Arshad Ayub Graduate Business School (AAGBS), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), is pleased to announce that Dr. Nur Arfah Mustapha and Dr. Zoel-Fazlee have officially commenced their research secondment at AGH University of Krakow, Poland, under the Horizon Europe MSCA Staff Exchange Programme, “Overcoming the Digital Divide in Europe and South East Asia (ODDEA)”.

Since their arrival on 22 May 2026, both researchers have actively engaged with the university’s academic community through various institutional activities, including participation in the Student Research Conference held on 29 May 2026. The secondment serves as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, academic collaboration, and international networking.

Throughout the one-month programme, Dr. Nur Arfah and Dr. Zoel-Fazlee are contributing directly to Work Package 4 of the ODDEA project. Their research focuses on conducting a comprehensive qualitative analysis involving firms, industrial clusters, and individuals to better understand the socio-economic and structural factors contributing to regional digital disparities.

The initiative also reflects a strong collaboration with the host research team at AGH University. Research activities are coordinated by Dr. Joanna Duda and Dr. Rafal Kusa, whose expertise supports the effective alignment of research methodologies among participating institutions from Europe and Southeast Asia.

The findings generated through this collaborative effort are expected to provide valuable insights into regional digitalisation trends and challenges. The resulting data will contribute to the development of comprehensive policy recommendations aimed at fostering more dynamic, equitable, and targeted digital transformation within partner countries and across the wider Southeast Asian and European regions.

Key Takeaways

• Strengthened international research collaboration through the Horizon Europe MSCA Staff Exchange Programme.
• Contributed to Work Package 4 of the ODDEA project focusing on digital divide challenges across Europe and Southeast Asia.
• Conducted qualitative research involving firms, industrial clusters, and individuals to identify barriers to digitalisation.
• Enhanced academic networking and knowledge exchange with researchers at AGH University of Krakow.
• Supported the development of evidence-based policy recommendations for equitable digital transformation and regional development.