| Siti Hajar |
THE Asean University Network for Business and Economics (AUN-BE) is looking to establish a system that recognises successful Small and Medium Enterprises from across the region as a means to further promote the private sector.
As part of the 15th AUN-BE General Meeting currently taking place in the Sultanate at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the assembly of business academics and related stakeholders including those from the Asean University Network and the Asean Foundation is scheduled to discuss ways to contribute to nation building especially in terms of economics and business growth.
In an interview with the 15th AUN-BE General Meeting chairman from Indonesia, Professor Wihana Kirana Jaya yesterday, among efforts that the group is looking into is emulating Singapore’s SME effort in terms of developing an award scheme, such as the SME One Asia Award, for SME’s and methods of evaluation.
With the focus being SME development, he explained that the move and several other suggestions including setting up a colloquium and promoting joint publications and research including on economic outlooks will facilitate and contribute to government policy making especially since governments across the world are looking towards the private sector for economic diversification.
The movers of these ambitions, he added, will be through student, academic and staff mobilisation with Brunei poised to take on a role in making this endeavour possible.
(ABOVE & BELOW) Some of the speakers at the event. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
A section of the attendees at the 15th AUN-BE General Meeting
“We are aware that Bruneian students are constantly looking to study overseas and I consider Brunei a significant partner. Students from here can share ideas, experiences and what is important is conducting joint research.”
The meeting, which concludes today, will aim towards strengthening relationships between member countries and develop a roadmap for implementation over the coming years whilst at the same time boost academic quality of business and economics programmes and internationalise programmes of AUN members at the regional and global levels.
Institutions such as those that are represented during the meeting, he said, “Want to give more beyond academics but also in terms of practical use through knowledge. The idea is to move forward in innovation, engagement and producing high-impact results for our students, lecturers as well as researchers.”
In attendance to represent Brunei was Acting Dean of Universiti Brunei Darussalam School of Business and Economics (UBDSBE), Dr Haji Mohamad Nabil Almunawar, who explained in his remarks that UBD first hosted such a meeting in 2004 and later in 2011, noting that significant progress has been made since the formation of the network.
Among the key strategies utilised by the grouping include benchmarking, reinforcing alliances, engaging in joint research projects, international mobility of resources and holding activities beyond Asean countries.
The post Recognising successful SMEs to promote private sector appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.