Fumitaka Furuoka is a Japanese economist who has lived in Malaysia since 1987. From 1991 to 1999, he worked as a senior assistant at the Consulate General of Japan in Penang. Fumitaka then moved to academia and has taught economics for 25 years at three Malaysian public universities, namely, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Malaya. His academic expertise is in the field of applied economics which involves applying economic and econometric theories to address real-world critical economic issues and problems. As an applied economist, he aims to provide insights from his research for hammering out effective policies that foster sustainable development, enable a reduction of regional disparities, and move society towards achieving economic and social justice.  In his research in the field of applied economics, he focuses on economic equity between countries (i.e., the problem of inequality of economic development level in different countries), as well as economic equity within countries (i.e., the problem of inequality of income distribution in a specific country). Regarding economic equity between countries, he has conducted extensive research on diverse and pertinent global economic issues, such as poverty reduction, unemployment, economic growth/development, and renewable energy. In 2006, he published a book on Japanese foreign aid titled New Challenges for Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Policy. The book examines how Japan’s aid policy can contribute to reducing poverty and improving the well-being of developing countries, particularly Southeast Asian economies. As to economic equity within countries, the main focus of Fumitaka's research is promoting “employment for all” which is closely aligned with Target 8 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He strongly believes that employment for all, including people with disabilities, is the basic foundation for a sustainable and more humane economy (Ekonomi Madani). This belief has led him to write a book on employment for people with disabilities entitled Disability and Employment: Towards a Humanistic Economy. The book was published by Springer in 2024. This research direction has a strong practical orientation, and Fumitaka considers work in this area to be of ultimate importance for achieving economic equity and providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities. In short, his research aims to identify barriers and initiate policies that promote and enable economic inclusion, employment, and justice for all.

I am a passionate academic committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. Recognized for my innovative teaching and outstanding service, I have been honored with various awards such as Innovative Horizon Accolade Award, Professional innovator award, Service Excellence Award and the Certificate of Excellent Service. Additionally, I have played a key role in curriculum development, integrating data analytics, AI, and emerging technologies into business and information systems courses. My research contributions include 30 over publications, mostly indexed in WOS/Scopus, with a Scopus citation count of 1,348. I have been involved in nearly 18 research projects, with a total grant funding of approximately RM 900,000. At the university level, I have contributed to various committees, including the UM Research Ethics Committee, curriculum review panels, and academic advisory boards. I have also served as an e-learning coordinator and actively involved in mentoring students. Through international research collaborations, keynote speeches, and visiting scholar roles, I actively contribute to global academic discourse, foster interdisciplinary partnerships, and enhance knowledge exchange across borders.

2005- 2007 : PhD Degree in Islamic Philosophy, Faculty of Usul al-Din, Academy of Islamic Studies. University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia.2000 – 2003 : Master Degree in Usul al-Din with CGPA of 81% and a rating of very good. Faculty of Islamic Studies. Islamic University Baghdad, Iraq.1996-2000 : Bachelor Degree in Islamic Shari'ah with CGPA of 80.52% and a rating of very good, Faculty of Islamic Studies. Islamic University Baghdad, Iraq.WORKING EXPERIENCES • Assistant Lecturer (Part-timer) at Mu'ta University taught Islamic civilization (From 2003 to 2005).• Assistant lecturer (Part time) at University of Malaya (UM), teaching • Professor Assistance (Lecturer) in King Faisal University / KSA from 2008 till now 2018. • Professor Assistant in Islamic University of Minnesota‎‏.• Senior Lecturer in University of Malaya (UM) from 2019 till now.