ESG and the Future of Sustainable Business in Emerging Markets
We are proud to celebrate the official awardees and outstanding participants of the 2026 International Reading Contest. Through their analytical essays, students from Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Malaysia demonstrated strong research skills, critical thinking, and meaningful reflections on how Environmental, Social, and Governance practices are shaping the future of sustainable business in emerging markets.
Organized in Collaboration with Regional Academic Partners
The 2026 International Reading Contest was organized by CamEd Business Library in collaboration with the Cambodian Librarians Association, The University of Papua New Guinea, and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). This collaboration brought together students from Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Malaysia to explore ESG and sustainable business in emerging markets.
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CamEd Business School
Cambodian Librarians Association
The University of Papua New Guinea
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
Celebrating Research, Reading, and Sustainability
This contest reflects our shared pride in students who are willing to read deeply, think critically, and connect academic learning with real-world business and sustainability challenges. Their submissions show not only strong writing ability, but also awareness of how ESG practices can influence economic growth, responsible investment, ethical consumption, and long-term business resilience.
This year’s submissions show that ESG is no longer only a corporate image or public relations topic. It is increasingly connected to real business survival, international competitiveness, supply-chain credibility, climate risk, financial decision-making, and social responsibility. Through their essays, the participants connected global sustainability trends with local and regional realities in Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and other emerging-market contexts.
The participating institutions proudly recognize the awardees and outstanding participants for their thoughtful analysis, commitment to learning, and contribution to academic discussion on sustainable business.
Why This Contest Matters
- It promotes reading and research culture among students.
- It connects academic learning with real-world business challenges.
- It encourages students to think critically about sustainability and development.
- It highlights the role of libraries and academic partners in supporting information literacy and academic growth.
Key Themes Across the Featured Submissions
Although each participant approached the topic from a different angle, the featured submissions collectively show that ESG is no longer a side topic in modern business. It is increasingly becoming a practical framework for how businesses grow, compete, attract investment, manage risk, and build trust in emerging markets.
Across the essays, students explored how sustainability connects with strategy, finance, governance, development, and responsible consumption. Together, their work reflects a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing businesses and institutions in a rapidly changing global environment.
```From Reading to Impact
The contest encouraged participants to move from reading and understanding to analysis and application. Their submissions demonstrate how students can use research to interpret global issues and propose thoughtful perspectives for the future of sustainable business.
```Featured Participants and Key Insights
Explore the official awardees and special recognition participants below. Use the filters to browse by theme. Click Main Points to expand each summary, or View Work to preview the full submission on this page.
```Official Awardees
Special Recognition for Outstanding Participation
The following participants are recognized for their active engagement and valuable contribution to the contest. Listed alphabetically by participant name.
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