At the India-Malaysia Bilateral Relations International Conference, APU’s Associate Professor Dr Senthil Kumar Thiagarajan delivered a keynote on strengthening economic relations and led a guest lecture on financial analytics, reinforcing the university’s international standing and commitment to valuable knowledge exchange.

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation’s (APU) Associate Professor Dr Senthil Kumar Thiagarajan is making waves on the international stage, having recently delivered a pivotal keynote address at a major conference in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), India, marking a significant milestone in APU’s global engagement.

On 20 August 2025, Dr Senthil from the School of Accounting and Finance (SoAF) took centre stage at the International Conference on India-Malaysia Bilateral Relations: Strengthening Economic, Strategic and Cultural Ties in the 21st Century. 

The conference, the first of its kind, was a collaboration between APU’s partner institution, Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science in Coimbatore, and the prestigious Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), a leading foreign policy think tank.

In his address, titled ‘Expanding Trade and Sustainable Investment: Building a Resilient Economic Partnership between India and Malaysia’, Dr Senthil focused on practical strategies to deepen economic ties between the two nations. 

The conference was a landmark event, celebrating the silver jubilee of Sri Ramakrishna College’s Department of International Business, and provided a powerful platform for academic dialogue and policy-oriented discussion.

“The opportunity to deliver a keynote at this event, especially with ICWA’s involvement, was hugely relevant and exceeded my expectations,” said Dr Senthil.

“It truly aligns with APU’s goals for internationalisation and demonstrates how academic institutions can help shape bilateral narratives.”

Sharing expertise with future professionals

Beyond the conference, Dr Senthil also took the opportunity to share his financial expertise with the next generation of professionals by conducting a hands-on session for MBA students at the Coimbatore Institute of Technology.

His guest lecture, ‘Understanding Bond Yield Curves Using Excel’, was a practical deep dive into the world of financial analytics. 

Dr Senthil guided students through real-world exercises, teaching them how to interpret and analyse bond yield curves to understand market conditions and economic outlooks.

“The goal was to equip students with applied financial skills relevant to investment analysis,” he explained. 

The session provided invaluable, hands-on experience in plotting yield curves and understanding their various shapes, giving students a tangible skill to add to their portfolios.

This successful trip highlights APU’s commitment to forging international partnerships and providing its faculty with platforms to contribute to global academic and policy discussions. 

Dr Senthil’s participation significantly contributed to APU’s growing reputation as a leader in international education, while also enriching his own academic engagement.