ASSOC. PROF. DR SHAMZAEFFA SAMSUDIN
Director
Economic and Financial Policy Institute (ECoFI)
School of Economics, Finance and Banking
Universiti Utara Malaysia
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ECoFI is a unique research institute, established in 2014 aimed at analyzing and reviewing appropriate policies on complex issues related to economy and finance. The study of the institute focuses more on issues related to economic and financial policy linkages to communities, small and medium businesses, and the areas of education and labor. ECoFI continues to be relevant to being one of the key drivers in the dream of the University to achieve academic recognition at the highest level and be able to contribute to all levels of society.
Addressing the vision to emerge as a center of economic and financial research excellence, we are committed to generating research policy-result based towards economic development that is moving towards balance and sustainability. Research areas made with regard to economics and finance can be diverse and the expertise of researchers in the institute is also diverse but the philosophy and commitment of each institute member is to work together even to think in an issue in a different way. The institute's work culture also emphasizes the Quality Management system to bring about customer satisfaction or stakeholders. Collaboration in the field of policy research with several other universities, public and private agencies at national and international levels is one of the key milestones of ECoFI's success.
The credibility and reputation built by ECoFI since its inception is not only an attraction as a research center but also a center of knowledge development. This is achieved through organizing workshops on economic analysis, forums, national and international lectures and seminars. ECoFI has successfully organized Annual Economics Symposium every year, published Journal of Economics and Sustainability twice a year and publishes the Northern Economics Bulletin every year. More significantly, ECoFI provides inputs for the national budget and holds a forum to discuss issues related to the national budget in collaboration with the National Professors Council every year. Recently, ECoFI has collaborated with the Kedah Economic Planning Unit to form the Kedah Strategic Development Plan 2020-2035 and to hold the Post-Budget Forum 2020.
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