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University hosts international conference on Applied Business & Economics

The University of Malta hosted the 22nd International Conference on Applied Business and Economics (ICABE 2026) from 22 to 24 September 2026. Organised by the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy (FEMA) and the International Strategic Management Association, Greece, the hybrid conference brought together academics, researchers and university leaders from Malta, Poland, Kosovo, Iraq, Romania, and Kuwait.

The conference was officially opened by Prof. Frank Bezzina, Rector of the University of Malta, followed by Prof. Simon Grima, Dean of FEMA and President of ICABE 2026. The opening ceremony also featured welcome addresses by five additional university rectors representing participating institutions, together with the Ambassador of Greece to Malta. Their participation highlighted the conference's international reach and the importance of academic collaboration in addressing emerging economic and business challenges.

Keynote addresses, research presentations, and workshops explored the theme “Smart Economies and Adaptive Enterprises: AI, Innovation, Digital Assets, Decentralisation, and Risks at the Crossroads of Global Change.” Sessions examined the practical and policy implications of technological change, including the use of artificial intelligence in policing and official statistics, digital assets, economic competitiveness, and global risks. Special workshops broadened the discussions to include sustainability, public policy, and responsible innovation.

A dedicated conference session focused on employability across EU countries. Chaired by Prof. Anne Marie Thake of the University of Malta and Professor Inna Rom膩nova of the University of Latvia, the session examined labour-market trends and policy challenges in Poland, Malta, Romania, Latvia, Italy, Slovenia and Germany, including EU developments. Presentations addressed workforce resilience, barriers to employment, skills development, labour-market inclusion, and national policy responses. Professor Thake presented a paper entitled “Beyond Full Employment: Rethinking Employability and Workforce Resilience in Malta’s Small Open Economy.”

The conference provided an important platform for international academic exchange, bringing together diverse research and policy perspectives on the challenges and opportunities arising from technological and economic transformation. It also reinforced the University of Malta's commitment to international collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and knowledge exchange, while highlighting the need for organisations, policymakers, and educational institutions to respond to changing labour-market demands and emerging skills requirements.