Distinguished Chair Prof Dr Ooi Keng Boon delivering his keynote address

Distinguished Chair Prof Dr Ooi Keng Boon ((third from left) with TWAS-SAPREP coordinator and CAS director-general of Bureau of International Cooperation Liu Wei Dong (second from left) and fellow speakers at the workshop

Distinguished Chair Prof Dr Ooi Keng Boon sharing his insights

Beijing: UCSI University Distinguished Chair Prof Dr Ooi Keng Boon, an elected Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), was invited by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to deliver a keynote address at the TWAS-SAPREP Regional Workshop on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in Beijing, China.

At the workshop, he shared practical experiences and forward-looking insights on how digital technologies can promote sustainable development with leading scientists and young scholars from Asia and the Pacific region.

Prof Ooi was the only representative from a Malaysian private university among the invited speakers at the forum, which brought together leading researchers from China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Laos to discuss how science, technology and innovation can address global sustainability challenges.

His participation reflects the growing international recognition of UCSI's research excellence. Prof Ooi was named a Highly Cited Researcher 2023 by Clarivate Analytics and was also among the 17 UCSI academics recognised in Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists 2025 list.

In his keynote presentation, “Mobile-enabled Digital Ecosystems for Sustainable Economic Growth and Smart Communities”, he discussed how mobile technologies, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and data-driven systems can support sustainable economic growth, enhance SME participation, expand financial inclusion, improve public services and enable more inclusive smart communities.

He noted that such developments must be guided by broader societal goals.

“Digital transformation is fundamentally reshaping how economies grow and how public services are delivered. The key challenge is ensuring that these advancements translate into inclusive and sustainable outcomes that benefit all segments of society,” he said.

He emphasised that technological progress must be matched with governance and trust-building measures.

“Alongside innovation, we must address critical issues such as digital readiness, trust in digital systems, ethical considerations in artificial intelligence and the widening digital divide. These challenges require coordinated policy support and multi-stakeholder collaboration,” he added.

Prof Ooi’s presentation was aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities), which underpin efforts to build more inclusive and resilient societies.

He also highlighted the importance of international engagement in advancing shared solutions.

“This engagement reflects the importance of global collaboration in addressing complex socio-technical challenges. It also provides meaningful international visibility for UCSI and highlights its growing contribution to global discussions on digital transformation, artificial intelligence and sustainable development,” he said.

The workshop was jointly organised by The World Academy of Sciences' East and Southeast Asia and Pacific Regional Partner (TWAS-SAPREP) and the TWAS Young Affiliates Network, with support from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

UCSI University has maintained its standing in the world’s top 1% for the fifth straight year after placing 282nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027. It is also ranked in Asia’s top 30 and eighth in Southeast Asia in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026.