U Competition in 2018(Winner) and 2019(1st runner-up) securing funding for community projects benefiting refugees and the B40 community.
  2. Coached international students for Inter-Varsity singing competition PALMA 2022. ºìÐÓÊÓƵ College won 1st runner-up student win.
  3. Coached foreign students from ºìÐÓÊÓƵ College and ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University for PALMA 2024 leading to top 1st place and 2nd runner up won by ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University students. Collab with International Office.
     

Professional Associations

  1. Training of Volunteers and Social Impact through foundations and NGOs