The Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, considered as the pioneer in Management education in the country and one of the best Management faculties in the region, hosts the International Conference on Business Management (ICBM) every year, with the aim of bringing together the academia, practitioners and the industry to deliberate on contemporary challenges of the economy.   

ICBM 2022, the 19th in the line of fruitful and outstanding conferences held so far, following its predecessors, has picked a timely theme addressing the present turbulence and uncertainty. Accordingly, the theme this year is: “Equitable Recovery Amidst Economic Crisis: Post-Pandemic Challenges and the Way Forward”. The economic crisis, coupled with the pandemic, has transformed every aspect of human life, resulting in a complete revolution in lifestyle. Accordingly, the conference will be held on December 8th and 9th at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.   

Vice-Chancellor and Senior Professor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sudantha Liyanage

This unprecedented situation has led policymakers and business leaders worldwide to adopt strategies to suit the crisis

“This unprecedented situation has led policymakers and business leaders worldwide to adopt strategies to suit the crisis,” The Vice-Chancellor and Senior Professor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sudantha Liyanage said. Within this context, the ICBM 2022 offers a platform to instigate a dialogue among the members of the academia and the industry, representing not only the country but the region as well, to revisit these innovative practices and to identify how best to brace challenges in managing crisis.

   
The ICBM 2022 features three main events, the main conference, the PhD Colloquium, and the Business Forum. The main conference will be graced by a globally renowned academic in the field, Prof. Brett Inder, Professor in Econometrics and Business Statistics, affiliated with Monash Business School, Monash University Australia as the keynote speaker, and Prof. Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Australia as the guest speaker.   

The PhD Colloquium offers the opportunity for the next generation of national/international academic researchers to further hone their research skills by presenting their PhD study in progress to an international scholarly audience. The Business Forum, signifying the holistic approach of the Conference towards its theme of “Equitable Recovery Amidst Economic Crisis: Post-Pandemic Challenges and the Way Forward”, guarantees the industry representation in a dialogue that will prompt far-reaching economic consequences beyond boundaries. 

Nimal Pulukkuttige Don, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce

ICBM aims for “Equitable Recovery” with the intention of not leaving anyone behind with the usage of sustainable development 

The ICBM 2022, partnered with distinguished academic journals such as Emerald Publishing, offers an intellectually stimulating platform for local/foreign researchers and practitioners to present and/or publish their work. It also presents an ideal forum to listen to diverse insights on surviving a global pandemic and economic crisis that has affected lives as never before. 

 
Nimal Pulukkuttige Don, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, also said that ICBM aims for “Equitable Recovery” with the intention of not leaving anyone behind with the usage of sustainable development. “We, as a faculty, also addressed COVID-19 and its challenges systematically and scientifically. We did not leave any students behind. Thus, the case study of our faculty will also be presented at the conference. We encourage the organizations to present how they took care of their customer base with sustainability goals instead of focusing on profit margins during these challenging times,” he highlighted.   
He also added that due to the participation of international professionals, the conference would see international exposure. “Practical contribution and commercialization of the outputs of the conference would take some time, but research on the fundamentals are important. Therefore the conference will focus more on the Theatrical aspects of the discipline. By analyzing each unique situation of an organization or an issue in the country, researchers will come up with solutions and recommendations. So that will definitely help the country and contribute to global knowledge as well,” he said.   

Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunge

The ICBM has come a long way in developing international standards while discussing pressing issues in the contemporary context

Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunge, also speaking to Daily Mirror, said that the ICBM has come a long way in developing international standards while discussing pressing issues in the contemporary context.   

“Each and every professional has to think and work in groups giving priority to the nation. The academia and the researchers must come together to address the issues that we are facing as a country. Only we, the Sri Lankans, can help to overcome this crisis,” he added.   

He also said that he is positive about the President’s view on restructuring every sector in the country. “Ideas for restructuring can come out in conferences like this; this helps manage the system. There should be a proper order with rules and regulations to solve any issue we face as a country. We have enough systems; we have to follow those systems. We do not need any more opinions”, 
he added.   

Thus, the ICBM 2022 is a conference never to be missed either as a prospective presenter of the highest academic standards and/or a participant with a bold vision to encounter the challenges of the 
economic crisis.