News and photos Saharah Saad
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 June 2026: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) further strengthened its position as a regional hub for postgraduate research and international academic collaboration through the successful organisation of the UUM–UNJ International Doctoral Research Colloquium 2026 (IDRC ’26), which brought together 87 doctoral researchers and presenters from Malaysia and 37 universities across Indonesia.
Organised by the Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB) in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), the one-day colloquium was held at UUM Kuala Lumpur under the theme, “Advancing Global Research Excellence in Business and Economics.”
The event served as a platform for doctoral candidates, academics, and researchers to present their findings, exchange ideas, receive expert feedback, and strengthen international scholarly networks.
In his welcoming address, OYAGSB Dean Professor Dr Hasnizam Shaari highlighted the importance of international academic collaboration in advancing research excellence and addressing contemporary challenges in business, economics, technology, and sustainability.
“The colloquium provides a valuable platform for postgraduate researchers to enhance their research capabilities, engage in scholarly discourse, and establish long-term academic partnerships,” he said.
A major highlight of the colloquium was the presentation of 87 research papers and doctoral research proposals by participants from OYAGSB, the College of Business (COB), UUM, and UNJ. The presentations were organised into 12 thematic tracks encompassing leadership, human resource management, entrepreneurship, marketing, tourism, finance, strategic management, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, public sector management, healthcare, sustainability, and ESG practices.
The thematic sessions encouraged critical discussions, interdisciplinary engagement, and knowledge sharing among participants. Doctoral candidates, particularly those in the early stages of their studies, also benefited from constructive feedback provided by academics and fellow researchers, enabling them to refine and strengthen their research proposals.
The colloquium featured a keynote address by Professor Ts. Dr Nor Aida Abdul Rahman from the Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (MIAT), Universiti Kuala Lumpur, entitled “Crafting the PhD Mosaic: Integrating Theory, Method, and Impact in Doctoral Research.” The session offered practical insights into developing rigorous and impactful doctoral research.
Another key highlight was a panel discussion titled “Advancing Global Research Excellence in Business and Economics,” featuring Professor Dr Usep Suhud of Universitas Negeri Jakarta and Associate Professor Dr Bahtiar Mohamad, Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation and Corporate Relations) of OYAGSB, UUM. Moderated by Dr Nursafwah Tugiman from the UUM Kuala Lumpur Campus, the session explored strategies for enhancing research quality, fostering innovation, and strengthening international academic collaboration.
The participation of scholars from UUM and 37 Indonesian universities underscored the growing strength of Malaysia–Indonesia academic cooperation and highlighted the importance of regional partnerships in advancing postgraduate education, research, publications, and academic mobility initiatives.
The programme concluded with the presentation of five Best Paper Awards in recognition of outstanding scholarly contributions. Certificates of participation were also presented to all researchers who took part in the colloquium.
The successful organisation of IDRC ’26 reflects UUM’s continued commitment to fostering a vibrant research culture, strengthening international academic partnerships, and nurturing future scholars capable of addressing regional and global challenges.
The event was coordinated by the OYAGSB Research Unit with support from reviewers from OYAGSB, the UUM Kuala Lumpur Campus, BINUS University, and Universitas Negeri Jakarta, whose expertise helped ensure the quality and academic rigour of the presentations.
The next OYAGSB Doctoral Colloquium is scheduled to be held on 6 December 2026 and will be open to students from the College of Business as well as OYAGSB master’s and doctoral programmes.
For more information and updates on future events, visit the OYAGSB Doctoral Colloquium/Symposium Portal: https://oyagsb.uum.edu.my/current-students/doctoral-colloquium-symposium
