International Conference on BAFE

Group photo of VIPs, organising committees, speakers, sponsors and participants

Over 100 local and international participants converged at UTAR Kampar Campus on 04 October 2017 for the 5th International Conference on Business, Accounting, Finance and Economics (BAFE) 2017 organised by UTAR’s Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF), the Centre for Accounting, Banking and Finance (CABF), the Centre for Business and Management (CBM), and the Centre for Economic Studies (CES).

Organised for five consecutive years since 2013, the one-day conference themed ‘Breakthrough to Excellence’ was a great platform for knowledge sharing regarding research findings and networking on aspects of business management, accounting, finance and economics. 

From left: Dr Lau, Dato’ Lee, Prof Choong and Dr Au Yong during the launching gimmick

The opening ceremony of BAFE 2017 was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Finance Malaysia, Dato’ Lee Chee Leong. He was accompanied by UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong representing UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, UTAR FBF Dean Dr Au Yong Hui Nee and Organising Chairperson of BAFE 2017 Dr Lau Lin Sea.

Also present at the ceremony were FBF Deputy Dean Yew King Tak, Chairperson of CABF Dr Krishna Moorthy Manicka Nadar, Chairperson of CBM Dr Peter Yacob, Chairperson of CES Dr Yii Kwang Jing, FBF Heads of the Departments Dr Choong Yuen Onn, Choy Johnn Yee, Kuar Lok Sin and Theresa Wong Lai Har and FBF Head of Postgraduate Degree Programmes Dr Abdelhak Senadjki, FBF lecturers, UTAR staff and students.

Dr Au Yong emphasising the objective of the conference

Dr Au Yong expressed her gratitude to all the parties for supporting the conference and she added, “The Conference’s theme – ‘Breakthrough to Excellence’ was aimed to be a valuable platform for researchers and scholars to share thoughts and innovative ideas particularly in the aspects of business, accounting, finance and economics. It also serves as a great platform to share ideas, views, findings and research outcomes and to assimilate the latest business, accounting, finance and economics knowledge among participating researchers.”

Prof Choong introducing the theme of the conference

In his address, Prof Choong said, “The BAFE 2017 is an ideal platform to showcase the synergistic efforts of academics and researchers to share findings, latest works, ideas and proposals that will contribute to theoretical, methodological and empirical knowledge, deemed vital for the future progress and development of the nation. Now that we are emerging into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or in short, Industry 4.0, the business, accounting, finance and economics fields will have to be transformed in the way business and accounting processes are conducted. The previous manual processes may be the norm, but the advent of the digital revolution may mean that many manual processes will be replaced by machines or automation where processes and businesses or transactions can be done online using mobile technology, automation and even possibly artificial intelligence.”

He added, “In line with the theme ‘Breakthrough to Excellence’, BAFE 2017 should perhaps also conduct discussions and gather input on the possible applications of new innovations and digital products that can automate manual processes and expedite the way businesses and operations are conducted so as to reap the benefits of improved standards of living, enhanced safety and security, empowerment, and even sustainability. I hope that among the participants, new ideas and proposals can be discussed and put forth for further research and analysis that will benefit the business community.”

Dato’ Lee officiating the BAFE 2017

In his opening speech, Dato’ Lee said, “It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be here today for the fifth Business, Accounting, Finance and Economics (BAFE) Conference 2017. I understand that the conference delegates attending today comes from a multitude economic disciplines. It is indeed encouraging to have these great brains coming together with a common purpose, that is, to present up to date works that contribute to new theoretical, methodological and empirical knowledge on all aspects of business management, accounting, finance and economics.”

He added, “I believe this conference offers the best opportunity for all researchers to engage in serious discussions on the selected topics for this year. I am confident that the participants will be able to come up with excellent and constructive ideas on ways to manage and handle the respective issues effectively. I take this opportunity to wish all of you an enriching, successful and fruitful deliberation. As the American author Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much”.

The invited keynote speakers for the conference included Professor of Accounting from the Department of Accounting of the La Trobe University of Australia Prof Dr Kamran Ahmed and Professor of International Development of the Asia-Europe Institute of the University of Malaya Prof Dr Rajah Rasiah who shared with the participants understandings and knowledge of their findings from years of dedication in research and development.

The BAFE 2017 is a key initiative in providing a significant prospect for researchers and scholars to present their research findings. The successful BAFE 2017 saw the submission of 83 papers. The participants of the conference came all the way from Australia and India while the rest included UTAR lecturers, staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students.

Among the topics covered at the BAFE 2017 were accounting, finance, financial economics, technologies in business, societal contribution, education management, auditing and taxation, banking, macroeconomic environment and energy resources, tourism services, organisational strategy and behaviour, industrial and institutional economics, education economics and development, and business management strategy.

Adding to the highlights was the announcement of the winners of the BAFE 2017 Best Paper Award. The list of winners is as follows:

The Best Paper Award recipients with the VIPs

List of Winners for the Best Paper Award

No.			Paper ID				Title				Authors
1.			BAFE001				Testing Static Trade-off and Pecking Order Theories: Empirical Evidence from Public Listed Companies (PLCs) in Malaysia				Chin, Lai-Kwan, Chee, Chong-Meng, & Wei, Chooi-Yi
2.			BAFE016				A Study on Environmentally Responsible Behaviour in Perak: The Role of Facilitating Conditions				Kwang-Jing, Yii, Suet-Ling, Ching, Chee-Keong, Choong, Lin-Sea, Lau, Chun-T’ing, Loh, You-How, Go, Yuen-Onn, Choong, & Ai-Na, Seow
3.			BAFE013				The Influence of Social Exchange Mediators on the Impact of Human Resource Practices				Lian Kok Fei, Teddy, & Law, Kian Aun
4.			BAFE035				Oil Price Shock and Stock Return Predictability: The Case of Malaysia				Cheah, Siew-Pong, Chong, Wei-Seng, Goh, Li-Min, Ong, Lin-Voey, & Tee, Kai-Qin

Sponsors of BAFE 2017 with VIPs

One of the participants, Ting Xin Then enthused, “I am glad to have joined this conference as I have managed to gain a better insight into fields like finance and accounting through the participants' presentations. This conference also enabled me to share my one-year-effort to the other participants. The conference also helped me to form a wide network with people who have the same interest as me.” Ting added, “Attending this conference is definitely beneficial to my research journey in the future. I learnt how to present professionally and how to organise my work better.” She also thanked her supervisor Seow Ai Na for being supportive and guiding her in her research.

The main sponsors of the BAFE 2017 were Ministry of Finance, Seng Huat Hang Sdn Bhd, Unisem (M) Berhad, Spritzer Berhad, Face to Face Noodle House, Tesco Stores (M) Sdn Bhd, H.C. Wong & Chew, A2Z Strategic Partner Sdn Bhd and Lee Soo Pin & Co.

Prof Choong (right) presenting a token of appreciation to Dato’ Lee

Dr Au Yong (right) presenting a souvenir to Prof Kamran (top) and Prof Rajah