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Recently, the School of Business (SoB) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), in collaboration with Sustainability Future Fusion (SFF), organised a forum that brought together students, industry practitioners, and academic perspectives to explore the 

connections between circular economy, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 17 (SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 12, SDG 13, and SDG 17). 

The forum was led and moderated by Ms Cynthia Mala Paul Dorairaj (Lecturer and Advisor of SFF, SoB at APU), as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen experiential learning and provide students with meaningful opportunities to engage with real-world business and sustainability challenges.

The forum featured Mr Muhammad Adib Lieow Muhammad Fauzi Lieow, Managing Director of KHR Holding, and Ms Rajeswary Kandasamy, Applied Sustainability Trainer and Industry Practitioner specialising in Circular Economy and Climate Solutions, who shared insights from their respective professional experiences. 

Exploring Opportunities through International Collaboration

The forum began with insights from Mr Muhammad Adib, who drew upon his 16 years of experience in managing businesses, and connecting Malaysian and Japanese professionals and companies. 

Sharing examples from his professional engagements with stakeholders across the transportation sector, Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, and fashion industry (his venture of upcycling kimonos into handbags, clothing, suits, and other products), he demonstrated how cross-cultural understanding, networking, and relationship building can create opportunities for entrepreneurs. 

His sharing encouraged students to remain open-minded and adaptable when exploring business opportunities, while recognising that valuable possibilities can emerge through relationships, collaboration, and connections across different industries and cultures. 

Through his experiences, students were also encouraged to look beyond conventional approaches to entrepreneurship and consider how existing networks and resources can provide a foundation for new ideas and opportunities. 

Turning Circular Economy Concepts into Practical Solutions

Bringing a sustainability perspective to the forum, Ms Rajeswary shared more than 21 years of international experience spanning engineering, energy, risk management, and climate-focused innovation. 

Her session introduced students to practical applications of circular economy principles through unconventional examples involving materials such as eggshells, Styrofoam, and mushrooms; demonstrating how materials commonly viewed as waste can be reconsidered as resources for new applications and potential entrepreneurial solutions. 

She also emphasised the importance of looking at factors such as cost, performance, carbon impact, operational risk, and long-term viability when developing sustainable solutions. 

Rather than viewing waste solely as something that needs to be disposed of, students were encouraged to consider how materials could be redesigned, repurposed, or transformed into something of greater value. 

Bringing Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Together

The forum continued with an interactive discussion; bringing together the speakers’ perspectives on how entrepreneurship, international collaboration, engineering, and sustainability can work together to create businesses that are competitive, innovative, and responsible. 

The discussion helped students to connect concepts learned in the classroom with practical industry experiences, while considering how commercial viability can be balanced with environmental responsibility and social impact. 

The speakers also demonstrated how innovation can involve more than developing something entirely new. 

This encouraged students to develop a more entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving, where environmental and societal challenges can become starting points for innovation. 

Student Perspectives

1. Lavinesh Ravindran: “I found the forum highly beneficial as it provided practical insights into entrepreneurship, sustainability, and innovation, while also showing how industry experiences and different perspectives can inspire us to identify opportunities, think creatively, and approach challenges in more meaningful ways.”
2. Ahmed Irfan: “What stood out most to me during the forum was how the speakers encouraged us to look at everyday materials and resources from different perspectives, which showed me that valuable ideas can come from rethinking what we already have, rather than always searching for something new.”
3. Innocent Kennedy Haule: “The forum gave me a broader perspective on how sustainability can be considered alongside business decisions, while the speakers’ experiences encouraged me to think more critically about the wider impact and possibilities behind the choices businesses make.”
4. Min Pyae Sone: “I liked how the speakers shared ideas based on their own experiences, rather than only giving us general theories; making the forum easier to understand, and showing me how what we learn can be applied in real-world situations.
    

Strengthening Industry-Connected learning

The forum provided students with an opportunity to gain broader perspectives from industry practitioners and consider how knowledge, creativity, and practical thinking can be applied beyond the classroom. 

Prof Dr Kashif Hussain (Senior Head, SoB and School of Global Hospitality and Tourism at APU) highlighted how discussions on entrepreneurship, international collaboration, and the circular economy broadened students’ perspectives on navigating real-world challenges, while developing the adaptability and openness needed to identify and explore new opportunities. 

“Engagement with industry practitioners allows students to gain a closer understanding of how ideas and knowledge are applied in professional settings; strengthening the connection between academic learning and industry expectations.”