Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), organized a series of Visiting Top Professors activities featuring Prof. Effiezal Effendi Abdul Wahab from Curtin University, Australia, on 29–30 June 2026. The program was specifically designed for master’s and doctoral students to strengthen their competencies in conducting research and preparing manuscripts for publication in internationally reputable journals.

On 29 June 2026, Prof. Effiezal delivered a session entitled “Institutional Background” in Room 4204 Building 4 FEB UNS, focusing on the importance of developing a strong institutional background as the foundation of academic research. During the session, participants learned that an institutional background should extend beyond a general description of the research setting. Instead, it should present relevant facts, regulations, and contextual events that clearly identify the research gap while connecting the research context to the proposed research questions. The session also emphasized the importance of understanding institutional characteristics and the broader research environment to ensure that studies make meaningful academic contributions.

The following day, on 30 June 2026, Prof. Effiezal led a second session entitled “Hypotheses Development,” which examined the process of formulating hypotheses based on rigorous theoretical reasoning.

Participants were introduced to the principle that hypotheses should not rely solely on findings from previous studies. Rather, they should be constructed through logical theoretical arguments that are consistent with the research questions and conceptual framework.

In addition, the session demonstrated the connection between the literature review, institutional background, and hypotheses development, enabling participants to develop a more systematic research structure with clear academic contributions.

Through this Visiting Top Professors series, FEB UNS reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the research capacity of postgraduate students, enabling them to produce master’s theses, doctoral dissertations, and scholarly publications that meet international standards. Prof. Effiezal’s presence also provided valuable insights into best practices for preparing competitive manuscripts for publication in internationally reputable journals.

This program also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through strengthening the quality of higher education and research capacity, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through international academic collaboration between FEB UNS and Curtin University in advancing knowledge development and internationally recognized scholarly publications.