UMS Hosts MAG Scholar Conference, Opening Global Networking Opportunities

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has been entrusted as the host of the Marketing Asia Group (MAG) Scholar Conference 2025. The event is planned to be held at the Edutorium KH Ahmad Dahlan, Saturday–Sunday (22–24/11/2025).

MAG founder, Professor Kim-Shyan Fam, explained that MAG is an organization that brings together young researchers and academics to build global connections and publish their research findings. The organization was established in 2008 and held its inaugural conference in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2011.

“We also have journals, namely the Asian Journal of Business Research indexed in Scopus Q2, and the Journal of Halal Service Research, which has been running for about 4–5 years,” said Kim during his visit to UMS on Friday (21/11/2025).

The city of Solo, he said, was chosen to host the MAG Scholar Conference because of its unique cultural and societal characteristics. “I think Solo is a beautiful city, and most of our delegates have never visited Solo before,” he added.

Members of MAG come from various countries, including New Zealand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Hungary, and China. Kim said that MAG is an organization open to any researcher. He also mentioned that academics at UMS can join MAG to build a wider global network.

Kim explained that this year’s MAG Scholar Conference will focus on Asian cooperation and relations. The event will also feature several speakers or keynote speakers from various countries. They are Prof. Zhilin Yang from the City University of Hong Kong, Prof. T. Ramayah from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Prof. Dr. Hiram Ting from the editorial team of the journals Young Consumers and The Asian Journal of Business Research, Dr. Widya Paramita from Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Prof. Ihwan Susila, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D. from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta.

Professor Kim-Shyan Fam delivered remarks on the agenda of the MAG Scholar Conference, which will be held at UMS on 22–24 November 2025. Humas UMS/Imam Safii

The Head of the Sub directorate for Academic Partnership Development and Mobility at the Directorate of Reputation, Partnerships, and International Affairs UMS, Hepy Adityarini, S.Pd., M.A., Ph.D., expressed optimism about the organization of the MAG Scholar Conference 2025. She is confident that the event will open wider global networks for UMS.

“This will expand our network while supporting UMS activities, such as research collaboration and ranking processes that require academic reviewers,” said Hepy.

Hepy believes that UMS being chosen as the host will open opportunities for institutional partnerships in the future. Not only lecturers, but students will also benefit from this networking opportunity, for example, through research activities and student exchanges.

Moving forward, Hepy hopes that UMS lecturers, especially those in the economics field, can join MAG. Their participation will further enhance UMS’ recognition on the global stage. “The international community will come to know UMS better,” she emphasized.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid