Writer: Duke Paopathon Pardede (2461001) | Editor: Ambarwulan, S.T.
Universitas Internasional Batam successfully organized an Academic and Cultural Exchange program entitled Navigating Global Markets: Business Strategy and Market Excellence in collaboration with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia on Wednesday, February 12, 2026. The event was held at the Faculty of Medicine Auditorium, second floor, Universitas Internasional Batam, and was attended by lecturers, postgraduate students, and invited academic participants from both institutions. This academic forum was initiated as part of UIB’s ongoing international collaboration agenda to strengthen global business insight and cross institutional engagement. The program aimed to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, academic discussion, and joint learning between Indonesian and Malaysian academics. The entire activity was conducted smoothly and professionally without any obstacles.
The opening session began with welcoming remarks delivered by Dr. Ria Karina, Ph.D., Head of the Master of Management Program, Faculty of Business and Management, Universitas Internasional Batam. In her address, she emphasized the importance of international academic exposure in preparing students to face global market challenges and dynamic business environments. She highlighted that academic exchange activities play a crucial role in bridging theory and real world application. Her remarks set a strong foundation for the academic sessions that followed. The opening segment reflected UIB’s commitment to internationalization and collaborative learning.
The opening remarks from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia were delivered by Mdm. Nur Aniza Quantaniah binti Jusoh, Senior Lecturer at UTHM. In her speech, she expressed appreciation for the warm welcome from Universitas Internasional Batam and emphasized the significance of sustained academic partnerships between higher education institutions. She highlighted that academic collaboration enables mutual growth through shared expertise, research exchange, and student development. Her remarks reinforced the value of cross border academic engagement and set a collaborative tone for the program. The session demonstrated the strong institutional relationship between UIB and UTHM.
The first lecture session featured Associate Professor Dr. Umi Kartini Rashid from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, who presented a topic entitled Business Model Canvas Modeling Your Market Towards Excellence. Her presentation focused on strategic business model development, market positioning, and innovation as key drivers of competitiveness. She provided practical insights into how organizations can adapt their business models to evolving global market demands. Participants showed strong interest and engagement throughout the session. The lecture contributed significantly to enhancing students’ understanding of market driven strategy.
The second lecture session was delivered by Dr. Agustinus Setyawan, S.T., M.M., from Universitas Internasional Batam with a presentation entitled Strategic People and Culture. His session emphasized the role of human resources, leadership, and organizational culture in achieving sustainable business excellence. He explained how internal organizational strength complements external market strategy. The session provided a balanced perspective that connected strategic planning with people management. Active interaction from participants indicated the relevance of the topic to their academic and professional interests.
Following the lecture sessions, the program continued with an interactive question and answer segment involving both speakers and participants. This session allowed students and lecturers to exchange ideas, clarify concepts, and discuss real world applications related to the topics presented. The discussion atmosphere was open, dynamic, and academically stimulating. Participants actively contributed questions and perspectives, reflecting high engagement. This segment further strengthened the collaborative learning environment of the event.
The Academic and Cultural Exchange then proceeded with a joint student thesis proposal presentation session involving students from Universitas Internasional Batam and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. A total of five students presented their research proposals, covering topics such as halal certification among MSMEs, export performance, labor adoption in the construction industry, leadership in organizations, and electronic waste recycling behavior. Each presentation received constructive feedback and academic input from attending lecturers. This session provided valuable cross institutional perspectives and enhanced the quality of students’ research development. It also demonstrated the depth of academic collaboration between the two universities.
The program concluded with a lecturer input session, followed by an exchange of tokens of appreciation and documentation activities. Closing remarks expressed gratitude to all speakers, participants, and organizing committees for their contributions to the success of the event. Overall, the Academic and Cultural Exchange was conducted successfully and professionally from start to finish. The program reaffirmed the strong partnership between Universitas Internasional Batam and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and marked an important step in strengthening future academic collaboration, research development, and international engagement.
International Relation Office
Universitas Internasional Batam
