SINGAPORE, Jul 15 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noorminshah A. Iahad from the Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), participated in the Singapore Information Systems Research Inter-University Symposium (SIRIUS) 2026, held from 13 to 15 July 2026 across three leading universities in Singapore: Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

She attended the three-day symposium together with her Master’s student, Nurshahirah Mhd Shaari, who is nearing completion of her postgraduate studies and plans to continue her academic journey by pursuing a PhD at UTM.

The participation of both an academic and a postgraduate student reflected UTM’s commitment to strengthening international academic engagement while developing the next generation of Information Systems researchers.

SIRIUS 2026 brought together internationally recognised Information Systems scholars, researchers and doctoral students from leading universities worldwide. The programme provided a platform for scholarly exchange, research presentations, academic networking and discussions on emerging developments in the Information Systems discipline.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noorminshah attended the symposium following an invitation from an academic colleague at NUS. The invitation provided an opportunity to engage with leading scholars, establish new academic connections and explore potential areas of research collaboration that may contribute to the continued development of Information Systems research and education at UTM.

A major highlight of SIRIUS 2026 was a series of keynote presentations delivered by five distinguished Information Systems scholars: Prof. Alok Gupta from the University of Minnesota, Prof. Chee-Wee Tan from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU), Prof. Youngjin Yoo from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Prof. Emmanuelle Vaast from McGill University (McG) and Prof. Anindya Ghose from New York University (NYU).

The keynote sessions addressed contemporary issues in Information Systems research, including generative artificial intelligence, human–AI collaboration, digital innovation, digital trace data, theory development and the influence of academic research on industry, policy making and society.

In addition to the keynote presentations, the symposium featured research discussions, scholarly presentations and networking sessions hosted at NTU, SMU and NUS. These sessions enabled participants to exchange perspectives on emerging research areas, methodological developments, academic publication and opportunities for international collaboration.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noorminshah described the symposium as an important platform for developing meaningful academic relationships and gaining exposure to current developments within the global Information Systems community.

“SIRIUS 2026 provided an exceptional opportunity to engage directly with leading Information Systems scholars and learn from their research experiences, perspectives and approaches. The discussions were intellectually stimulating and opened possibilities for future collaboration in areas related to data governance, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and decision intelligence,” she said.

She added that scholarly networking plays an important role in strengthening research visibility and developing sustainable international partnerships.

“Meaningful research collaboration often begins through scholarly conversations and professional relationships. This symposium allowed us to establish new connections, discuss potential research ideas and identify opportunities that may benefit UTM academics and postgraduate students.”

The participation of Nurshahirah is also highlighted the importance of exposing postgraduate students to international research communities at an early stage of their academic development.

Through direct engagement with established scholars, doctoral researchers and other symposium participants, she gained insights into current research practices, emerging Information Systems topics and the process of developing scholarly contributions with international relevance.

“The workshop gave me valuable exposure to current Information Systems research and allowed me to observe how leading scholars communicate, critique and develop research ideas. The experience has strengthened my motivation to continue my doctoral studies at UTM and contribute more meaningfully to the Information Systems research community,” said Nurshahirah .

Her participation demonstrated the value of integrating postgraduate development with international academic engagement. Such exposure can help students build research confidence, understand international scholarly expectations and establish professional networks that may support their future doctoral studies and research careers.

The engagement is expected to contribute to the continued advancement of the Information Systems academic ecosystem at UTM. Potential outcomes include international research collaboration, joint publications, research seminars, visiting scholar activities, postgraduate engagement and knowledge exchange with established Information Systems departments.

Participation in SIRIUS 2026 also opens opportunities to strengthen the visibility, research capacity and international networks of the Information Systems discipline at UTM. Insights gained from the symposium may be shared with academic colleagues and postgraduate students to support research development and encourage greater participation in the international Information Systems community.

The programme was particularly relevant to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noorminshah’s research interests are in data governance, digital transformation, Information Technology adoption and decision intelligence. Engagement with scholars working in artificial intelligence, digital platforms and digital innovation also provided new perspectives for developing interdisciplinary and internationally impactful research.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noorminshah expressed her appreciation to her NUS colleague for extending the invitation and facilitating their participation in the symposium. She also acknowledged the organisers, keynote speakers and participating scholars for creating an intellectually enriching and collegial environment.

The participation of UTM representatives in SIRIUS 2026 reflects the University’s continued commitment to global engagement, postgraduate talent development, high-impact research and international academic collaboration. Such engagements are important for strengthening UTM’s presence within the global Information Systems community and supporting the University’s aspiration to develop globally connected academics and future researchers.