9. International Scientific Conference 2025

As part of the International Week, the 9th International Scientific Conference took place on May 13, 2025, under the title “Sustainable Management in the Age of ESG and AI: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities.” Following the opening address by the Vice Dean for Educational Affairs, Prof. Dr. Jernej Belak, and the welcome speech by Prof. Dr. Zlatko Nedelko, Chair of the Programme Committee, participants had the opportunity to attend two outstanding plenary lectures.

The first plenary lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Markus Schwaninger from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, who spoke on the topic “Coping with Global Warming: Systemic Design, Scope, and Scale.” In his presentation, he emphasized the importance of a systemic approach and understanding the dimensions and scale involved in effectively addressing global warming.

The second invited speaker was Dean Prof. Dr. Arun Abraham Elias from the School of Management, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) and Rajagiri Business School (India). In his lecture titled “Sustainable Management in the Age of ESG and AI: The Role of Business Schools,” he highlighted the crucial role of business schools in advancing sustainable management in today’s environment shaped by ESG principles and artificial intelligence.

After the opening session, the presentation of scientific papers continued across twelve parallel sections—six in the morning and six in the afternoon. These sessions featured contributions from domestic and international presenters representing 19 countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, India, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Russia, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine.

A total of 89 papers were presented, covering a wide range of topics in economics and business sciences. Presenters shared their experiences, research findings, and examples of best practices, enabling a rich exchange of knowledge and ideas.

The conference provided an excellent opportunity for researchers to connect, exchange perspectives, and lay the groundwork for future collaboration. Particularly noteworthy was the renewed intensity of in-person networking, which allowed participants to establish new professional connections. The event further contributed to strengthening relationships among higher education institutions in the field of economics and business.