Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei delivering an opening speech at the start of the conference encouraging participants to make a concerted effort to contribute effectively to sustainable development.
The keynote speakers (from left to right): Prof Dr Hooy, Mr Andrew Lim and Dr Mohamad Norjayadi with the moderator, Assoc Prof Dr Chin Mui Yin, Head of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies and Research.
The TAR UMT International Researcher and Student Conference 2023 (IRSC 2023), held from 10 to 11 August 2023, stands as a significant event to promote and facilitate impactful intellectual discourse on sustainability within the framework of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The conference theme, 'Sustainability in the New Economy,' resoundingly resonates with the global imperative of creating a world free of poverty, that preserves the environment, and that embraces inclusive economic growth.
Held as a dual conference, the IRSC 2023 consists of a researcher conference and a student conference, each with concurrent sessions for researchers and students respectively. It aims to be a platform for participants to network, share research findings as well as explore common values and themes pertinent to the current economic climate, such as diversity, inclusivity, digital transformation and sustainability, with the goals of exploring research opportunities and fostering collaborative relationships.
During the opening ceremony, Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UMT, articulated the sustainability focus of the conference. “TAR UMT's aspiration for this event is to serve as a precious nexus between local and international attendees, whether they be students or researchers. The IRSC 2023 is a golden opportunity and a valuable platform for interactions, knowledge sharing, and experiences in nurturing a heightened awareness of the critical essence of sustainable development. The conference reverberates as meaningful contribution towards the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda,” he highlighted.
Kicking off the conference were three distinguished keynote speakers who delivered presentations which underscored the conference's theme of sustainability, and which were also accompanied by insightful discussions. Mr Andrew Lim, Portfolio Head of ACCA Maritime Southeast Asia, initiated the discourse with his talk, ‘Accounting for a Better World’ that highlighted the pivotal role accountants play in shaping sustainability reporting and the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda.
The second keynote speaker, Prof Dr Hooy Chee Wooi from Universiti Sains Malaysia, delivered an insightful address titled 'Managerial Risk-Taking and Business Sustainability’, which enlightened the audience on managerial risk-taking through which businesses navigate through the sea of uncertainties and opportunities, with the goal of achieving sustainable growth and business survival.
Dr Mohamad Norjayadi B. Tamam, Director of Delivery Management Office, Productivity Growth Department, Malaysian Productivity Corporation, took the stage as the third keynote speaker. His talk, 'Harnessing Productivity and Sustainability for a Better Future’, delved into the fusion of industry, government, and sustainability, exploring avenues to address productivity challenges through the lens of sustainability.
Following the keynote addresses, the conference unfolded into two concurrent conferences, one for researchers and one for students, over two days. These conferences, with their respective concurrent sessions, showcased a diverse array of research topics presented by researchers from participating universities from across the Asian region such as Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines for the researchers and contemporary sustainability related topics presented by TAR UMT’s industry partners to the students.
