IPB University’s SBD 2026 Connects Global Learning with Responsible Innovation in MSMEs

BOGOR, INDONESIA — The School of Business IPB University successfully concluded Sustainable Business Development (SBD) 2026, an international summer course held from 9 to 16 August 2026 under the theme “Responsible Innovation in MSMEs for Sustainable Business.” Now in its sixth year, the program combined academic learning, cross-cultural exchange, field-based experience, and a student innovation competition.

Delivered in a hybrid format, SBD 2026 welcomed 32 on-site participants and 25 online participants. The program involved 11 universities and connected students and lecturers representing Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Singapore, Kazakhstan, China, Poland, Pakistan, Yemen, and Algeria. Through this international setting, participants explored how responsible innovation can strengthen the sustainability, competitiveness, and societal contribution of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The academic sessions featured 11 international lecturers, with nine delivering their lectures on site, one online, and one asynchronously. The lecturers represented leading institutions including IPB University, the University of Glasgow, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Satbayev University, and other partner institutions. Their sessions addressed sustainable development, innovation, technology, resilient business systems, global value chains, and responsible production and consumption.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The program began with a welcoming dinner and cultural night, allowing participants and lecturers to build connections across institutions and nationalities. Classroom activities then combined lectures, case discussions, quick quizzes, self-study, and teamwork. The course was designed as a four-credit learning experience that integrated contemporary management knowledge with practical business insight.

On 13 and 14 August, participants joined a field trip to Sukabumi to observe responsible innovation in local enterprises, including a local soy sauce producer and Bukit Baros cheese. The visits enabled participants to examine production processes, business practices, and the challenges faced by locally rooted enterprises. Capacity-building games and cultural performances further strengthened collaboration within the six student groups.

Student Ideas and Awards

The learning journey culminated in a poster competition on 15 August. Six groups presented ideas that translated the course concepts into proposals for sustainable MSME development. International lecturers serving as judges commended the originality and potential of the participants’ ideas while encouraging further refinement for future presentation at international academic forums.

The awards recognized academic achievement, presentation quality, collaborative creativity, and digital communication. Sahibzada Naveed Inayat Ullah of Universitas Sebelas Maret was named Best Student, followed by Nur Shuhada Binti Shahrudin of Universiti Sains Malaysia and Deflin Houston Christopher Gani of IPB University. Group 6 received the Best Poster award, Group 4 was recognized for Best Presenter, and Joanne Beh Yanyi of Universiti Sains Malaysia was named Social Media Reporter. A separate award was presented for the best group social media content.

The program concluded on 16 August with an official tour of the Bogor Botanical Gardens, introducing participants to Bogor’s environmental heritage and reinforcing the course’s connection between business, society, and sustainability.

Strengthening International Collaboration

SBD 2026 supports IPB University’s internationalization agenda by creating an inclusive, multicultural, and interdisciplinary academic environment. The program also strengthens existing partnerships and opens opportunities for continued collaboration in teaching, research, student mobility, and institutional development. Participating international partners expressed their commitment to continued involvement in the next edition of SBD and to encouraging more students to join the program in person.

Through SBD 2026, the School of Business IPB University reaffirmed its commitment to preparing globally minded learners who can develop responsible, innovative, and context-sensitive solutions for sustainable MSME growth.

About Sustainable Business Development

Sustainable Business Development is an annual international summer course hosted by the School of Business IPB University. First organized in 2021, the program brings together students, academics, and international partners to study emerging issues in sustainable business through lectures, experiential learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and innovation-based assignments.