CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS - The American University in Cairo

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
The Second Responsible Management Education Research Conference:
Inclusive Businesses
7-8 SEPTEMBER, 2015
THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF CAIRO
CAIRO, EGYPT
The Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at School of Business at the
American University in Cairo and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)
Regional Chapter MENA (Middle East and North Africa), are pleased to announce the 2nd
Responsible Management Education Research Conference. The conference will be held on
September 7-8, 2015 in Cairo, Egypt.
The conference main theme is “inclusive businesses”. Inclusive business is a dynamic and
growing field of business practice that is changing the development solution matrix for
institutions, and actors working towards poverty alleviation, equitable development and
inclusive growth. With a more strategic and developmental footprint, inclusive businesses
transcend the conventional CSR model by advancing profitable supply and value chain
partnerships with the poor, and socially responsible interventions. Serving as an effective and
sustainable framework for poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor at the base of the
pyramid (BoP), there is much to learn about the role, concepts and models of inclusive
businesses in order to unleash its potential.
Building on the 1st Responsible Management Education Research Conference held in Chur
Switzerland in October 2014, the aim of this year’s Conference is to foster knowledge exchange
and networking opportunities by connecting emerging as well as established regional PRME
Chapters, PRME Working Groups and other entities in the PRME community (both signatories
and non-signatories) with key regional stakeholders and the wider audience of educators and
representatives of universities, students, business, government, media, and civil society
organizations; eager to advance their knowledge and skills integrating responsible management
and sustainable development into their professional efforts.
The conference invites contributions to research sessions, interactive panel and roundtable
discussions and poster sessions and demonstrations on various aspects of inclusive businesses,
covering a broad spectrum of topics including poverty reduction, social entrepreneurship and
social businesses, startups in the value chains of regional and multinational corporations,
models for aggregating the production capacity of small producers, scaling up initiatives for
inclusive businesses, impact investing and the role of strategic philanthropy and volunteerism in
upgrading BoP players.
The conference will provide a forum for a truly global discussion of ideas, research, and
showcasing projects and interventions that can help advance more inclusive businesses in
practice and in management education, as well as achieving responsible business eco-systems.
CONFERENCE RESEARCH TOPICS
Suggested topics for submission under the overarching theme of inclusive businesses include:

Good practices and innovations in inclusive businesses towards socio-economic
empowerment, inclusion and poverty alleviation.

Participatory approaches to value chain development.

Startups in the supply chains of regional and multinational companies.

Building competitive advantage and the social impact of inclusive businesses.

Impact investing concepts and applicability to emerging economies.

Donor, foundation, civil society organization and government partnerships with
businesses to promote inclusive businesses.

The role of inclusive businesses in local economic development and the creation of
trading and industrial clusters.

Promoting and advancing inclusive businesses in management education.

The role of government, and policy in creating an enabling environment for inclusive
businesses.
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The role of philanthropy and volunteerism in supporting the formation and expansion of
inclusive businesses.

Others, as proposed by PRME groups and/or other topic proponents.
WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE
The conference program includes four main formats:
1. Applied research papers whose purpose is to advance our understanding of the practical
application of inclusive business models in both business and education, and/or process related
or contextual related challenges. Case studies, field research and evaluation frameworks are
encouraged
2. Interactive panel discussions are panels, interviews or debates that bring together
practitioners from the field and educators to openly introduce and discuss proven strategies
and innovations, as well as challenges and opportunities in integrating inclusive business
concepts.
3. Round table discussions are means to further explore and/or expand the issues and bring in
additional individual and organizational/institutional insights, experiences and lessons learned
4. Conference poster sessions that will cover work-in-progress and showcasing projects on
inclusive businesses. Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Applied research papers: abstracts, extended abstracts, working papers and/or work in
progress in English. To be considered for review the submissions must include:

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A clear title related to the conference thematic areas as outlined in the call
A clear statement of the background and research objective/s
A short account of the contribution to the field, research design, preliminary
conclusions.
Three to five keywords
The review process will be run by the conference session proponents and chairs, who will also
suggest the respective presentation format for the accepted contributions.
Interactive Panel Discussions: To be considered for review, a panel discussion proposal should
include a one page summary of the following:
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A clear title related to the conference thematic areas as outlined in the call
A background summary of the problem, challenge or opportunity
Name, affiliation, bio and email address of the Panel Session Leader
Names, affiliations of the proposed Panel Speakers
Poster Sessions: To be considered for review in the poster session track a one page summary
of the following should be included:


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A clear title related to the conference thematic areas as outlined in the call for papers
A background summary of the problem, challenge or opportunity
A short account of the contribution to the field, and design
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

April 15, 2015 for submitting PRME group organized conference session and panel
proposals

April 23, 2015 notification of PRME group organized conference session and panel
acceptance

May 15, 2015 deadline for submitting research inputs (abstracts, working papers, work
in progress)

May 31, 2015 notification of acceptance of research inputs
August 15 , 2015 deadline for final papers, presentations and videos
CONFERENCE PROGRAM COMMITTEE:

Karim Seghir, School of Business, The American University in Cairo

Ali Awni, Gerhart Center, School of Business, The American University in Cairo

Ghada Howaidy, School of Business, The American University in Cairo

Heba Abou Shnief, Gerhart Center, School of Business, The American University in Cairo

Lutz E. Schlange, University of Applied Sciences HTW Chur

Milenko Gudić, PRME Anti-Poverty Working Group

Florencia Librizzi, PRME Secretariat, UN Global Compact Office.
VENUE:
The American University in Cairo, Alfi Hall.
Address: AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74
New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
REGISTRATION:
The conference is open to the public, but space is limited and registration is required. A
registration fee of USD$ 150 is applied. Session chairs, presenters, students, faculty from public
universities and local civil society organizations are exempt from registration fees.
QUESTIONS: For questions, please contact the conference secretariat at the following email:
gerhartcenter@aucegypt.edu
Conference Website: http://conf.aucegypt.edu/PRME2015