UUM ONLINE: Management and Leadership Case Study Centre, Universiti Utara Malaysia (PKKPK-UUM) warmly welcomed a delegation from Universitas Bangka Belitung (UBB), Indonesia, headed by Dr. Reniati, Dr. Hamsani, and Dr. Nizwan. The delegation comprised 16 Master of Management (S2) students from the Faculty of Economics & Business at UBB.
The day began at the UUM Welcome Centre, where the delegation received a cordial reception. This was followed by a fruitful discussion on prospective academic and research collaborations with the School of Business Management (SBM-UUM). The session featured valuable input from the Dean, Deputy Deans, and the Deputy Director of the Centre for International Affairs and Cooperation (CIAC-UUM).
The highlight of the day was the "Learning with Cases" session, in which UUM postgraduate students collaborated with UBB’s delegation to analyse two engaging case studies. The first, Millennial Entrepreneur: The Siblings Kitchen, authored by Prof. Noor Afza Amran, Dr Lily Julienti Abu Bakar, and Dr Norhani Aripin, explored themes of entrepreneurship and online business. The second, Tastiway's Export Strategy, written by Dr Alisha Ismail, Dr Wan Nurisma Ayu, and Mr Ng Aik Rom, focused on export strategies.
The session began with a pre-analysis of each case, leading to dynamic discussions enriched with hands-on activities. Students from both universities actively engaged, exchanging views and delivering engaging presentations within a collaborative atmosphere.
In the afternoon, the UBB delegation visited the Varsity Mall, where they enjoyed browsing and purchasing souvenirs at the BSD Merchandise Centre. The day’s highlight, however, was the industrial visit to Tastiway in Jitra. This visit enabled students to witness their case study in action, as Mr. Joe, the operational manager highlighted in the case study, delivered a comprehensive briefing and participated in an interactive Q&A session. The students eagerly asked questions, gaining firsthand insights into the practical implications of their morning’s learning. The visit culminated in a warm gesture from Tastiway, who presented generous goodies to the participants.
Reflecting on the day’s events, Prof. Assoc. Dr Narentheren Kalippen, Director of PKKPK-UUM, said, this collaboration with UBB provides a platform for mutual learning and knowledge exchange.
“By uniting students from different academic backgrounds and countries, we can foster a deeper understanding of case study methodologies and their real-world applications.
“We hope this experience has broadened the students' perspectives and inspired future collaborative efforts between our institutions,” he said.
Mr. Tomi Sah, a Master of Management student from UBB, expressed his appreciation for the experience, saying, "This experience has been incredibly eye-opening. The opportunity to learn from case studies and subsequently witness their practical implementation during the industrial visit was invaluable. It has enhanced my understanding of the complexities involved in export strategies and entrepreneurial ventures. The warm welcome from UUM made this experience even more memorable."