“The courage of researchers to confront their theories to the field”
“The courage of leaders to question their practices in light of scientific scrutiny”
These two complementary themes shaped RISE NOMAD 2025, which concluded the year with its 4th Annual International Conference, held in Beirut on the premises of Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
The conference brought together scholars, practitioners, consultants, and organizational leaders around a shared conviction: that knowledge must create value not only for academic communities, but also for society at large. Participants described the gathering as “a living ecosystem where research meets practice, and where ideas evolve into meaningful action.”
The research topics introduced by the panelists addressed a wide range of issues central to the academic research community and contemporary organizational challenges. Among the highlighted contributions was a session on Industry 4.0, which explored artificial intelligence as a mindset for discovering and understanding algorithms with potential applications in agriculture, climate change, and other strategic fields. This approach underscored the role of applied research in responding directly to real-world organizational and societal needs.
Multidisciplinary research hubs in France, particularly at INSEEC Grandes Écoles in Paris, were highlighted for their focus on societal and governance-related issues. Their objective is to open access to research and foster collaboration with partners from diverse fields. Panelists emphasized that academia brings rigor and insight to applied business challenges, while practitioners enrich research through real-world experience.
The motto announced for RISE 2026 is “From Business to Resilience.” Through the intelligent integration of academic research and professional practice, the conference underscored how today’s economic and organizational challenges can become drivers of meaningful and sustainable change.
USJ’s partners in the RISE journey, namely INSEEC Grandes Écoles (Paris), the Network of Organization Development Experts (NODE), the Academy of Management’s Management Consulting Division, ISEOR, ISODC, Elmhurst University, and the University College of Bahrain, reaffirmed, through their representatives, their shared belief in the power of international collaboration.
Inspired by the values of Jesuit education, and finding a new life with recent development in neuro-sciences, the theme of RISE NOMAD 2026, to be held across France, US, Lebanon, Bahrain, KSA, and Armenia, was also presented:
“Developing of the whole person.”
This theme reflects the conviction that emotions are an integral part of intelligence, and that personal and professional lives are deeply interconnected.