Symposium on Sustainability in Accounting, Management, Finance and Taxation Programmes in Higher Education
29/05/2025 - 30/05/2025
Sustainability has become a critical area of focus globally. As the world grapples with climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation, there is an urgent need for education systems to incorporate sustainability principles. This is especially so in higher education. The integration of sustainability in accounting, administration, and financing programmes has become increasingly essential due to growing awareness of environmental, social, and economic challenges. For instance, accounting practices now need to include environmental impacts. This involves tracking and reporting on carbon footprints, resource consumption, waste management, and other environmental metrics. Also, traditional financial metrics are being complemented with sustainability indicators, such as the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit), to provide a holistic view of a company’s performance.
Moreover, governments and regulatory bodies are imposing stricter environmental and sustainability reporting requirements. Accountants must ensure compliance with these regulations. Furthermore, employers are increasingly demand that university graduates are familiar with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and how these are used in their decision-making processes. Accurate and transparent sustainability accounting can attract responsible investments. Finally, sustainability issues, such as climate change and resource scarcity, pose significant risks to businesses. Accounting for these risks help organisations to develop strategies to mitigate them.
It is based on the perceived need to better understand how sustainability may be included as part of study programmes in accounting, administration and financing courses, to the advantage of teaching staff and students that the “Symposium on Sustainability in Accounting, Management, Finance and Taxation Programmes in Higher Education” is being organised. It will be held in the city of Barcelos, Portugal, on 29th-30th May 2025.
Objectives of the Symposium
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The objectives of the Symposium are:
- a) to promote the importance of sustainability in accounting, management, finance and taxation programmes in higher education
- b) to provide a platform for universities to share successful initiatives in respect of research and teaching in these areas, and promote good practice
- c) to encourage partnerships between universities, industry experts, and government bodies working in the field of sustainability in accounting, management, finance and taxation programmes in higher education
The event also aims to motivate universities to implement new, effective teaching and research initiatives which may foster a better awareness among students on the many opportunities offered by the inclusion of a sustainability dimension in sustainability in accounting, management, finance and taxation programmes.
Organisers
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The event is hosted by the Research Centre on Accounting and Taxation of the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, in Barcelos, Portugal. It is organised in cooperation with the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, the European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR), the International Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the European North American Sustainability Research Consortium (ENASRC) in cooperation with various organisations.
Chairpersons
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- Prof. Walter Leal (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DL, DLitt) Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
- Prof. Verónica Ribeiro, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (Portugal)
- Prof. Sónia Monteiro, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (Portugal)
Scientific Committee
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- Prof. Jasim U Ahmad, University of Jahangirnagar, Bangladesh
- Dr. Abul Quasem Al-Amin, University of Malaya, Malaysia
- Prof. Patricia Gomes, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (Portugal)
- Prof. Cláudia Teixeira, Polytechnic of Oporto, ISCAP (Portugal)
- Prof. Albertina Monteiro, Polytechnic of Oporto, ISCAP (Portugal)
- Prof. Beatriz Aibar Guzmán, University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
- Prof. Isabel Brusca, University of Santiago de Saragoza (Spain)
- Prof. Tjjerk Budding, Vrije University Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- Prof. Graça Azevedo, University of Aveiro (Portugal)
- Prof. Fabiana Roberto, University of Naples (Italy)
- Prof. Isabel García Sanchez, University of Salamanca (Spain)
- Prof. Kátia Lemos, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (Portugal)
- Prof. Ana Dinis, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (Portugal)
- Prof. Liliana Pereira, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (Portugal)
- Prof. Francesca Manes Rossi, University of Naples (Italy)
- Dr. Amanda Salvia, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
- Dr. João Eustachio, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
Topics covered in the Symposium
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We expect contributions to be around one or more of the following topics.
- Integrating Sustainability into Accounting/Finance/Management and/or Taxation Curricula
- The Role of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) in Finance Curriculum
- Incorporating Green Taxation into Tax Programs
- Innovative Teaching Methods for Sustainability Education
- Contribution of higher education programmes to the SDGs
- The role of university in the education of professional accountants/managers towards sustainability
- Education 5.0 and SDGs
- Artificial intelligence in education: a tool to help the transformation of university system towards sustainability
- Exploring sustainability in action: Real-world case studies in student projects
Other themes are also welcome, and the organising team welcomes suggestions.
Target Audience
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The Symposium will be of special interest to:
a) Academics and researchers teaching and/or undertaking research in the field.
b) Students taking courses in the Areas of
c) University administrators and decision-makers.
d) Representatives from government bodies and NGOs.
Moreover the event may also be of interest to industry professionals interested on matters related to accounting, management, finance and taxation programmes in higher education.
How to participate and deadlines to follow
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There are two possibilities for attending the symposium:
1. By only attending the symposium (without a paper presentation): please register on this website and complete all the required details: www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainability-in-accounting-management-finance-and-taxation-programmes-tickets-953187087237?aff=oddtdtcreator
2. By presenting a paper: Researchers may submit any complete, original, and unpublished research papers, either conceptual or empirical. The Turnitin similarity index must be below 20%. To participate, participants need to submit an abstract of 200 to 300 words, along with the authors’ names and full contact details, before 30th November 2024. Full papers are due by 10th March 2025. Abstracts should be submitted by using the following registration form: forms.office.com/e/9qDixiPXiS
The full chapter due by 10th March 2025 should be submitted toFTZ-Events (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
For those who submitted an abstract: The authors will receive an email with the registration and payment details. In case you already want to proceed with it, please register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainability-in-accounting-management-finance-and-taxation-programmes-tickets-953187087237?aff=oddtdtcreator
Publishing opportunity
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Papers admitted to the event and presented on it, may be submitted to the book “Sustainability in Accounting, Management, Finance and Taxation Programmes in Higher Education”. This will be published by Springer Nature as part of the World Sustainability Series, the leading peer-reviewed book series on sustainability in a higher education context.
How to register
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Registrations are now open and will close on 30th March 2025.
Registration fees
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A registration fee of Euro 275 (plus taxes) will be charged to delegates, to offset some of the preparation costs. It includes the coffee breaks and lunches on the 2 days. Invoices will be sent to the registered delegates, using the information provided during the registration.
For cancellations up to 30 days before the event, a 50% refund may be possible. For cancellation over less than 30 days no refunds are possible, but delegates may nominate an alternative person, if they wish.
Contact details
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All questions related to scientific inputs, publication, and strategic partnerships should be sent to:
Professor Walter Leal
(BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DEd, DLitt, FSB, FRGS, FLS)
HAW Hamburg (Germany) and Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
walter.leal2 (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de
and to:
Professor Patricia Gomes
Research Centre on Accounting and Taxation (CICF) of the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (Portugal)
geral_cicf (at) ipca (dot) pt
Contact Point for Further Details and Conference Administrator
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All questions related to abstracts and registrations should be sent to:
Laís Trevisan
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Research and Transfer Centre „Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg
Germany
lais.vieratrevisan (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de