Teaching and Learning Innovations at University of Chulalongkorn Thailand

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s first institution of higher learning, opened in 1917 and is located in the centre of Bangkok city. The Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy was first established in 1938 &
contains five academic departments: Accountancy, Commerce, Statistics, Banking and Finance, and Marketing. There are currently 2,300 undergraduate students in the faculty and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) International Program is the first undergraduate level programme that is taught entirely in English at Chulalongkorn.  The University has taken steps to innovate teaching and learning.  Premised on the belief that learning must go beyond "listening to lectures", faculties and students at the Chulalongkorn Business School (CBS) are exposed to "acting" as an effective mode of learning accounting and business-related knowledge.   The two types of learning laboratories at CBS are namely (i) a Theathre-like "black room" for students to act out "drama scenes"; and (ii) an online stockbroking room using live databases such as Bloomberg,  Standard & Poors and the local Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).  ARI researchers were invited to visit the university and they explored  the various innovative teaching and learning tools at the university.

Rangsit University to host ICFC 2014

Whilst in Bangkok, ARI research team visited Rangsit University.  Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Rangsit University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2012 to signify collaborations in research, publication, staff and student exchanges.  Infact, Rangsit University is the only private university in Thailand which has been assessed on education standard quality by the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (Public Organization) and rated "Very Good".  Currently, the university's curriculums are broadly categorized into five groups as follows;

1. Faculties of Medial and Health Sciences: College of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Technology, Faculty of Nursing Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Optology and Faculty of Oriental Medicine
2. Faculties of Engineering and Technology: College of Engineering, Faculty of Information Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Institution of Aviation
3. Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences: College of Social Innovation, College of International, Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Faculty of Communication Arts, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Education and Graduate School
4. Faculties of Art and Design: Conservatory of Music, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Arts and Design and Faculty of Digital Art
5. Faculties of Economics and Business Administration: College of Public Administration, Faculty of Business Administration, Faculty of Accounting, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Faculty of Economics

At Rangsit University, our group met up with the dean, faculty of accountancy, Prof Dr Nimnual Visedsun and Head of International program Dr Kathy Kanitsorn Terdpaopong.  In our discussions, it was agreed in principle that Rangsit University will host  the 6th International Conference on Financial Criminology (ICFC 2014) in Bangkok.  Detail discussions will be made between UiTM and Rangsit University by August 2014.  Currently, there is great interest among researchers to explore research topics in financial criminology.  It is therefore apt and appropriate that Rangsit University host the forthcoming conference in 2014.

 

Research Visit to Stock Exchange of Thailand

Despite the many challenges faced by the country's "Tom Yam Kung" Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, Thailand has risen strong to build a competitive capital market in the region.  Through our collaborator, Associate Professor Dr Wachira at the University of Chullalongkorn, our researchers were granted a visit to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).  At SET, we were briefed on the development and progress of the Thailand stock market.  The Thai capital market has been increasingly recognized by international organizations along a number of dimensions, including being upgraded to be one of the 10 countries categorized in the Advanced Emerging Market group by FTSE, and ranked number three in Asia for Corporate Governance Watch 2012, which was a result of SET’s being focused on enhancing corporate governance among listed companies. Moreover, SET is ranked as one of the top markets in Southeast Asia, with as many as 23 large-sized securities that are highly liquid and with a combined market capitalization of more than USD 1 billion and daily trading volume of at least USD 10 million–characteristics that have made SET strong and attractive to international investors.  According to SET's 2012 Annual Report, among major development highlights in 2012, was SET's cooperation with business partners which has created new business opportunities, with the ASEAN Trading Link connecting the Thai stock market with those of Malaysia and Singapore, enabling local securities firms to more conveniently trade foreign stocks and serving as a solid foundation for a partnership among the exchanges in ASEAN that will fortify and draw global investors to ASEAN.  ARI wishes to thank SET for granting our members a visit.

ISGFC 2013 - Bangkok

The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) thanks the Chullalongkorn Business School (CBS) of the Chullalongkorn University, Thailand for hosting the International Seminar on Governance and Financial Criminology (ISGFC 2014).  Researchers from at least four countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Thailand participated in the seminar.  In addition, there were also representatives from the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), Malaysian Accounting Research and Education Foundation (MAREF) and HELP College University who attended and participated in the plenary sessions of the seminar.  Papers presented have included topics on financial criminology, the governance and accountability of non-profit organisations (NPOs), Corporate Integrity, Corporate Governance, Anti Money Laundering and Anti Financing of Terrorism.   In a research meeting that follows, the research groups - ARI, CBS, University of Indonesia, HELP University College, IIM and MAREF agreed to organize an annual seminar related to the topics of corporate governance and financial criminology in the future

ARI-CCM Memorandum of Understanding

The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) and Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today.  The MOU allows a collaborative research on non-profit organisations (NPO) governance.  Globally, especially in developed countries such as USA and United Kingdom, NPO has been considered as a "third sector".  Generally, NPO plays a key role in a country's development through social contributions, such as human rights, health, education and other critical social needs.  The MOU was signed by SSM Chief Executive Officer Mohd Naim Darwish and UiTM Vice Chancellor Tan Sri Dato' Sri Professor Ir Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar.  The event was witnessed by Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.

ICGMF 2013 in New Zealand

In its effort to enhance international collaborations, the Accounting Research Institute (ARI) will be co-organizing an international conference in New Zealand.  Themed "Good Governance, Ethics and Integrity", the International Conference on Governance, Management & Financial Criminology (ICGMF 2013) will be hosted by the Waikato Management School, University of Waikato, New Zealand.  ICGMF 2013 will be co-organized with ARI, Faculty of Commerce & Accountancy, Chulalongkorn University Thailand and the Institute of Public Enterprise, India.  Selected papers will be considered for review for possible publication in indexed journals.  A special key note paper on the governance of public sector will be featured on the first day of the conference.  Those interested to participate may contact the secretariate at: icgmf@gmail.com

 

Islamic Microfinancing: Baju Kurung Handover Ceremony

One collaborative research undertaken by ARI researchers under its niche Islamic Financial Criminology is related to Islamic Microfinance.  The project which is headed by Professor Dr Rashidah Abdul Rahman examines the current gap in microfinance model.  Generally, entrepreneurs indicated their wish to have a supplier to complete the supply chain model of the microfinance-based business.  As such, ARI has sought the cooperation of Mydin Holdings Berhad to facilitate these entrepreneurs.  The first phase microfinance research project has also involved Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), financier of the microfinance credit.  Through Sahabat (AIM's entrepreneur network), entrepreneurs undertook a baju kurung tailoring project with Mydin. In conjunction with the collaborative action research project between ARI, AIM, MAIS Zakat Selangor Berhad (MZSB), and Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, a Baju Kurung Handover Ceremony has been held at Mydin Training Center this morning. During the ceremony, the first batch of 182 baju kurungs sewn by a group of AIM sahabats from Tanjung Karang, have been  handed over by the Managing Director of AIM, Datuk Zabidah Ismail to the Executive Director of Mydin, Mr. Salim Ali Mydin. In her opening speech, Datuk Zabidah personally thanks everyone involve in this project especially ARI and Mydin for providing wider social networks and support structure for AIM sahabats to involve in economic activities, thus improving their household income.    

Welcome New Cohort of AFC713 Class

The new cohort of the Master in Forensic Accounting and Financial Criminology program at Universiti Teknologi MARA is currently undertaking one of the core courses of the program: Money Laundering and Financial Criminology (AFC713).  Basically the course is divided into two components - money laundering and financial criminology.  The money laundering aspect of the course reviews the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) 2001, examines mutual evaluation country reports of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its regional associates.  In the case of Malaysia, the FATF's regional associate is the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG).  In monitoring the anti money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML.CFT) regime, member countries (of either FATF or APG) are required to comply to the 40 + 9 recommendations (now reviewed as 40 new recommendations). Guest speakers (from the industry, regulators or enforcement agencies) are also invited to give talks to the class.  Meanwhile, the financial criminology aspect of the course identifies financial fraud cases, examines fraud risk indicators, develops mitigating tools and proposes investigation techniques.  Today, the students presented their cases in classes. Whilst three groups presented global and local money laundering cases, another three groups examined the levels of country compliance on one group of reporting institution known as the designated non-financial business and profession (DNFBPs) of thirty countries globally.

Visit from Universitas Trunojoyo Madura, Indonesia

The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) thanks delegates from Universitas Trunojoyo Madura, Indonesia who visited our Shah Alam campus recently.  The four-member delegations were headed by the Dean of the Faculty of Economy, Pro. Dr. M. Nizarul Alim.  Discussions focused mainly on potential research collaboration in the areas of Islamic Finance and Wakaf Management.  To signify the visit, a letter of intent was signed by both Dean Nizarul and Professor Dr Normah Omar, director of ARI.  As such, researchers from ARI's  Islamic Finance & Wakaf Cluster will be preparing a research proposal together with researchers from Universitas Trunojaya.  Indeed, in Indonesia, there are a lot of universities that have been successfully set up through Wakaf financing and they would be great case  studies for the research project. An MOU will soon be drafted to formalise the collaboration.