25-27 January 2027
Location: University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business; Slovenia
Call for Abstracts
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, 30th September 2026
Symposium Overview
The School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, is delighted to host the ACE International Doctoral Symposium 2027 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
This international doctoral event brings together PhD researchers from ACE partner institutions, providing a unique opportunity to present research, receive developmental feedback from international scholars, and build collaborative networks across Europe and China.
Th symposium aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time: the intersection of artificial intelligence and sustainability. Through research presentations, keynote lectures, workshops, and networking activities, participants will engage in critical discussions about how technological developments are shaping organizations, economies, and societies in their pursuit of sustainable futures.
Theme
Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability: Individual, Team, Organizational, and Societal Perspectives
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming contemporary societies, organizations, and everyday life. At the same time, sustainability challenges - including climate change, demographic shifts, social inequalities, resource scarcity, and ethical governance - require new forms of interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration.
Increasingly, AI and sustainability are becoming deeply interconnected phenomena, shaping how individuals work, how organizations innovate, and how societies address complex global challenges.
The ACE International Doctoral Symposium 2027 invites doctoral researchers to explore this relationship across different levels of analysis, including individual, team, organizational, and societal perspectives. We welcome conceptual, empirical, methodological, and interdisciplinary contributions from fields such as management, entrepreneurship, innovation, information systems, economics, psychology, sociology, public policy, and related disciplines.
Date and Venue: 25 – 27 January 2027 in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Host: University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business
Co-organizers: Leeds University Business School; School of Management, Xiamen University
Sponsor: Alliance of Chinese and European Business Schools (ACE)
Topics of Interest
We invite abstracts on the following topics, though submissions are not limited to these areas:
· Sustainable innovation (enabled by AI, and/or other technologies)
· Human– and future of work (enabled by AI, and/or other technologies)
· Ethical and responsible leadership (the role of AI, other technologies)
· Well-being at different levels of analysis
· Sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship
· AI (and/or other technologies) in education and healthcare
· Digital transformation and organizational adaptation
· Governance and regulation (technology and non-technology based)
· Green technologies and smart systems
· Societal implications of AI (and other technologies) adoption
· Cross-cultural perspectives (on AI and sustainability)
Abstracts with interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and multi-level perspectives are particularly encouraged.
Submission Types
Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract of approximately 500 - 750 words, including key words.
Abstracts should clearly outline:
· Research problem and relevance of the study
· Theoretical background and research objectives
· Methodology and/or research design
· Preliminary findings or expected results
· Expected theoretical and practical contributions
Submissions may present:
· Work in progress
· Dissertation projects
· Completed studies
· Early-stage research initiatives
Key Dates
Submission Deadline: 30 September 2026
Notification of Acceptance: 30 October 2026
Symposium Dates: 25 – 27 January 2027
Submission & Review
Submission Procedure
Please submit your abstract together with:
· Name
· Institution & Department
· Year of study
· Research topic
· Contact information
Submissions should be sent to: [kellychan19515@xmu.edu.cn]
Review Procedure
All submissions will undergo a double-blind review process. Abstracts will be evaluated based on:
· Originality
· Relevance to the symposium theme
· Academic rigor
· Practical significance
· Clarity of presentation
Only applicants officially enrolled in a doctoral programme are eligible to apply. All Postgraduate/PhD Researchers who have completed their first year are eligible to apply. Please note that research projects that are not yet in the data collection or analysis stages are also welcome.
Presentation
Accepted abstracts will be included in the ACE International Doctoral Symposium programme.
Authors will be invited to present their work in person in Ljubljana.
Each presentation will consist of:
· 20-minute presentation
· 10-minute discussion and Q&A
The symposium places particular emphasis on developmental feedback, international collaboration, and scholarly exchange.
Funding
Subject to ACE and institutional funding availability:
· Travel support may be available for selected participants.
· Accommodation support may be available for selected participants.
· There will be no registration fee.
Further details will be communicated upon acceptance.
Background
The Alliance of Chinese and European Business Schools (ACE) was established under the patronage of EFMD to strengthen cooperation between leading business schools in Europe and China and to promote excellence in research and education. The alliance seeks to develop globally minded scholars and practitioners capable of addressing contemporary societal and organizational challenges.
Building on a series of international doctoral and early-career researcher initiatives, including the ACE International Research Symposium hosted by Leeds University Business School in 2024 and the ACE PhD Symposium hosted by School of Management, Xiamen University in 2025, the 2027 symposium in Ljubljana continues this tradition of fostering international academic exchange and collaboration.
We warmly invite doctoral students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds to join us in Ljubljana for this international academic event and contribute to advancing our understanding of the opportunities and challenges emerging at the intersection of artificial intelligence and sustainability.
Review of Previous Editions
Online Joint Doctoral Seminar Series (2021-2023)
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/8920.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/9051.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/9386.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/10000.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/10383.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/10763.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/12874.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/14174.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/35424.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/35444.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/36724.htm
https://sm.xmu.edu.cn/info/1046/43874.htm
ACE International Research Symposium hosted by Leeds University Business School (2024)
ACE PhD Symposium hosted by School of Management, Xiamen University (2025)
Contact Information
Kelly CHAN, coordinator of International Development and Accreditation Office, School of Management, Xiamen University, kellychan19515@xmu.edu.cn, TEL: +86-592-2182872.
Office: Room 320, Jiageng Building#1, Siming Campus, Xiamen University.
We look forward to receiving your submission soon!
International Relations Office & Doctoral Programme Office
University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business
