For the third consecutive year, the RISE (Research with Impact for Society and the Enterprise) 2023 conference took place in a hybrid format on November 27 and 28, 2023 at the USJ Innovation and Sports Campus (CIS).

The theme of this year’s RISE conference aimed to apply the rigor of science to tackle the challenges faced by leaders: how to incorporate the human and economic aspects into the reward system, and how to integrate the anthropological, social, psychological, esthetic, and economic elements into organizational structures.

One of the main objectives of the conference was to bridge the gap between business practitioners, the future employers of students, and academic institutions. The aim was to address pressing challenges in the ever-evolving environment through research orientations that provide direct answers.

Organized under the umbrella of the Vice-Rectorate for Research (VRR) and in partnership with NODE (Network of Organization Development Experts), the conference was sponsored by the Academy of Management – Management Consulting Division, represented online by Dr. Shola Ajiboye, Chair of the Management Consulting Division of the Academy of Management; the International Society for Organization Development and Change (ISODC), represented online by Dr. Eric Sanders – former Chair of MCD – on behalf of Dr. Joanne Preston, President of ISODC; the University College of Bahrain, represented online by its President, Dr. Rana Sawaya; and the Center of Research and Expertise in Socioeconomic Management (ISEOR), represented online by its Founding-President, Dr. Henri Savall. Alongside the international sponsors, RISE 2023 enjoyed sponsorship from the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) community, namely the Faculty of Humanities, the Lebanese School of Social Work and the Higher Institute of Public Health.

Fr. Salah Abou Jaoude SJ, Vice-Rector of Saint Joseph University of Beirut, delivered the opening address on behalf of the Rector, Prof. Salim Daccache SJ. He began by remembering the late Prof. Dolla Karam Sarkis, who served as Vice-Rector for Research, acknowledging her deep discernment about the importance of applied research for the greater good of society; a value central to USJ’s mission, “the excellence of a nation.”

In his address, he then acknowledged that Management Education has three pillars – teaching, service, and research, the last being fundamental to accreditation and deeply ingrained in the secular Jesuit values. The three pillars are consolidated by applied research, carried out, and institutionalized by the present RISE 2023 conference. The latter serves as a platform for decision-makers to express their struggles and needs to the scientific community.

The Rector’s address added that Saint Joseph University of Beirut, together with its partners, is committed to fostering dialogue between communities to yield both social and economic value, to be shared among the constituents of society. It was concluded by officially launching the RISE conference for 2023 and announcing that the date for next year’s conference is set for November 25 and 26, 2024.

Dr. Pierre El Haddad, Chair of RISE 2023, also paid tribute to Prof. Dolla Karam Sarkis, the late Vice-Rector for Research, for her phenomenal support of the RISE conference and her dedication to advancing applied research. He expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of Prof. Salim Daccache SJ and Saint Joseph University of Beirut, represented by the Vice-Rector, Fr. Salah Abou Jaoude SJ. Dr. El Haddad also extended his gratitude to Prof. Richard Maroun, Vice-Rector for Research, who has taken up the torch of closer integration between research and industry; Prof. Myrna Gannage, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Dr. Rima Mawad, Director of the Lebanese School of Social Work; and Dr. Michèle Asmar, Director of the Higher Institute of Public Health.

Dr. El Haddad noted that last year’s conference took the pledge to bring actors of the economy together with knowledge purveyors. Moreover, he highlighted the innovation in balancing the conference with sessions chaired by practitioners. The outcomes of these sessions will be synthesized into a paper providing guidance to policymakers and research institutions about management research and management education. Dr. El Haddad also announced the continued sponsorship by AOM MCD and the other partners.

In his expressions of gratitude, Dr. El Haddad mentioned the future Chairs of the Management Consulting Division, Dr. Jeremy Salmeron and Dr. Carole Bousquet, along with the Chair of the organizing committee, Dr. Hilda Bairamain, and the members of the scientific and organizing committees of RISE 2023. He also extended thanks Mr. Ricardo Hosri, Chair of the Family Business Network Levant, for his continuous support since the inception of the conference.

In the closing session of RISE 2023, the path for the future was set by Fr. Fady Chidiac SJ, Delegate of the Rector and responsible for the development of English language programs, who announced the engagement that the Faculty of Education of Saint Joseph University of Beirut will have with RISE 2024.

RISE 2024 will focus on innovation, encompassing management innovation and social sciences in general, hard science innovation and their managerial implications, but also artistic creativity and how to transform it into socio-economic values. Finally, Prof. Maroun emphasized that collaboration between academic constituents and the professional world is crucial for a sustainable future.

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