From left: Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, UOG President and Dr. Claret Ruane, ICBEIT Founder and Chair and Professor of Economics, UOG School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA). (Photo courtesy of Dr. Claret Ruane)
The University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA) marked a major milestone with the 20th anniversary of its International Conference on Business, Economics and Information Technology (ICBEIT), held March 12-13, 2026, in Singapore at the YWCA Fort Canning.
Founded and led by Dr. Maria Claret M. Ruane, professor of economics, the annual conference continues to bring together scholars and students from across the globe to share research and foster academic collaboration. This year’s conference welcomed 71 participants representing 25 universities, the International Accreditation Council of Business Education (IACBE), which accredits SBPA’s business programs, and other organizations from Japan, India, the United States, and Guam.
“This milestone reflects the University of Guam’s strong and growing network of international partnerships that advance research, innovation, and academic exchange,” said University of Guam President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, who joined the conference in person. “Through collaborations like ICBEIT, UOG and our School of Business and Public Administration continue to connect our island to the global academic community while creating meaningful opportunities for shared learning and engagement.”
A global platform for research and collaboration
“How do you say ‘twenty’ in your own language?... Japanese, Tagalog, Bahasa, Hindi, Korean, Chinese, Palauan, and CHamoru?” Ruane asked in her opening remarks, setting an inclusive and energetic tone for the two-day event, which featured 53 research presentations.
Ruane introduced the ICBEIT conference series to UOG when she joined as faculty in 2007, carrying forward its founding vision of cross-cultural academic exchange. She says that “the ICBEIT was founded on the simple idea that there is so much we can learn from each other, despite differences in cultural backgrounds and academic disciplines.”
UOG SBPA presented a Certificate of Recognition to Multi-Year ICBEIT Co-Sponsor ODE International Honor Society for Economics at UOG. From left: Dr. Claret Ruane, ICBEIT Founder and Chair and Professor of Economics; Ms. Keana Daudelil Mesubed, ODE Secretary and current MBA Student; Dr. Anita Enriquez, UOG President; Dr. Roseann Jones, SBPA Dean and Professor of Economics. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Denzyl Mariei Ngiralmau)
ICBEIT Organizing Team Members from left: Mr. Denzyl Mariei Ngiralmau, ICBEIT Lead Assistant and MBA Student; Dr. Claret Ruane, ICBEIT Founder and Chair and Professor of Economics; Dr. Leila C. Kabigting, BA Division Chair and Associate Professor of Finance; Dr. Joann C.E. Diego, Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management Not in photo: Ms. Keana Daudelil Mesubed, ICBEIT Assistant and MBA Student; Mykaelah Janyne Sanchez, ICBEIT Junior Assistant and BA-Honors Pathway (Economics) student. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Denzyl Mariei Ngiralmau)
UOG’s Triton Investment Faculty Advisor and Officers presented their research on sustainable finance. From left: Ms. Esther Muña, BA-Professional Pathway student and Triton Investments Vice President of Records, Dr. Leila C. Kabigting, BA Division Chair, Associate Professor of Finance and Triton Investments Advisor; Ms. Summer Quintanilla, BA-Professional Pathway student and Triton Investments Senior Vice President, and Ms. Tesanee Chiro, BA-Professional Pathway student and Triton Investments Vice President of Investments. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Claret Ruane)
Mentorship. From left: Mr. Denzyl Mariei Ngiralmau, BA-Professional Pathway in Human Resource Management alumnus (May 2025) and current MBA student and Dr. Joann C.E. Diego, Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management. (Photo courtesy of Ms. Tesanee Chiro)
That vision continues to resonate, with approximately 65% of participants returning from previous years and 95% rating the conference as “Excellent” or “Very Good.”
UOG students and faculty take the international stage
UOG was strongly represented at this year’s conference by faculty, administrators, students, and alumni, who collectively contributed 17 research presentations spanning business, economics, public administration, and emerging interdisciplinary topics.
Participants included university leadership, SBPA faculty across multiple disciplines, undergraduate and graduate students, and alumni engaged in both collaborative and independent research — reflecting UOG’s emphasis on mentorship and applied learning.
Dean Roseann M. Jones and SBPA faculty played active roles throughout the conference as presenters, mentors, and session chairs. Faculty and student assistants also provided on-site conference support, demonstrating UOG’s commitment to excellence and hospitality.
Strengthening international partnerships
The conference is organized in collaboration with long-standing academic partners, including Osaka Metropolitan University and Nanzan University in Japan, along with additional co-sponsors such as the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society for Economics at UOG.
Joining Ruane as conference chairs were Dr. Akihiro Noguchi of Nanzan University, who has served as co-chair for 17 years, and Dr. Mineo Tsuji of Osaka Metropolitan University, now in his ninth year as co-chair — highlighting the continuity of UOG’s international academic partnerships.
Ruane emphasized the broader impact of the event, stating, “the conference is not just academic. It is an opportunity to showcase SBPA, UOG and Guam to the world.”
Investing in student success and professional growth
The ICBEIT conference remains self-funded through participant registration fees, with faculty and students leveraging institutional support and personal resources to participate. Students also competed for travel assistance through the Research Corporation of the University of Guam and the Office of Enrollment Management & Student Success at UOG.
Participating students presented their research and reflections from ICBEIT at a public “Student Spotlight” event held March 30 at the SBPA Multipurpose Room.
