The Master of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UGM Jakarta Campus successfully hosted the ASEAN University Network for Business and Economics Annual General Meeting 2025 (AUN-BE AGM) on January 16-17, 2025. This forum is a place for AUN-BE members in ASEAN countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, to discuss various strategic agendas as well as to strengthen cooperation in the field of economics and business education in the future.
Head of the Global Relations and Mobility Unit (GREAT), Arizona Mustikarini, Ph.D., said that one of the important agendas of the AUN-BE Annual General Meeting was the ASEAN Café session. In this session, the delegates were divided into two groups to discuss three main discussion points: rebuilding the involvement of AUN-BE members, reactivating AUN-BE activities, and strengthening cooperation among its members.
The first group, facilitated by Dr. Emilina Sarreal (De La Salle University, Philippines), suggested shifting the focus from traditional lectures to more immersive programs and case-based learning. The shift included organizing workshops on developing practical teaching cases and collaborating with MSMEs to provide real-world context. Next, the AUN-BE website can freely host learning materials like the GRI Learning Series webinar.
Arizona explained that another idea discussed was to organize a case writing competition. The main objective is introducing digitally accessible case-based learning to enhance accessibility and promote sustainability.
Recognizing the challenge of declining enrollment, Arizona said the first group presented a proposal on the need to strategize to attract more demographics by adopting the best practices implemented by Singapore Management University. Meanwhile, AUN-BE will actively pursue cooperation to build mutually beneficial partnerships, formalizing these collaborations through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
Meanwhile, the second group, facilitated by Dr. Masairol Masri (Universiti Brunei Darussalam), also proposed several ideas. The first one is an initiative to promote student mobility within the ASEAN region, focusing on exchanges between ASEAN countries. Other proposed ideas were developing an ASEAN Business Case Competition as a learning platform for students, establishing an ASEAN Global Classroom with a focus on entrepreneurship and sustainability, and organizing conferences on specific topics such as logistics and Islamic finance.
Arizona added that the idea to establish a Ph.D. colloquium and joint applications for international research grants were also discussed. They also discussed the opportunities for collaboration in database subscriptions and the expansion of AUN-BE membership.
Recognizing the growing interest from ASEAN+3 countries, including China, this meeting also opens opportunities to focus on areas such as green technology, with the potential involvement of partners from Japan, Australia, and China.
With the success of this event, FEB UGM has further demonstrated its commitment to advancing higher education in the ASEAN region in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include quality education, economic growth, reducing inequality, and strengthening global partnerships.
Reportage: GREAT FEB UGM
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Sustainable Development Goals
