We are thrilled to celebrate the success of IALS 2.0, our recent international conference co-hosted with the Sharda School of Business Studies, Sharda University, India, held online on 20–21 February 2026.
Under the theme Bridging Borders: A Doctoral Research Exchange, the two-day event brought together doctoral scholars, academics, and industry professionals from around the world for a rich programme of keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and ten parallel research tracks spanning everything from Digital Transformation and Finance to Marketing, Economics, and Organisational Behaviour.
Across the two days, delegates explored some of the most pressing issues shaping the future of global business. Discussions ranged from sustainable leadership and green innovation to the rise of AI and digital transformation in emerging economies. At the same time, our doctoral presenters contributed original, thought-provoking research on topics including maritime labour policy, consumer behaviour, financial frameworks, and entrepreneurship across cultures. The
Day 2 workshop, featuring experts from Elsevier and leading business schools, provided early-career researchers with practical tools for high-impact academic publishing.
The conference was convened by Dr. Jimmy Naipaul (IES Strasbourg), Dr. Khagendra Nath Gangai, and Dr. Ajay Kumar (both of Sharda University), and we were honoured to welcome guest speakers Dr. D’vorah Graeser (CEO, Rocket Smart), Renah Kang (Director of Luxury and Lifestyle, IHG Group), Frank Naboulsi (VP Operations, Fairmont and AccorHotels), and keynote speaker Dr. Indrani Persad-Bachan of the University of the West Indies.
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful IES faculty for their energy and dedication throughout the event: Prof. (Dr.) Zina Kyriakou, Dr. Soula Kyriakou, Prof. (Dr.) Adama Ndjol Kouyaté, Dr. Wajeb Kanso, Dr. Abdallah Elias, Prof. (Dr.) Gisele Szczyglak, Christophe Nonnenmacher, Mary Ratnam, Roy Shivlall, Aranzazu Echezarreta, Dr. Hajjar Bassel, and Anthony Jude Tun.
We are especially proud of our IES doctoral scholars who represented the school so brilliantly on the international stage: Rony Azar, Elie Daher, Myo Min Thant, Michael Moekyaw, Frank Naboulsi, Hla Myo Kyaw, Saka Bahadur, Khin Zaw Aung, Htet Aung, Aung Moe, and Min Min Tun.
Thank you also to the student coordinators from both institutions, whose hard work behind the scenes was invaluable in bringing the event together.
This conference was a wonderful reminder of what can be achieved when great institutions come together across borders. We look forward to many more collaborations with Sharda University in the years ahead.