INDONESIA : 5th International Conference on Business, Economics, and Sustainability (BESS) in Malang
On 7–8 August 2025, the city of Malang, Indonesia, hosted the 5th International Conference on Business, Economics, and Sustainability (BESS). This event, organized by the Department of Development Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Malang, brought together researchers, policymakers, NGO leaders and students to address the intersections of economics, public policy and education in the pursuit of sustainable development.
The International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) under the auspices of UNESCO took part in the conference. Madam Sharizad Dahlan, Director of ISTIC, delivered a keynote address focused on the ISTIC’s core mission: strengthening South–South cooperation through system alignment, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
In her address, Ms. Dahlan emphasized the role of education in advancing science, technology, and innovation (STI) as drivers of sustainable development. She presented several flagship regional initiatives led by ISTIC, including:
- The new STI collaboration between South Africa and Asia, in partnership with the National Research Foundation (NRF), designed to foster innovation and knowledge exchange across South-Africa and Malaysia.
- The Green Education for South-East Asia (GE4SEA) programme, implemented in collaboration with the Office for Climate Education, aimed at embedding climate change education across Malaysia and Indonesia.
Mrs. Dahlan also called for stronger linkages between STI, education, and policymaking, offering strategic recommendations to better integrate these domains within sustainable development initiatives.
Her presentation was followed by a Question-and-Answer session alongside Prof. Dr. Etty Soesilowati, where participants explored practical pathways to translate ideas into concrete, real-world impact.
The BESS conference serves as a leading platform for sharing cutting-edge research, exchanging best practices, and fostering cross-border collaboration.
🔗 Learn more about the event : http://bit.ly/4oqPEIY
