At the initiative of Kutaisi International University School of Management, the fifth consecutive student conference on “Economics, Business, and Management” was successfully held at KIU. In the Conference Fall 2023, second, third, and fourth-year students of the management program actively participated.
Students presented their research papers under the direct mentorship of international and Georgian academic staff, academic support staff, in the areas of economics, management, HRM, innovation, and business. The conference included an evaluation of the speakers by a jury, who assessed presentations based on pre-established criteria. The winning students of the 2023 fall semester conference were announced: Luka Sanaia (1st place), Mariam Kapanadze (2nd place), and Mate Nebadze (3rd place).
“The Student Conference is a captivating and vital initiative that has been successfully established in the School of Management since 2021. What sets this project apart and makes it truly significant is the enthusiastic interest and willingness of students to present their research abstracts and works. Each semester, the level of student participation in the conference continues to grow. Additionally, we have introduced the practice of forming an editorial board, known as the 'Editorial Board of the Year,' which is comprised of academic support staff.
An independent editorial board, separate from the school, thoroughly reviews and evaluates each abstract and paper using pre-established criteria. Students meeting specific assessment standards then present their work to the conference jury. This underscores that the evaluation criteria are indicative of the improving and evolving quality of research papers. It's crucial to acknowledge the contributions of mentoring professors and academic support staff in various processes. Students actively engage with the mentorship system by selecting mentor(s) and collaboratively crafting their research papers with their guidance and support throughout the semester. I would like to express my gratitude to all the mentors who worked tirelessly throughout the semester, enabling their students to present themselves so successfully in front of the jury on the big stage. I also want to underscore the project's academic significance. As you know, all training programs have predetermined goals and learning outcomes. The student conference, being an extracurricular activity/project, plays a vital role in further helping students develop and strengthen their knowledge, skills, and attitudes—elements that I believe are crucial for their overall development. Congratulations to the winners of the 5th consecutive conference and all the speakers (students) for a successful conference. We are proud of you!" - stated Professor Natia Zedginidze, the Dean of KIU School of Management.
Notably, a student conference is hosted in the School of Management every academic semester. A subsequent research conference on 'Economics & Business & Management' is anticipated for the spring semester of 2024.
