By Chessa Pae Faustino

In an effort to foster business resilience and innovation, the Mariano Marcos State University - College of Business, Economics and Accountancy (CBEA) staged its first International Business Conference (IBC) on March 21 at the MMSU Center for Flexible Learning.

With participants from 28 state universities and colleges in the country and abroad, the virtual conference aimed to promote digitization of business processes and systems transformation, to provide new perspectives on international business, and to encourage agile leadership and continuous learning adaptation.

International partner universities and agencies included CJ Logistics (Chicago, USA), AGA Academy (Canada), North South University (Bangladesh), Parul University (India), Universitas Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa, Universitas PGRI Madiun, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Indonesia), Universiti Teknologi MARA (Malaysia), University of Technology and Applied Sciences (Ibra, Oman), Gifu University and Shizuoka University (Japan).

The Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, Landbank of the Philippines, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, and the local government units of Laoag City, City of Batac, Paoay, Pinili, and Bacarra, also joined the said conference.

In a three-panel discussion, the following topics were presented: technological innovations and initiatives for business resilience by Prof. Frank Seto (AGA Academy); technological systems in a future-proof workforce by Mr. Quazi Tafsirul Islam (North South University); expectations and best practices on international business by Dr. Luis Vasquez (AGA Academy) and Ms. Mary Jean G. Tumamao, chairperson of CBEA – Business Administration Department.

Likewise, lectures on building a human-centered workforce in the modern digital world and agile leadership for employee empowerment were delivered by Dr. Sapna Chauhan (Parul University) and Dr. Kusuma Chandra Kirana (Universitas Saranajiyawata Tamansiswa), respectively.

At the end of the conference, the participants created their own book containing cases and discussion notes. They also developed concept notes and e-systems for their respective agencies and institutions. (HLY/JVBT/SCO, StratCom)