INSPIRE Collab:
Global Partnership
Engagement Conference
From Connection to Co-Creation – Catalysing Interdisciplinary Action
Join INSPIRE Collab
A Virtual Gathering of Thought Leaders Advancing Interdisciplinary Partnerships
- 9:00am - 4:00pm
- Wednesday, 23 September 2026
- zoom
About
A Facilitated,
Collaborative Space
for Academics
An unconventional academic space where innovation meets collaboration
The INSPIRE Collab(oratory) is not your typical academic conference. Instead, it’s a facilitated, participatory space designed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and catalyse meaningful research collaboration across global academic institutions.
INSPIRE Collab
INSPIRE Collab(oratory): Catalysing Interdisciplinary Action is a one-day online conference initiated to bring together academics from different universities to explore interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities in the context of innovation and beyond.
This ‘collaboratory’ is not a traditional conference. It is a facilitated, participatory space where academics can:
- Strengthen academic and research network among partner universities.
- Promote knowledge exchange and shared research interests
- Form interdisciplinary clusters for joint projects, grants, and publications
INSPIRE
- Innovation
- Networks
- Strategy
- Practice
- Impact
- Regeneration
- Ecosystem
These values form the philosophical core of the INSPIRE Collaboratory, aimed at fostering meaningful academic partnerships.
Date: 23 September 2026, Wednesday
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (GMT+8)
Platform: Zoom
Be part of a dynamic, full-day online conference bringing together academics and researchers to explore the intersections of innovation, creativity, and impact.
A Collaborative Space where Diverse Fields Converge and Connect
7 Sub-Themes:
Designed for those ready to connect and collaborate
For academic staff and researchers working at the intersection of innovation — across disciplines and beyond
Human-Centred Well-being & Inclusive Communities
Health Systems, Care & Medical Innovation
Sustainable Environments, Culture & Regenerative Futures
Creative Design Innovation & Digital Design Futures
Innovation in Education, Creativity & Learning Ecosystems
Future Business, Entrepreneurship & Social Transformation
Sustainable Intelligent Systems & Engineering
If your work engages with transformation, creativity, or impact - you belong here.
Thematic Tracks and Arrangement
Human-Centred Well-being & Inclusive Communities
- Mental health and psychosocial well-being
- Community resilience and empowerment
- Ageing societies and intergenerational well-being Disability inclusion and accessibility
- Social inclusion and equity
- Quality of life and human flourishing
- Art therapy and creative well-being practices Community engagement and participatory approaches
- Policies, interventions, and initiatives that foster inclusive, resilient, and thriving communities
Health Systems, Care & Medical Innovation
- Public health and population health
- Healthcare systems, management, and service delivery
- Healthcare innovation and medical technologies
- Digital health and health informatics
- Patient-centred care and preventive healthcare
- Health communication and healthcare education
- Clinical practice innovations and translational approaches
- Interdisciplinary strategies that enhance health outcomes, healthcare quality, and equitable access to care
Sustainable Environments, Culture & Regenerative Futures
- Sustainability and climate action
- Regenerative practices and development
- Built and urban environments
- Ecological design and nature-based solutions
- Circular economy and resource stewardship
- Cultural sustainability, heritage conservation and placemaking
- Environmental stewardship and governance
- Community resilience and responses to environmental, cultural, and sustainability challenges
Creative Design Innovation and Digital Design Futures
- Creative applications of emerging technologies
- AI in creative and professional design contexts
- Digital design transformation and innovation through design
- Ethical and responsible use of technology in design practice
- Digital design cultures and experiences
- Future-oriented design methodologies and practices
- Exploration of societal, cultural, and professional implications arising from design advancement
Innovation in Education, Creativity & Learning Ecosystems
- Teaching and learning innovations
- Educational technologies and digital pedagogies
- Lifelong learning and continuous professional development
- Creativity and creative thinking in education
- Curriculum transformation and assessment practices
- Inclusive pedagogy and learner diversity
- Future-ready competencies and graduate capabilities
- Learner engagement and motivation
- Professional learning communities and collaborative practices
- Development of adaptive, inclusive, and resilient learning ecosystems
Future Business, Entrepreneurship & Social Transformation
- Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Business innovation and organisational transformation
- Leadership and responsible management
- Social enterprises and social innovation
- Sustainable and ethical business practices
- Future workforce development and talent readiness
- Economic resilience and inclusive growth
- Digital business models and technological disruption
- Social impact initiatives and cross-sector collaborations
- Business strategies and solutions that address emerging societal and global challenges
Sustainable Intelligent Systems & Engineering
- Computing innovations and software engineering
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications
- Intelligent systems and autonomous technologies
- Robotics and human–machine collaboration
- Internet of Things (IoT) and connected systems
- Data analytics and data-driven decision-making
- Cybersecurity and digital resilience
- Embedded systems and smart technologies
- Smart manufacturing and industrial innovation
- Sustainable infrastructure and engineering optimisation
- Renewable and emerging technologies
- Development of efficient, resilient, and sustainable technological systems for future societies
Who Should Attend?
If you are ready to collaborate across disciplines, INSPIRE Collab is for you. This conference is ideal for academic staff, researchers, and university partners who are looking to explore new perspectives and build partnerships that go beyond their own specialisation.
Target Participants:
Academic staff from all disciplines related to or intersecting with innovation, such as:
- Arts & Design
- Business, Management, HR
- AI & Data Science
- Psychology & Education
- Built Environment
- Flexible etc (identified partner Uni.)
INSPIRE Collab is an interactive space where you will gain insights from experts of various disciplines, take part in thematic networking sessions, and contribute to collaboration mapping that can lead to real world projects. You will leave with new ideas, valuable contacts, and a clearer path forward for your research or professional initiatives.
Be part of this dynamic conference to engage with thought leaders and academics in live discussions.
Keynote Speaker
Join Us for Insight from Our
Featured Speakers
Prof. Dr. Mohd Shahir Shamsir bin Omar
Registered Technology Transfer
Professional (RTTP)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Prof. Dr Mohd Shahir Shamsir bin Omar is a distinguished academic leader and Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) with extensive experience in research governance, innovation management, commercialisation, and university–industry collaboration. He previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Director of the Innovation and Commercialisation Centre at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), where he led initiatives involving research strategy, technology transfer, intellectual property management, university spin-offs, and industry engagement. At the national level, he has contributed as an advisor and task force member for Malaysia Research Assessment (MyRA), HiCOE-related initiatives, and research performance governance under the Ministry of Higher Education. He currently serves as President of the Innovation and Technology Managers Association (ITMA), bringing strategic insight into transforming research into societal, industrial, and economic impact.
PMgr Dr. Wong Kong San
Chief Executive Officer
Sunway Malls (Southern Region)
Adjunct Professor of Practice
Sunway Business School
PMgr Dr Wong Kong San is a prominent mall and retail industry leader with extensive experience in mall design, development, management, retail strategy, and sustainability stewardship. He is passionate about advancing the mall and retail industry by sharing its evolution, addressing current challenges, and contributing to its future development. Beyond his professional leadership at Sunway Malls Southern Region, he actively contributes to industry education as an Adjunct Professor of Practice at Sunway Business School, ELITE Fellow at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Built Environment, and advisor to academic programmes in management and real estate. Since 2015, he has been invited as a guest lecturer and panel speaker by various universities and professional bodies. He also initiated the Sustainability Collaborations Alliances Network to promote SDG education and sustainability practices across the retail ecosystem.
Step into a space where ideas take shape
A welcoming space for academic collaboration, where diverse ideas intersect, evolve, and lead to meaningful research, innovation, and real-world impact.
Join as a participant
Our Commitment
Designing a Sustainable Future through Value-Based Education
A purposeful effort by Raffles University to empower innovation, collaboration, and inclusive learning to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ITINERARY
23 September 2026
Morning Session (AM)
8:30 – 9:00 | Online Registration
9:00 – 9:10 | Opening Remarks
9:10 – 9:20 | INSPIRE Collab Introduction
9:20 – 10:00 | Institutional Introduction
10:00 – 11:00 | Keynote Talk
11:00 – 12:30 | Breakout Session 1 : Thematic Networking & Icebreaker
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break + Collab Canvas
Afternoon Session (PM)
13:30 – 15:00 | Breakout Session 2 : Cluster Formation and Collaboration Mapping
15:00 – 15:30 | Joint Outcome Sharing
15:30 – 15:45 | Feedback and Resource Compilation
15:45 – 16:00 | Closing Remarks
Breakout Room Facilitators’ and Presenters Lists
In-charge by TBC
In-charge by TBC
In-charge by TBC
In-charge by TBC
In-charge by TBC
In-charge by TBC
In-charge by TBC
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
INSPIRE Collab is a global academic networking conference that brings together partner universities, researchers, and educational leaders to spark interdisciplinary research, share ideas, and form collaborative clusters for future projects.
The forum is open to faculty members, researchers, and academics from all higher educational institutions.
INSPIRE Collab 2026 will be held online to allow participation from global higher educational institutions across different regions.
No. The conference is free for participants from partner institutions and invited collaborators.
The one-day programme features a keynote address, institutional introductions, thematic breakout discussions, and research cluster formation sessions, with follow-up action planning to support ongoing collaboration.
You can click this link [INSPIRE Collab:] to register yourself as a participant. Once registered, you will get an email confirmation with details on accessing the conference platform. Link will be provided before the conference.
Yes. All registered participants who attend the sessions will receive a digital certificate of participation.
The forum aims to establish new interdisciplinary research clusters, develop collaborative project ideas, and strengthen international academic and industry networks.
The conference is hosted by Raffles University, together with international co-host universities and partners, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Mila University, Chung Hua University, Mapua Malayan College Laguna, UniRazak, and Universitas Islam 45 Bekasi.
For inquiries, please reach out to the INSPIRE Collab Secretariat at [IPSRE@Raffles-University.edu.my].
ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF INSPIRE COLLAB 2026
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wong Shaw Chiang (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- IDr. Mohd. Khedzir Bin Khamis (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Ria Marginingsih, S.E., M.B.A. (Universitas Islam 45, Indonesia)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noor Akmal Shareela Ismail (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)
- Dr. Yuhanis Bin Ibrahim (Universiti Malaysia Kelantan)
- Mr. James Ronald O. Mesina (Mapua Malayan College Laguna, Philippines)
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Ming-Lang Yeh (Chung Hua University, Taiwan)
- Asst. Prof. Ir. Ts. Inv. Keith Chong Peng Lean, EUR ING, IntPE, CEng, CSci, ACPE, MIET, MIScT (UniRazak, Malaysia)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tan Wee Chuen (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wong Shaw Chiang (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Dr. Don Jerome Pryantha Jayamana (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Dr. Chai Wen Jia (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Dr. Logenthini A/P Mariappan (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amos Lian En Ze (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alex Tan Wei Kian (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Dr. Ng Choon Ching (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Dr. Muhamad Safwan Bin Ishak (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Ts. Siti NurliayaBinti Zainudin (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Dr. Anders Granmo (Chung Hua University, Taiwan)
- Dr. Hana Yazmeen binti Hapiz (Universiti Malaysia Kelatan)
- Dr. Azlin Sharina binti Abd Latef (Universiti Malaysia Kelatan)
- Lynn Goh Wei Shan (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Jolyn Tan Jing Xuan (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Nurunnadiah binti Baharum (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Azmatun Syahmina Binti Yahya (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Mohamad Hatim Bin Mohd Shahfri (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- Dr. Shubashini Mathialagan (Raffles University, Malaysia)
- MARCOM (Raffles University, Malaysia)