YOURS'2025 Concept Note

International Conference for Youth 2025 (YOURS’25) marks its seventh edition since its inception in 2016, continuing its legacy as a premier platform for presenting impactful research centred on youth development. Together, these events create a powerful platform for showcasing research outcomes in youth development. In collaboration with University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS), this conference aims to foster even greater participation from both local and international presenters, all unified by the central theme of " Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future: Shaping a Resilient and Responsible Generation" The primary objective is to facilitate the exchange of research findings with a specific emphasis to addressing current and emerging youth-related issues.

This program will feature a total of 15 presenters, comprising 10 local presenters and 5 international presenters. The conference serves not only as a space for academic exchange, but also as a catalyst for real-world impact—translating research into meaningful action that empowers youth and strengthens communities across the region

YOURS'25 encompasses four interconnected sub-themes directly associated with youth mental health concerns. A skilled moderator will oversee each discussion, with expert panelists drawn from diverse sectors like Government, Academia, Associations, NGOs, and others, offering comprehensive insights into mental well-being. The presentation scope for each sub-theme is as follows:

1. Sub-Theme Young Mental Strength, Real Talk:

• Strengthening youth awareness and resilience to prevent drug abuse and promote healthier, purpose-driven lifestyles;
• Promoting mental health awareness and emotional wellbeing among youth to foster stronger, more resilient communities; and
• Empowering youth with accurate, age-appropriate knowledge of sexual and reproductive health to support informed, respectful and responsible choices.

2. Sub-Theme Building Youth Economies: From Potential to Progress:

• Equipping youth with financial literacy and essential life skills to build independent, confident and future-ready individuals;
• Exploring the challenges and opportunities of youth migration in relation to employment, skills development and socio-economic growth; and
• Enpowering youth through entrepreneurship to drive innovation, create employment and shape sustainable economic futures.

3. Sub-Theme Fostering Youth Participation in Nation-Building:

• Empowering ASEAN youth as active contributors to democratic processes for a more united, inclusive and resilient region;
• Strengthening political literacy to enable meaningful youth participation in decision-making and civic life; and
• Cultivating leadership and volunteerism to nurture socially responsible, compassionate and proactive youth leaders.

        4. Sub-Theme Youth Swipe Smart: Navigating the Digital World:

• Empowering youth to lead in cybersecurity and embrace digital transformation responsibly in a rapidly evolving tech-driven world;
• Promoting safe, respectful and responsible digital habits among youth by addressing the impact of online pornography and harmful content; and
• Building youth capacity to prevent, identify and respond to cybercrime through education, digital ethics and community engagement.

Sub-Theme 1: Youth Mental Strength, Real Talk

Moderator:

1. Dr. Sook Ning Chua, Board of Director IYRES

Panel:

2. Ms. Trixia Anne C. Co (Philippines), University Loyola Heights Campus

3. Dr. Christophe Wiart (France), Institute of Biology Tropica & Conservation, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS)

4. Dr. Shafie, Sabah State Health Department

Sub-Theme 2: Building Youth Economies: From Potential to Progress

Moderator:

1. Assoc. Prof. Janice Nga, University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS)

Panel:

2. Associate Prof. Dudi Permana (Indonesia), Indonesia Marketing Association

3. Dr. Borhan Abdullah, UMS

4. Mrs. Jessie Ambukon, Persatuan Usahawan Sabah (PUSH)

Sub-Theme 3: Fostering Youth Participation in Nation-Building

Moderator:

1. Mr. Mohd Syafiq Ridzwan Jamaludin, Board of Director IYRES

Panel:

2. Mr. Shaan Gom, United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), Bangkok Regional Hub

3. Dr. Mohammad Ikram Mohammad Ridzuan, UMS

4. Mr. Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan, Sabah Youth Council

Sub-Theme 4: Youth Swipe Smart: Navigating the Digital World

Moderator:

1. Mrs. Melissa Ngiam, Board of Director IYRES

Panel:

2. Dr. Soon Aun Tan, UTAR

3. Mr. Kahar Ariffin, Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), Sabah

Speakers:

1. Life Experience: Untold Story Chapters - Part 1 by Mr. Charles Prakasam, Counsellor of Parenting

2. Life Experience: Untold Story Chapters - Part 2 by Mrs. Siti Subailah Suod, Borneo Fertilyst

3. Life Experience Untold Story Chapters - Part 3 by Mr. Azizul Julirin, Kundasang Aquafarm

4. Life Experience: Untold Story Chapters - Part 3 by Associate Prof. Dr. Nazri Mohd Daud, Faculty of Medicine UMS

• Highlighting the capacity to serve as a platform for deliberating Sabah youth development concerns;

• Enhancing cooperation among researchers on both domestic and global fronts;

• Compile participants' input into a document to enhance the government's strategy in averting youth issues; and 

• Curating youth development research articles for potential publication across various IYRES platforms.

The overall target participants is 150 people and the fees as follows:

1. Registration Date: 10 May – 29 June 2025

2. Early Bird Until: 10 June 2025

           (Meals are provided, accommodation and transportation under own expenses)

3. Fee:

1. Student : RM100.00 per person
2. Early Bird (Local Only) : RM150.00 per person
3. Normal : RM250.00 per person
4. Group (3 members and above) : RM200.00 per person
5. International : USD100.00 per person

The Best Research Paper will be published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Youth Studies (APJYS), while the top three papers will be recognized with prestigious awards and cash prizes as follows:

         1st Prize: RM1,000.00 + Trophy

         2nd Prize: RM700.00 + Trophy

         3rd Prize: RM 500.00 + Trophy

         This initiative aims to celebrate academic excellence and encourage impactful research in youth-related fields.