The Business and Society Research Seminar 2024

“Business, Peace and Sustainability: Navigating Systemic Challenges”

will be held in person on June 18-19, 2024

at IÉSEG School of Management, Lille campus

We have the great pleasure to host the 2024 edition of the Business & Society Research Seminar. This event is designed for PhD students and emerging scholars in various research fields related to Business and Society. While the specific theme of interest for this year is “Business, Peace and Sustainability: Navigating Systemic Challenges”, all works addressing Business and Society questions and challenges can be submitted to the Research Seminar.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Are you a PhD candidate or an emerging scholar conducting research in the field of Business and Society, Sustainable Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development Goals, Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, or a related topic?

• Do you wish to discuss one of your research papers or your PhD project with leading scholars in the field to enhance your ability to write and review scholarly publications?
• Are you looking for some mentoring from leading experts or do you want to develop your academic network?

… then we encourage you to submit your work and join us in Lille!

OBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAR

The primary aim of our two-day seminar is to create a collaborative space where doctoral students, early-career scholars, and more experienced academics can gather to discuss research projects and prospects. Running since 2011, this annual event offers a unique opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful discussions, receive constructive feedback, and foster professional growth in a supportive, nurturing environment. We focus on identifying and appreciating both the common threads and the distinct aspects of each participant's research methodologies and themes. The seminar features a dynamic blend of sessions that include fellow PhD candidates and emerging scholars, as well as senior researchers and journal editors, all contributing to an enriching, pleasant, and academically invigorating environment.

KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

In conflict-affected areas and post-conflict zones, the role of business intertwines significantly with societal and environmental factors. Companies and entrepreneurs can foster economic and societal development, contributing to community upliftment and peace, while also addressing sustainability challenges, including the provision of support to vulnerable populations like refugees and the maintenance of local ecosystems.

However, under the guise of economic development, there is also a risk of negative impacts associated with business practices in conflict-affected areas, such as misusing resources, exacerbating inequality, deepening social divides, and fuelling conflict through exploitative practices or 'peacewashing' initiatives, where businesses claim positive contributions despite evidence to the contrary.

The keynote addresses of this 2024 edition will approach how businesses can contribute to peacebuilding in conflict-afflicted areas and post-conflict zones, and how researchers can engage with marginalized stakeholders in such extreme contexts to develop meaningful research efforts.

Our first keynote speakers, John KATSOS (American University of Sharjah) and Jay JOSEPH (American University of Beirut), will address the “Roles of business in peacebuilding”.

Our second keynote address, on “Studying marginalized stakeholders: Learnings from doing research in ‘extreme’ contexts” will be delivered by Farah KODEIH (IÉSEG School of Management) and Rashedur CHOWDHURY (Essex Business School).

IMPORTANT DATES

• Submissions open: January 19, 2024
• Submissions close: March 8, 2024
• Decisions on acceptance: April 2024
  
• Registration opens: April 2024
  
• Registration closes: June 9, 2024 (11.55pm)

INFO ON PREVIOUS EDITIONS

Information on previous editions of the Business and Society Research Seminar in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands can be find online here.

MORE INFORMATION

> Visit the IÉSEG website