Global Knowledge Network

ABEST21 International 20th Anniversary Symposium

ABEST21 International hosted an international symposium titled “Nurturing Human Resources and Developing Competitive Education Programs in the Global South” in celebration of its 20th anniversary on Monday, 26 May, 2025. The symposium took place at the Elizabeth Rose Conference Hall, United Nations University, in Tokyo, Japan. The symposium was organized with the esteemed support of the United Nations University, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The objective of the international symposium is to address the urgent need for advanced management education in the Global South. The event will explore strategies to nurture globally competent management professionals capable of driving sustainable development through effective leadership and policy implementation. It might also serve as a platform for collaborative dialogue on building inclusive, high-quality education systems that respond to the evolving demands of globalization and technological progress. A total of twenty-six institutions from six countries participated in the symposium. Key speakers included representatives from the United Nations University, the Embassy of Japan in Ghana, JICA, and the University of Tsukuba. ABEST21 International member institutions also contributed to the dialogue.

-Participating institutions-

• ABEST21 International, Tokyo
• United Nations University, Tokyo
• Japan International Corporate Agency, Tokyo

(Ghana)

• Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Ghana, Accra

(Indonesia)

• Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta
• Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung
• Universitas Telkom, Bandung
• Perbanas Institute, Jakarta

(Japan)

• Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo
• Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo
• Kyoto University, Kyoto
• SBI Graduate School, Tokyo
• University of Tsukuba, Tokyo
• Waseda University, Tokyo

(Malaysia)

• Univesiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor
• Management & Science University, Selangor
• University Malaysia Kelantan, Kelantan
• Univesiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Kuantan
• Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu
• Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak
• Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang
• Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor
• Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Selangor

(Russia)

• Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia

(Thailand)

• Khon Kaen University, Kohn Kaen
• Naresuan University, Phitsanulok

-The Symposium Summary-

Coordinator
Professor Dr. Cheng Ming Yu
Faculty of Accountancy and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia

Opening Remark

Professor Emeritus Dr. ITOH Fumio
President and CEO, ABEST21 International;
Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan

ABEST21 President and CEO, Professor Emeritus Dr. ITOH Fumio, reflected on the core principles that have guided ABEST21’s work and highlighted the critical challenges that must be addressed moving forward. He emphasized the importance of quality education for sustainable development and the need to strike a balance between economic development and environmental conservation, urging cooperation over confrontation in pursuit of development. President Itoh also stressed the growing significance of educational cooperation within the Global South, especially in light of the growing interdependence and shared challenges among countries in the Global South.

Session-I: Keynote Speech

Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Ph.D.
Rector of the United Nations University;
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

The Keynote Speech was delivered by Professor Dr. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. Professor Marwala highlighted that global education is under transformation, driven by forces such as globalization, rapid technological advancement, climate change, and increasing geopolitical tensions. While education has become more global in principle, students in the Global South remain largely isolated from the global development. This disparity, he emphasized, highlights the urgent need for a new era of education that is inclusive, equitable, and universally accessible. Structural inequalities must be addressed to ensure that all students are empowered to participate meaningfully in a rapidly changing world.

Session-II: Special Speech-1

Mr. YOSHIMOTO Hiroshi
Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Ghana
Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Ghana

(Participating online from Ghana)

“Strategy of Japanese Universities to enhance exchange programs with Universities in Africa-In the case of Ghana”

Mr. YOSHIMOTO Hiroshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Ghana, delivered the First Special Speech from Ghana. Ambassador Yoshimoto began by providing an overview of Ghana’s economic development and highlighted the critical role of human resource development in Africa. Ambassador Yoshimoto emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration between Japan and African universities to support inclusive development and mutual prosperity.

Session III: Special Speech-2

Mr. UEDA Daisuke
Deputy Director General, and Group Director of Higher Education and Social Security Group; Human Development Department International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan

“JICA’s Cooperation in Higher Education and International Brain Circulation”

The Second Special Speech was delivered by Mr. UEDA Daisuke, Deputy Director General and Group Director of Higher Education and Social Security in the Human Development Department at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In his presentation, Mr. Ueda discussed JICA’s strategies in promoting higher education collaboration and international brain circulation. In particular, he explained JICA’s strategy in fostering capacity building of “Leading Universities” in partner countries and the development of an ecosystem for international brain circulation.

Session IV: Case Study

Professor Rémy Magnier-Watanabe, Ph.D.
Chair, MBA Program in International Business, Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan

“Bridging Education Between Japan and the Global South”

Professor Rémy Magnier-Watanabe, Chair of the MBA Program in International Business at the Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan presented a Case Study highlighting practical efforts to bridge higher education between Japan and the Global South. His presentation focused on the collaborative initiative between the University of Tsukuba, Japan, and Universiti Malaya in Malaysia, which led to the establishment of the University of Tsukuba Malaysia (UTMy) in 2024.

Session V: Panel Discussion

Coordinator:
Associate Professor Teguh Dartanto, Ph.D.,
ABEST21 International Vice President
Dean, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia

“Introduction Panel Session: Advancing Human Capital and Global Engagement: Cultivating Talent and Programs for Global South Collaboration”

The Panel Discussion moderated by Associate Professor Teguh Dartanto, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Indonesia, brought together diverse perspectives and institutional approaches and strategies for nurturing human resources and developing competitive education programs in Global South

Panelists;

Dean Professor Dr. Hj. Nunuy Nur Afiah, Faculty of Economics and Business, Univesitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia

“Advancing Human Capital and Global Engagement Cultivating Talent & Programs for Global South Collaboration”

Associate Professor HIROSE Yuta, Ph.D.
Graduate School of International Management, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan

“Aoyama Business School (ABS)’s Path to Global Engagement”

Dean Professor Dr. Norzanah Mat Nor.
Arshad Ayub Graduate Business School, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

“Nurturing Human Resources and Developing Competitive Education Programs in the Global South”

Professor TAKEHARA Hitoshi, Ph.D.
Graduate School of Business and Finance, Waseda University, Japan

“Nurturing Human Resources and Developing Competitive Education Programs in the Global South -Vision Now and Tomorrow-”

Closing Remark

Professor Dr. Ali Khatibi,
ABEST21 International Vice President Senior Vice President, Management & Science University, Malaysia

The reminded the participants of the collective responsibility shared by all stakeholders in shaping the future of global education and in responding to pressing global challenges, particularly climate change, technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainties.