Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) continues to strengthen its position as a future-focused institution committed to ethical leadership, governance, and responsible innovation, following the appointment of two academics from its School of Accounting and Finance (SoAF) to the Integrity Engine Working Group (IEWG) by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 

Dr Meera Eeswaran, Senior Lecturer and Lead of the APU FinTech Academy, together with Mr Kannan Asokan, Lecturer at SoAF, were officially appointed as members of the Working Group on 15 May 2026. 

The appointment forms part of UNODC’s global “Integrity Engine” initiative, a three-year project aimed at advancing integrity education and leveraging artificial intelligence for business integrity across Brazil, China, India, and Malaysia. The initiative seeks to strengthen ethical business practices, promote anti-corruption education, and prepare students to enter the workforce with strong integrity values. 

As members of the Working Group, both academics will contribute towards selecting and contextualising modules from the UNODC University Module Series on Integrity and Ethics, as well as Anti-Corruption. They will also integrate the contextualised modules into APU’s courses in upcoming semesters with support from business practitioners within the Working Group. 

The national Working Group in Malaysia brings together university faculty members, private sector representatives, subject-matter experts, strategic partners, youth representatives, and the UNODC technical team to collectively strengthen integrity education and business ethics awareness among future professionals. 

APU’s participation in the Integrity Engine Working Group further reinforces the university’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only technologically competent but also ethically grounded and socially responsible. The initiative aligns strongly with APU’s practice-driven education philosophy, particularly in preparing students to navigate increasingly complex governance, compliance, sustainability, and AI-related challenges in the modern business landscape. 

The collaboration also positions APU at the forefront of integrity, governance, and ethical AI education in Malaysia. Through this international engagement, the university gains valuable opportunities to strengthen industry-integrated learning, expand international collaborations, and contribute to the development of future-ready curricula aligned with global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations. 

According to UNODC, the Integrity Engine project focuses on contextualising educational content using real industry challenges and local case studies that reflect ethical dilemmas commonly faced in professional environments. This complements APU’s long-standing emphasis on experiential learning, industry relevance, and holistic graduate development. 

The initiative is especially significant for accounting and finance education, where integrity, ethical decision-making, governance awareness, and fraud risk management are becoming increasingly important competencies for graduates entering the workforce. 

Beyond curriculum enhancement, participation in the initiative opens pathways for collaborative projects, industry mentoring, guest lectures, internships, practitioner-led sessions, and future research partnerships involving academia, industry, and international organisations. 

The project also encourages student engagement through integrity-focused internships, ethics ambassador initiatives, and opportunities for practical exposure within compliance and integrity functions in participating organisations. Such initiatives are expected to further enrich students’ learning experiences while nurturing a culture of accountability, ethical leadership, and responsible innovation. 

Through the appointment of Dr Meera Eeswaran and Mr Kannan Asokan to the UNODC Integrity Engine Working Group, APU continues to demonstrate its commitment to shaping future professionals who are equipped not only with technical expertise but also with the ethical awareness and integrity required to contribute meaningfully to society and the global economy.