MNC University MoU Signing and Joint Conference: Financial Resilience in ASEAN
Jakarta, 14 November 2026 – On November 4, 2026, MNC University in Jakarta hosted one of the most substantive international academic gatherings of the year: a joint seminar and Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony that brought together three universities from two countries. i3L University, MNC University, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) convened for a full day of expert-led discussion, institutional agreement, and cross-border knowledge exchange under a timely and strategically relevant theme.
The event marked a significant moment not only for the three participating institutions but also for the broader conversation about how ASEAN universities are positioning themselves as active contributors to regional economic resilience and policy dialogue. Rather than a ceremonial gathering, this was a working conference: each institution brought credentialed faculty to the table, each with expertise in finance, economics, business management, and technology-driven strategy.
For professionals, researchers, students, and institutional leaders seeking information about ASEAN financial resilience conferences, international university collaborations in Indonesia, or academic events involving i3L University and MNC University, this joint seminar represents exactly the kind of meaningful, expert-driven engagement that shapes both academic and industry thinking across the region.
The theme chosen for the joint seminar, “Financial Resilience in ASEAN: From Market Insights to AI-driven Strategies,” was both ambitious and precisely calibrated to the moment. Across the ASEAN region, economies are navigating a complex convergence of post-pandemic recovery, geopolitical trade realignments, rising interest rate environments in key global markets, and the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence into financial services and decision-making.
Financial resilience, as a concept, goes beyond the ability of markets or institutions to withstand shocks. It encompasses the capacity of financial systems, businesses, and individuals to adapt, reorganize, and continue functioning effectively in the face of persistent uncertainty. For ASEAN economies, which are deeply interconnected through trade, capital flows, and investment, building resilience requires both strong local policy frameworks and regional cooperation grounded in shared knowledge.
The inclusion of AI-driven strategies in the theme reflects a forward-looking recognition that artificial intelligence is no longer peripheral to financial management. From algorithmic trading and credit risk modeling to fraud detection and robo-advisory services, AI is reshaping how financial institutions operate and how investors make decisions. By framing the conversation around both market insights and AI-driven strategies, the three universities positioned their seminar at the precise intersection of economic analysis and technological innovation that most urgently demands interdisciplinary academic attention today.
Representing i3L University at the joint seminar were two faculty members whose academic and professional credentials speak directly to the themes of the conference.
Dr. Fariz Hutama Putra Harjanto, SE, B.Sc., MBA, brings a multidisciplinary academic background that spans economics, business science, and management. His expertise positions him well to contribute to discussions on market behavior, investment strategy, and the evolving dynamics of ASEAN financial systems. As a faculty member at i3L University’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Fariz represents the university’s commitment to cultivating financially literate, globally aware graduates who can navigate complex economic environments.
Rosita Widjojo, S.E., M.B.A., Ph.D., adds further depth to i3L’s representation with her doctoral-level expertise in business administration. Her academic work encompasses areas that intersect with the seminar’s core themes, including strategic management and organizational resilience in uncertain market conditions. Together, Drs. Fariz and Rosita brought both analytical rigor and practical strategic insight to the international forum, reinforcing i3L University’s standing as an institution with credible faculty capable of contributing to high-level regional academic discourse.
As the host institution, MNC University presented a strong panel of three speakers whose combined expertise spanned wealth planning, business strategy, and technology management.
Andri Muharizal Putra, S.E., M.M, QWP, holds the Qualified Wealth Planner designation alongside his academic credentials in management, making him uniquely qualified to speak on the intersection of personal financial resilience and institutional wealth management within the ASEAN context. His presence at the seminar bridged the gap between academic theory and the practical realities of financial planning for individuals and families navigating volatile markets.
Arief Novisto, S.E., M.B.A., contributed perspectives rooted in business administration and strategic management, areas essential to understanding how organizations across ASEAN are restructuring their financial operations and risk frameworks in response to market disruptions and digital transformation pressures.
Bernadetta Kwintiana Ane, S.E., M.T., Ph.D., added a distinctive interdisciplinary dimension as a scholar whose background bridges economics and technology. Her doctoral expertise enriches discussions on how AI-driven tools are being embedded into financial decision-making processes across the region. Together, MNC University’s three speakers ensured that the host institution’s contributions to the seminar were both academically substantial and practically grounded.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines sent the largest delegation of speakers to the joint seminar, fielding six distinguished academics whose areas of specialization collectively cover financial management, economics, business policy, and interdisciplinary applied sciences.
Dr. Ria Santos Fajilago brought doctoral-level expertise to the conversation, contributing perspectives shaped by Philippine financial market realities and academic research in business and economics. Dr. Elizabeth F. Perez, also a doctorate holder, added scholarly depth in areas relevant to the seminar’s focus on market insights and institutional financial strategies across developing ASEAN economies.
Dr. Henry B. Prudente rounded out the doctoral trio with expertise that complements the broader thematic scope of the conference, while Prof. Rolando I. Fernandez offered seasoned professorial experience in finance and economics, lending both depth and breadth to PUP’s academic contributions.
Prof. Jorge Edward B. Chang and Prof. Melvin Jason S. De Vera completed the PUP delegation, with areas of focus that align with the seminar’s exploration of AI-driven financial strategies and market innovation. The strength of this six-member panel signals PUP’s serious institutional investment in ASEAN-wide academic engagement and its confidence in the relevance of Philippine academic expertise to regional financial discourse. Together, the full panel of fourteen speakers from three universities created a truly regional academic forum, one where theory, policy, and technology converged around a shared commitment to building financial resilience across ASEAN.
The MNC University MoU Signing and Joint Conference of November 4, 2026, was more than a single-day event. It was an articulation of a growing consensus among Indonesian and Philippine higher education institutions that regional academic cooperation is not optional but essential to producing graduates and generating knowledge capable of meeting the complex challenges of a rapidly changing global economy.
The MoU signed on this occasion creates a formal institutional bond between the participating universities, one that is expected to open pathways for joint research, faculty mobility, student exchange, and future collaborative conferences. When universities in ASEAN commit to such agreements, they signal to their students, faculty, and the broader public that their educational mission extends beyond national borders and that the knowledge they cultivate is intended to serve regional as well as local needs.
The School of Business and Management (SBM) at i3L University offers a distinctive business education where entrepreneurial thinking meets life sciences innovation. With two undergraduate programs, International Business Management and Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SBM prepares students to lead at the intersection of global commerce, technology, and science. Through international partnerships, real-world industry exposure, and a globally connected faculty, SBM equips graduates with the strategic mindset, cross-cultural intelligence, and practical experience needed to thrive in an interconnected world.
