Nine Universitas Padjadjaran students from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) and the Vocational School participated in the 4th ASEAN Summer Camp 2026, hosted by Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, from 27 July to 1 August 2026. Representing the Management, Digital Business, and International Business programmes, the students were accompanied by Saskia Salmana, S.E., M.Sc. and Dr. Kurniawan Saefullah, S.E., M.Ec. The international programme brought together students from University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Vietnam; King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand; Meiji University, Japan; and Universiti Malaya. Beyond a conventional summer camp, the programme provided a platform for students to exchange perspectives, build international networks, and explore emerging issues shaping ASEAN’s future. The programme opened with welcoming remarks by Professor Dr. Noor Ismawati Binti Jaafar, followed by an exploration challenge that introduced participants to Malaysia’s local food and culture around Central Market Kuala Lumpur and Pasar Seni.
Academic and industry perspectives formed a key part of the programme. On the second day, students attended an academic talk by Prof. Dr. Evelyn Shyamala from the Faculty of Business and Economics (FBEc), Universiti Malaya, discussing the implications of tariffs and global economic developments for ASEAN. This was followed by a CEO Talk by Deputy Chief Executive Officer of PROTON Holdings Berhad, Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid bin Musa, entitled “PROTON’s Strategic Vision and Leadership in the Areas of Electric Vehicles (EVs), Sustainable Mobility, Innovation, and the Future of the Automotive Industry.” An industry visit to PROTON subsequently enabled students to observe how technological advancement, digitalisation, innovation, and sustainability are transforming the automotive industry. The following day, an Expert Forum Session featuring Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thuy Chung Phan from UEH, Assistant Professor Dr. Natjiree Jaturapitakkul from KMUTT, Associate Prof. Dr. Goh Lim Thye from Universiti Malaya, and Saskia Salmana Dahyar from Unpad explored current developments in education, curriculum, sustainability, and digitalisation, including how students can strengthen their capacity to adapt to increasingly rapid technological change. Participants then joined project consultation sessions with faculty supervisors before taking part in another exploration challenge at the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum.
The final two days at Desa Balqis, Melaka, placed collaboration and experiential learning at the centre of the programme. Participants learned about local food production, including the traditional process of making dodol using Melaka palm sugar, as well as beekeeping and its benefits. Students from the participating universities were then divided into five multinational groups representing Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan to develop and present projects addressing two strategic themes: “AI and Data Centre Expansion in ASEAN” and “Resource Allocation & Industrial Priorities – Food, Fuel or Computing? Managing Resource Competition in Emerging ASEAN Economies.” Through presentations and Q&A sessions, students were challenged not only to analyse complex regional issues but also to collaborate across cultures, communicate their ideas effectively, and integrate different perspectives into a shared solution. The programme concluded with a farewell dinner and cultural performances by the participating delegations. Through the 4th ASEAN Summer Camp 2026, students gained meaningful international exposure while strengthening their global mindset, critical thinking, intercultural communication, collaboration, and adaptability—competencies that will be increasingly important as they contribute to an interconnected and rapidly evolving ASEAN region.
