Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), through its School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE), brought together top academics and professional leaders from across Southeast Asia and local policymakers for the ASEAN University Network for Business and Economics (AUN-BE) Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026, positioning Brunei Darussalam at the forefront of regional conversations on sustainable finance, innovation, and the future of business education.
Central to the AGM is the gathering of delegates from more than 10 universities across the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei. Through institutional updates, member discussions, and breakout sessions on education and research, the meeting creates space for knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving among participating institutions. These engagements underscore AUN-BE’s role as a regional platform for innovation, policy dialogue, and academic excellence. The AGM began with opening remarks delivered by Dr Wardah Azimah Haji Sumardi, Dean of UBDSBE, and Professor Dr Didi Achjari, Chairman of the AUN-BE Secretariat, and Professor Dr Thanapan Laiprakobsup, the AUN Executive Director, signalling a collective commitment to strengthening regional partnerships and advancing impactful academic and research initiatives.
The event also features a keynote address by Dr Hafezali Iqbal Hussain, Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance, UBD School of Business and Economics, who delivers a timely and thought-provoking perspective on “From Ethical Promise to Real Impact: When Does Islamic Finance Actually Deliver Climate Outcomes?”. Beyond the keynote, the event also aims to strengthen regional collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and AUN-BE member institutions. Additionally, ACCA delivered a talk titled: Career Paths Reimagined: The Changing World of Work, further reinforcing the link between academia and professional practice. Complementing the keynote and ACCA talk, a panel discussion featuring experts from academia and local industry further explores the intersection of Islamic finance, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks, and global sustainability standards, while highlighting both opportunities and regulatory challenges in aligning ethical finance with climate disclosure.
The programme continued with a PhD Colloquium, gathering doctoral students from across ASEAN and the wider Southeast Asian region. The colloquium provides a platform for emerging scholars to present their research, engage with academic mentors, and exchange ideas on contemporary issues in business and economics, reflecting UBD’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers and strengthening regional academic networks. As part of the AUN-BE AGM programme, international participants get to experience Brunei’s cultural and environmental heritage through a curated city excursion.
As the host of AUN-BE 2026, UBDSBE reinforces its position as a regional hub for academic collaboration and thought leadership. The meeting not only strengthens institutional ties across ASEAN but also contributes to shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready business and economics landscape.
For more information, please visit www.sbe.ubd.edu.bn