ICSC 2025 advances global collaboration through case studies in Academia, Government, and Industry

Gambar oleh Nur Amirah Zakaria

JOHOR BAHRU, 17 September 2025: The International Case Study Congress (ICSC) 2025, held from 15–17 September at Berjaya Waterfront Hotel, Johor Bahru, concluded successfully, bringing together academics, government administrators, students, and industry practitioners from Malaysia and abroad. Organised by the Management and Leadership Case Study Centre (PKKPK), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), the congress carried the theme “Reshaping Management and Leadership in the Digital Era: Inclusive and Sustainable Future.”

The congress was officiated by Prof. Dr. Ram Al Jaffri Saad, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), UUM, who represented the Vice-Chancellor. In his opening address, Prof. Ram expressed his aspiration to advance the Pusat Kajian Kes Negara (PKKN) agenda further, strengthening UUM’s role as a national hub for management and leadership development through case studies.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narentheren Kaliappen, Director of PKKPK, one of the defining features of this year’s congress was the equal participation of academicians and practitioners from both government and the private sector. “This balance ensured that our discussions were not only intellectually rigorous but also practically relevant, with perspectives drawn from classrooms, boardrooms, and policy corridors,” he said.

Participants represented a wide range of universities, government agencies, and private organisations across Malaysia and abroad. Institutions included UUM, UMK, UPM, UIAM, INCEIF, City University, Johor Business School (JBS), SZABIST (Pakistan), and NIFT (India). Government agencies present included the JPA, MARA, PERKESO, NADMA, IKMA, MIMA, DBP, MCMC, SPRM, and Badan Kawalselia Air Johor.

Keynote and invited sessions reflected the congress theme of inclusivity and sustainability. Dato’ Dr. Badrul Hisham Kassim, CEO of Johor Civil Service Academy and Adjunct Professor at JBS, UTHM, spoke on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and housing initiatives, highlighting the importance of inclusive policies in regional growth. Mdm. Vicky Lester, CEO of The Case Centre (UK), emphasised the global reach of the case method and introduced innovations such as the Case Impact Index. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafie Mohamed Zabri, Dean of JBS, shared the school’s vision and opportunities for academic-industry collaboration. Mr. Mohd Faizal Ab Hamid from NADMA offered insights on crisis preparedness, while Mr. William from Emerald Publishing introduced the Southeast & East Asia Case Writing Competition, encouraging regional participation and raising the visibility of Asian cases on the international stage.

The programme also featured a hands-on workshop by Nikkei BizRuptors (Thailand), led by Mdm. Makiko Sugiyama and Mr. Narupat Rattanakit, which introduced the Case Writing Assistant model to support new writers.

More than 50 cases were presented, spanning business strategy, governance, sustainability, education, culture, and community development. From PETRONAS’s hydrogen market strategy and Astro Malaysia’s competitive challenges, to ESG dilemmas in mega projects, inclusive education leadership, and disaster management, the diversity of topics reflected the congress’s strong emphasis on real-world challenges.

The congress concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating excellence in case-based teaching and research. Awards included the Best Teaching Cases (nominated by The Case Centre UK), Best Teaching Case Awards, Best Presenter Awards, Best-Selling Case Award, Best Case Teacher Award and the Outstanding Contribution to the Case Method Award.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Dr. Narentheren said, “The ICSC 2025 has shown that the case method is not only alive but also highly relevant in today’s digital era. By bringing together voices from academia, government, and industry, we are reshaping management and leadership in ways that are both inclusive and sustainable. This congress has truly reinforced the power of cases to connect theory with practice and to prepare leaders for the future.”

Supported by JBS, Tastiway Sdn. Bhd., and The Case Centre, ICSC 2025 strengthened its role as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and global collaboration. The congress closed with appreciation extended to the PKKPK-UUM organising team for their dedication in ensuring the event’s success. – Nur Amirah Zakaria