The Doctoral Program in Management of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), in strategic collaboration with the Faculty of Business and Management (FBM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, conducted an impactful academic visit to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tanjung Karang, Malaysia. This initiative formed part of the institutions’ ongoing efforts to strengthen international academic–industry collaboration.
The academic visit involved faculty members and doctoral participants from UMSU alongside representatives from FBM UiTM Shah Alam, as well as local SME practitioners. Through direct engagement with business owners and industry stakeholders, participants gained valuable insights into real-world business practices, operational challenges, and sustainability strategies within the SME sector.
The visit was carried out with the objective of strengthening the synergy between academic theory and practical application. It also served as a platform to enrich cross-border scholarly dialogue, facilitate knowledge exchange, and explore collaborative opportunities aimed at enhancing innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness within the SME ecosystem.
The activity was implemented through on-site observations, field discussions, and interactive dialogue sessions that enabled participants to critically analyze business models and identify potential areas for improvement and research development. This hands-on approach supported the integration of academic perspectives with industry realities.
Through this strategic academic visit, the Doctoral Program in Management UMSU and FBM UiTM Shah Alam reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing innovation-driven, sustainable, and globally competitive SME development, while further strengthening international academic partnerships and industry engagement.
