AIU eyes global collaboration at Malaysian Studies Conference
ALOR SETAR, 19 August 2025 – A delegation from Albukhary International University (AIU) has returned from the 14th International Malaysian Studies Conference, held at the Waterfront Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak, from 12 to 13 August 2025, with promising avenues for collaboration.
The delegation, representing the School of Business and Social Sciences (SBSS), consisted of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Frederik Holst, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mikio Oishi, Madam Noor Jannah Binti Afi, and Mr. Afifi Bin Nordin. Among the highlights was the recognition of Mr. Afifi Bin Nordin, who received the Best Presentation Award for his research paper, raising both his potential as a young scholar and AIU’s growing visibility within academic circles.
Building on this momentum, AIU’s panel sessions on forced migration and the role of autonomous knowledge in advancing Social Business attracted considerable attention. The discussions opened doors for further cooperation with several distinguished scholars, including Prof. Dr. Yoshimura Mako from HOSEI University, Japan, Prof. Dr. Iguchi Yufu from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University College of Asia Pacific Studies, Japan, and Jonathan Yong Tienxhi from University of Cambridge, UK, who expressed interest in visiting AIU to conduct joint seminars and collaborative projects.
The conversations also broadened into future institutional initiatives. Prof. Dr. Syed Farid Alatas from the National University of Singapore, who visited AIU earlier this year, proposed the idea of a joint conference on decolonial and autonomous knowledge, potentially co-hosted with Universiti Malaya and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. Such a platform would allow AIU to showcase its localized Social Business models as meaningful contributions to knowledge creation and sustainable community development.
In addition to academic engagements, the delegation explored opportunities in community-based innovation. A visit to the Sarawak Orchid Society (SARORSO) revealed an inspiring project that integrates orchid cultivation with ecological farming, combining biodiversity protection with local income generation. The initiative, led by YM Tengku Dr. Hjh. Auvaroza Binti Tengku Abraham, resonated with AIU’s Social Business framework. She expressed interest in adapting similar models to Kedah, particularly in Baling and Sik, where community-based sustainable projects could have a significant impact.
The conference, themed “Sustainable Development, Vulnerabilities and Resilience: Malaysia and ASEAN”, brought together academics, researchers, industry practitioners, and members of the public from across Malaysia and abroad. It was jointly organised by the Malaysian Social Science Association, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia, Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia, and Business Events Sarawak.
#AIU #InspiringMinds #5ACoreValues #The8HourRule #SocialBusiness #3ZEROClub
