The recently conducted International Conference on Frontiers in Entrepreneurship, Management, Economic, and Sustainability (ICON-FEMES) 2024, organized by the Faculty of Management at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in collaboration with Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), Indonesia, under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ab. Razak Che Hussin, has significantly impacted the fields of management, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and digital transformation. Held on July 3-4, 2024, at the Ibis Style Johor Iskandar Puteri, the inaugural event gathered global experts, scholars, and industry leaders for a dynamic exchange of knowledge and collaboration.
ICON-FEMES 2024 is a visionary initiative between UTM and Indonesian university partners, including ITS, Universitas Bung Hatta, Universitas Binus, Universitas Brawijaya, Universitas Batam, and Universitas Sriwijaya (UNSRI). ITS, Surabaya, stood as a key collaborator, setting the stage for future contributions from other esteemed institutions.
The conference received 91 paper submissions, and after a rigorous review process, 75 papers were accepted. Of these, 45 were presented physically, and 30 were presented online, ensuring a wide reach and engagement across different formats.
The conference opened with remarks from Prof. Dr. Ahmad Jusoh, Dean of the Faculty of Management at UTM, followed by keynotes from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Effandi Yusoff and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ir. Arman Hakim Nasution from ITS, who addressed business diversification for sustainability and the role of sociopreneurs in rural development. The event’s multi-track approach facilitated comprehensive coverage of various topics, encouraging in-depth discussions and diverse insights.
ICON-FEMES 2024 fostered international collaboration, particularly through its strategic partnership with ITS Indonesia, enhancing global connections and promoting knowledge exchange. The event’s discussions and published papers provided valuable insights for policymakers, addressing critical issues such as sustainable energy and economic resilience, thereby influencing policy directions aligned with sustainable development goals.
The conference emphasized the importance of innovative strategies in addressing contemporary challenges. By presenting empirical data and theoretical models, ICON-FEMES 2024 highlighted the role of research in driving sustainable change and encouraged further investigations. The focus on sociopreneurship and rural development underscored academia’s role in socio-economic growth, inspiring initiatives to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications.
ICON-FEMES 2024 has set a new standard for future conferences, demonstrating the power of collective intelligence in addressing global challenges and laying the groundwork for ongoing innovation and strategic development.
By
Hanini Ilyana Binti Che Hashim
Yogeeswari Subramaniam
Faculty of Management, UTM