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23-24 Jun 2026 Ghent (Belgium)
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Welcome! The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Ghent University and Vlerick Business School, in collaboration with multiple European academic institutions, are thrilled to host the 2026 edition of the Business & Society Research Seminar to be held at Vlerick Business School, campus Ghent (Belgium) on June 23-24, 2026
General theme Responsibility under Pressure: Sustainability & Inclusion in times of polarization and backlash We are living in an era of intersecting crises (ecological, social, political, and economic) that increasingly reinforce one another. Societies face accelerating climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, resource scarcity, geopolitical tension, social inequalities, polarization, and rapid technological disruption. These crises reshape the expectations placed on organizations and intensify debates about their broader societal responsibilities. In this turbulent context, organizational commitments to sustainability, inclusion, and societal impact come under pressure. What was long viewed as a moral and collective imperative is increasingly reframed in instrumental or strategic terms. As public scepticism rises and polarization deepens, efforts related to sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) risk being deprioritized, diluted, or contested. This creates a pressing paradox: the need for responsible and inclusive organizational action has never been greater, yet its moral legitimacy appears increasingly fragile. This seminar invites participants to explore how organizations, and the people within them, can continue to create meaningful societal value despite growing resistance, ambiguity, and competing demands. We aim to understand how responsibility is interpreted, practiced, challenged, or defended across different levels of analysis: from individual motivation and identity work, to organizational strategies and leadership, to shifting institutional norms and societal expectations. By bringing together emerging and established scholars, the seminar seeks to foster dialogue on how sustainability and inclusion can remain credible, resilient, and transformative in an age of crisis, and what this means for research, practice, and the evolving relationship between business and society. We welcome contributions from various organization-related research fields (e.g., business ethics and philosophy, management and organization studies, strategy, marketing, accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and sociology) and research methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed, and conceptual). Potential topics may include, but are not limited to:
This seminar is specifically designed for PhD students and early-career scholars conducting research in various research fields related to Business and Society. While the specific theme of this year is "Responsibility under Pressure: Sustainability & Inclusion in times of polarization and backlash", all work addressing Business and Society topics can be submitted to the Research Seminar. Keynotes To be announced soon. Objectives of the seminar
The objective of this two-day seminar is to bring together PhD students, emerging scholars, and more experienced academics in a stimulating, developmental and friendly atmosphere where early-career researchers can present their work and receive constructive feedback. We focus on identifying and appreciating both the common threads and the distinct aspects of each participant's research methodologies and themes in an inspiring and sociable academic setting. This seminar consists of a mix of plenary sessions, paper presentation sessions as well as several workshops around career development and publications strategy. All sessions will include fellow PhD students, emerging scholars, and senior researchers, including journal editorial board members from our scientific commitee. Who should attend? Are you a PhD candidate or an emerging scholar conducting research in the fields of Business and Society, Sustainable Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development Goals, Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, or a related topic?
Then we encourage you to submit your work and join us in Ghent! Open call for papers Beyond this year’s seminar theme and reflecting the event’s interdisciplinary orientation, we also encourage submissions from scholars with a shared interest in topics related to business and society, sustainable business, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, societal innovation, and inclusiveness and social justice. We welcome submissions from various organization-related research fields including business ethics and philosophy, management and organization studies, strategy, marketing, accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, economics, and sociology. We also encourage submissions drawing on a diverse array of methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and conceptual work. Applications and deadlines There are two possible formats for the conference: working papers and research idea papers.
Submissions exceeding the maximum number of pages (working paper) or words (research idea) will not be accepted.
Registration is free but compulsory. The conference program and other details will also be released on the conference website in April and May 2026. Participation is free of charge, but participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. Please note that the seminar is a physical event and that no online options will be made available. There are limited possibilities to attend without presenting a paper or research idea. If you wish to participate without an accepted paper, please email us a separate motivation letter. Please acknowledge that due to space and budget constraints preference is given to those presenting a paper or a (long) abstract. Contact If you have any questions, you can reach us at bss2026@ugent.be Info on previous editions Here you can find information about last year's edition and the edition from two years ago.
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