USM NEWS PORTAL 

Inside USM 4–10 May 2026

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4–10 May 2026

GSCN–USM–IPB International Expedition Advances Coastal Fish Biodiversity Research in Indonesia

USM PENANG, 8 May 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), in collaboration with Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB University) and partners under the Global Sciaenidae Conservation Network (GSCN), has successfully completed an international research expedition to advance understanding of coastal fish biodiversity in North Java, Indonesia.

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Young Researchers Lead Dialogue on Disaster 
Risk Reduction at USM

USM PENANG, 6 May 2026 – The Young Researchers Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), organised by the Geography Section, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), brought together more than 50 young scholars, academics, and international experts in a hybrid conference focused on addressing pressing disaster challenges in the region.

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French Ambassador Visits CEMACS to Boost 
Marine Research Collaboration

PENANG, 6 May 2026 – The Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), had the privilege of welcoming a delegation from the Embassy of France in Malaysia, led by the Ambassador of France to Malaysia, His Excellency Marc Abensour, during a recent courtesy visit to the centre.

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Closing Reflections Position Leadership as a Systemic, Human-Centred Imperative in the Service Economy

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2026 – The case study session on leadership in education examined how leadership is being recalibrated in response to structural shifts in the global economy and the evolving role of higher education. The session repositioned leadership as a relational, service-oriented, and systemically embedded practice rather than a function of authority alone.

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Trust, Talent and Leadership Reset in the Service Economy

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2026 – The second plenary session of the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy examined leadership through the lens of talent formation, institutional alignment and sector specific realities, focusing on how it is enacted within organisations dependent on human capability, trust and adaptive knowledge.

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Global Leaders Urge Reset in Leadership as Frontier Technologies 
Reshape Service Economy

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2026 – Frontier technologies are no longer just improving systems but reshaping how leadership operates across sectors. This was the key message from the plenary session of the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy, where discussions focused on adapting leadership to a more interconnected, data driven and human centred environment.

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Leadership in the Service Economy: Reframing Value, 
Ethics and Knowledge

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2026 – Keynote sessions at the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy, held at Pullman Kuala Lumpur, highlighted a shift in how leadership must evolve in response to service-driven economies.


Associate Vice President Undergraduate Programme at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), YBrs. Professor Dr. Daniel T. L. Shek, emphasised that the rise of the service economy represents more than a sectoral change. It reflects a transformation in how value is created, shaped increasingly by human interaction and experience. He noted that leadership in this context requires stronger relational capabilities and adaptability, given the less predictable and more people-centred nature of services.

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Leadership Beyond Silos: Structuring the Service Economy through the Integration of Policy, Knowledge and Practice

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2026 – The International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy, convened at the Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre, marked a critical juncture in the evolving structure of contemporary economies. Jointly organised by the National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN), Universiti Sains Malaysia and the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the conference served as a focused intellectual platform aligned with an ongoing research trajectory on service leadership, supported by the Li and Fung Endowed Professorship.

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5th International USM CGSS x PaGamO Competition Strengthens Environmental Education through Digital Innovation

USM PENANG, 6 May 2026 – The 5th International USM CGSS x PaGamO Environmental Education E‑sports Game Competition (Malaysia) 2026 concluded successfully on 12 April, marking another significant milestone in the growing recognition of this innovative initiative.

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USM Eyes Regional Spectroscopy Hub with OptoSky Collaboration

USM PENANG, 4 May 2026 - The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Physics has taken a step towards positioning itself as a regional hub for spectroscopy technology demonstration and verification in Southeast Asia. This move was the result of a visit by a delegation from Optosky Photonics Inc., China, recently.

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Recalibrating Leadership in Higher Education: From Institutional Authority to Relational and Service-Oriented Practice

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 May 2026 – The case study session on leadership in education examined how leadership is being recalibrated in response to structural shifts in the global economy and the evolving role of higher education. The session repositioned leadership as a relational, service-oriented, and systemically embedded practice rather than a function of authority alone.

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The International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy concluded with a summative summary by Associate Professor Dr. Thien Lei Mee and closing remarks by Professor Dr. Daniel Shek.


The closing ceremony reflected on key discussions across service leadership, talent development, education and the future of leadership in an evolving service economy.

Talent is the backbone of every service industry


Plenary 2 of the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy brought together leaders from logistics, higher education, healthcare and takaful to discuss how effective talent management can strengthen organisational strategy, build trust and prepare service industries for future demands.

Service leadership begins in the learning experience


The case study session at the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy explored how service leadership education, service learning and higher education foresight can shape students and future institutional leaders across Malaysia, Hong Kong and China.

Frontier technologies are changing how leadership is shaped in the service economy


Plenary 1 of the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy brought together speakers from Australia, Singapore and Malaysia to discuss digital transformation, emerging technologies and the development of a new generation of service leaders.

Service sectors are reshaping the growth path of emerging economies


At the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Professor Dato’ Dr. Rajah Rasiah, FASc. from the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya, shared insights on convergence and divergence in leadership across service-driven economies

Leadership in the service economy begins with strong foundations in theory, research and education


At the International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy, Professor Dr. Daniel Shek from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University shared insights on service leadership and its role in shaping future-ready institutions and societies.

The service economy needs leadership that thinks beyond sectors


The International Conference on Leadership in the Service Economy brought together higher education, government and industry leaders to advance dialogue on service leadership, talent sustainability and future-ready economies.

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