On Tuesday, April 8, GEA College – Faculty of Entrepreneurship hosted the 24th international ABSRC (Advances in Business-Related Scientific Research Conference).
This event represents an important gathering of academics and professionals in the field of business and related sciences.
The ABSRC conference is not only an opportunity to present scientific research but also a forum for exchanging best practices and exploring solutions relevant to modern business – from the level of individuals, organizations, and networks to local, national, and international environments.
The conference chair, Dr. Ajda Fošner, full professor and researcher at GEA College, said at the closing of the event:
“We successfully organized a conference attended by representatives from 11 different countries. We opened with a presentation of the latest books by participating authors, followed by an engaging roundtable discussion. The next conference will take place in April 2025, and a special feature of the event will be the publication of a monograph with selected papers. I warmly invite everyone to participate and submit their contributions.”
Among the presented papers were:
- Andrej Pompe: The innovative way of cooperation between a large company and start-ups extends their survival period – the example of Štartaj Slovenija
- Dario Berginc: Project FIICA: Friendly Informal Immersive Cloud Alternative
- Laura Fink & Lidija Breznik: A case study of digital transformation challenges in the financial industry
- Mitja Jeraj: Green tech entrepreneurship challenge hub
- Vladimir Bukvič & Ema Peternel: Investment strategies of some of the most successful investors in the world’s stock markets and a comparison of their profitability with Slovenian funds
- Brane Bertoncelj: How does social engineering exploit employee weaknesses?
- Marko Potokar: The DEXi model for consistency assessment of digital forensic investigation
- Tomaž Poznič & Andreja Klančar: Enhancing project management education through the implementation of the project approach and simulations
- Paolo Roffia: Exploring business longevity in Italian SMEs: early findings
The ABSRC conference also looked toward the future of textbooks and education in the era of AI and digitalization. A roundtable discussion on this topic was moderated by Assist. Prof. Dr. Valentina Jošt Lešer, with support from her virtual assistant, AI Mia.
We hosted three exceptional experts, each shedding light on crucial aspects of modern knowledge from a unique perspective.
Dr. Michele Leonardi guided us through the invisible forces of organizational culture. He emphasized that understanding a company’s culture is key to long-term success, as a strong culture fosters belonging, creativity, and shared values. Leaders play a crucial role in shaping a culture grounded in open communication and an awareness of the influence of internal narratives and rumors.
Andrej Dobrovoljc, with his book “Introduction to Python”, proved that programming is not just for the experienced but also for beginners. He stressed the importance of understanding the basic concepts, especially in an age of rapid AI development. While AI is a helpful assistant, without a foundational understanding of programming, we risk becoming mere copy-paste machines, lacking critical thinking and broader insight.
Professor Vladimir Bukvič unpacked the logic of business analysis and emphasized the importance of simplifying complex knowledge. Knowledge must be accessible and applicable, particularly in times of rapid market changes and the growing need for data-driven decision-making.
The shared message from all three speakers was clear:
The future of education no longer lies in passive reading of textbooks, but in the active application of knowledge, adaptation to new tools, and the development of critical thinking.
And at the heart of this future remains the human – the teacher as mentor, researcher, and above all, a guide through the vast information landscape of the digital age.
We thank all participants for an excellent exchange of scientific and professional knowledge and ideas.
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