Prepared by Saharah Saad
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 April 2025: The Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB) successfully hosted its inaugural Doctoral Symposium 2025 in a fully virtual format via Webex. The event featured ten research presentations by doctoral students from OYAGSB, the School of Business Management (SBM), and the Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy (TISSA) at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). Their work addressed a broad spectrum of regional and global challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.
The symposium featured an impressive lineup of presentations, each addressing complex real-world challenges through rigorous research and novel perspectives:
- Nur Shamimi Binti Rosli introduced the innovative concept of Green Absorptive Capacity as a mechanism for promoting frugal innovation and environmental sustainability in the construction industry. Her research demonstrated how resource efficiency can reshape industry practices and influence environmental policy.
- Yeoh Ceh Hsing presented a series of policy-driven frameworks designed to facilitate Malaysia’s shift from fossil fuels to a low-carbon energy economy. His work adds depth to ongoing discussions on sustainable energy governance.
- Santhananthan Gopal Krishnan, who focused on cybersecurity, investigated the roles of leadership, training, and technological readiness in shaping cybersecurity awareness among banking personnel. His research champions a human-centered approach to digital security. “This symposium gave me a fresh perspective on how my work fits into a larger policy narrative,” he shared.
- Abdulmalik Hamidu Modibbo proposed a framework that links entrepreneurial orientation to SME performance in Nigeria, with government support as a moderating factor. He advocated for national strategies to align with global best practices in enhancing SME-driven economic development.
- Foong Siang Ming examined the factors influencing the adoption of blockchain-based self-sovereign identity (SSI) systems among Malaysian graduates. Through a blend of UTAUT2 and Information Trust Models, his findings revealed trust as a pivotal determinant in the user adoption in emerging digital identity solutions.
- Ms, Malenee Chandran identified regulatory gaps and production costs as key barriers to adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Malaysia. She proposed a localized framework to support a greener and sustainable aviation future.
- Huiming Xu, from China, analyzed the influence of vehicle connectivity on electric vehicle (EV) adoption and aftermarket behavior, emphasizing the evolving role of IoT technologies in shaping consumer decision-making.
- Zhang Li examined the link between environmental costs, carbon trading, and corporate value— illustrating how sustainability strategies can serve both financial performance and environmental accountability.
- Fatema Mohammed Saeed Binalwan Alhebsi investigated the interplay between transformational leadership, strategic planning, and innovation outcomes, identifying organizational agility as a key moderating factor in enhancing institutional performance.
- Finally, Mr. Huang Wenjun presented a holistic, evidence-based approach for managing low back pain using acupuncture. His research, bridges traditional practices and modern medicine, offering a compelling case for integrative healthcare solutions.
Each presentation received detailed feedback from expert reviewers, who emphasized the importance of strong theoretical grounding, clearly defined research problems, and methodological rigor. These constructive critiques significantly contributed to refining the scholarly quality of each study.
The symposium underscored OYAGSB’s unwavering commitment to interdisciplinary research and capacity building, with a strategic focus on producing impactful, cross-sectoral scholarship.
Moderators Professor Ts. Dr. Norazah Mohd Suki and Dr. Rohail Hassan played a pivotal role in the event’s success by facilitating dynamic discussions and fostering a collaborative environment for intellectual exchange.
Through initiatives like this, OYAGSB continues to champion solution-oriented research that addresses some of the world’s most pressing challenges—further solidifying its position as a leader in transformative academic inquiry.
Building on the success of this symposium, OYAGSB is set to host upcoming editions in August and December 2025. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the symposium page for the latest updates and registration details: http://www.oyagsb.uum.edu.my/current-students/doctoral-colloquium-symposium
