JAKARTA, 21 January 2025: The ASEAN University Network for Business and Economics (AUN-BE) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) from 16 to 17 January 2025, at the Master of Management Campus of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The AGM brought together representatives from 10 ASEAN countries namely Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) was represented by Prof. Dr. Mohd Azizzudin Mohd Sani, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International); Prof. Dr. Hassan Abu Bakar, Dean of OYAGSB; Prof. Dr. Arpah Abu Bakar, Director of International Office; and Ms. Rozita Ramli, Director of Accreditation at OYAGSB. The primary focus was to discuss strategic agendas and strengthen cooperation in economics and business education among member institutions.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Gumilang, Deputy Dean of FEB UGM, highlighted the importance of collaboration in revitalizing the AUN-BE network post-COVID-19. He underscored the urgent need for ASEAN universities to align their educational priorities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the discussion, Prof. Dr. Azzizuddin emphasized Malaysia’s pivotal role as ASEAN Chair urging AUN BE members to collaborate closely with Malaysian universities.
He stated, “As ASEAN Chair, the AUN BE should fully capitalize on the strengths of Malaysian universities and learn from our experience in achieving high rankings.”
In a subsequent panel discussion, Prof. Dr. Hassan underscored the necessity of defining a clear strategic direction for AUN BE network. He advocated for incorporating teaching methodologies that utilize real-world case studies focused on ASEAN business issues. Furthermore, he proposed adopting the ASEAN + 3 model, suggesting that strategic partnerships with China, Japan, and South Korea could enhance the network’s impact.
A significant milestone of the meeting was the partnership with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Throughout 2024, GRI engaged in various activities, including managing the Integrating Sustainability and Sustainability Reporting in ASEAN Universities (ISSR-ASEAN) project, funded by the Swiss government.
This initiative provides scholarships for faculty members interested in sustainability, webinars for students and faculty, and grants for research on leveraging sustainability reporting for responsible business conduct.
The AGM also featured a panel discussion titled “Integrating Sustainability Reporting within the Academic Framework” in collaboration with GRI. Members deliberated on strategies to reactivate the AUN-BE network and selected Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s School of Business and Economic (UBDSBE) as the host for the 2026 AUN BE AGM.
This meeting marked a significant step in reactivating the AUN-BE network, enhancing its role as a “Think Tank” for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and fostering collaboration among member universities to address regional economic and educational challenges. – Rozita Ramli
