The 2nd seminar of Academy of International Business –Central and Eastern European

2nd AIB-CEE Chapter Seminar
Recognising the changing character of the CEE region: 
towards an updated agenda of business, IB research and teaching  
January, 9th−10th, 2015 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Centre of International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences; University of Ljubljana 


The 2nd seminar of Academy of International Business – Central and Eastern European Chapter took place on January, 9th−10th, 2015 hosted by the Centre of International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences; University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The topic “Recognising the changing character of the CEE region: towards an updated agenda of business, IB research and teaching” attracted a truly international group. Over 50 registered participants of 14 different nationalities from 9 different countries gathered in Ljubljana. IB scholars and practitioners from the region discussed recent research findings in the area of international business from the region and about the region, exchange challenges and innovation in IB teaching and meet innovative multinational enterprises from CEE.

Warm and motivating welcome by host organizer and program chair Andreja Jaklič, chapter chair Łukasz Puślecki and Danica Purg, the AIB dean of the year 2010, from Bled School of Management turned into dynamic discussion about latest developments in the CEE region. Anže Burger leaded the discussion about recent research insight from the region. Matija Rojec demonstrated how FDI and intergnational trade fostered the cohesion of Central and eastern European countries as well as learning from investment and integration of CEE enterprises into global value chains. Erzsébet Czakó shared results of her 20 years of experience of exploring competitiveness of CEE. Piotr Trapcynski, presented »the emerging Poland« and the decade Polish internationalization. Metka Stare added research on innovation gap of CEE countries and the role of non-technological innovations. Shirish C. Srivastava explained how to design and execute a global innovation strategy and gave implications for CEE countries.  Frederick Lindahl further highlighted the region from the outside perspective and discussed the role of communist past in contemporary financial management. Matevž Rašković revealed China view of CEE countries and what can they expect from the 16+1 initiative.  

Desislava’s Dikova presentation of new trends in teaching strategy in IB served as introduction into business panel and stressed the importance of local case studies. Participants next saw internationalization paths of four regional companies; Go-opti; emphasizing innovation in traditional service industry (by Damjan Omerza), the case of Bisnode, revealing innovation in business intelligence and B2B customer care (by Maria Anselmi), Symbioza as a case of social innovation that developed into social enterprise (by Žiga Vapotič) and Coface Slovenia with Damir Lovenjak giving the overview and dynamic of growth of top 500 companies from CEE region. Challenges and experience of passionate managers from the region were great incentive for teaching panel. Marjan Svetličič, Ian Sutherland and József Poór  all emphasised the potential of experience based learning, underexploited potential of business – academia cooperation and the gap in delivering international managers according to business needs, the role of innovation in teaching methods as well as the role of art in teaching  and innovative approaches beyond rationality.

Speed networking workshop enhanced dinner networking and stimulated productive cooperation throughout Saturday workshop. József Poór leaded workshop on enhancing case study use and research, while Łukasz Puślecki and Piotr Trapczynski proceeded with workshop on research and teaching cooperation in CEE.

AIB-CEE is one of the youngest chapters in AIB community, however the region faces long tradition in global business and IB teaching: Rapidly changing institutional, social and economic environment offers excellent “a research lab” not only for local enterprises and global multinational enterprises but also IB scholars and researches. The second AIB-CEE Chapter seminar no doubt helped participants to rediscover rich tradition, diversity and new changes in the region and motivate them for more intensive cooperation in IB teaching and research. 

Photo gallery_Friday, 9th January 2015
Photo gallery_Saturday, 10th January 2015_Workshop 1
Photo gallery_Saturday, 10th January 2015_Workshop 2

Proceedings and e- materials available upon request to organizers.
http://www.mednarodni-odnosi.si/cmo/CEE_workshop_2015/index.php



The operation was co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. The operation is performed under the Operational Programme for Human Resource Development for the period 2007-2013, priority axis 3: "Development of Human Resource and Lifelong Learning" policy orientation 3.3 "Quality, Competitiveness and Responsiveness of Higher Education.