North-West University Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences hosts fourth International Conference of the HR Division of the Academy of Management
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences recently played host to the fourth International Conference of the HR Division of the Academy of Management (HRIC2023).
Held at the Sun City Convention Centre, the conference was jointly organised by the NWU’s School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resources Management and the WorkWell research unit.
The HRIC2023 conference saw an impressive turnout, with 132 participants hailing from 22 countries. The event spanned several days and featured a range of activities, including four workshops and the presentation of 73 research papers. The overarching theme of the conference was “Bridging the gap between HR theory and practice,” which was addressed by four keynote speakers.
The keynote speakers were Kgomotso Mopalami, Denise Rousseau, Jaap Paauwe, and Anthony Nyberg. Their presentations covered both academic and practical aspects related to the conference theme. In addition to the keynote speakers, the event boasted a line-up of notable international guests, including John Delery, Jan Kraak, René Schalk, and Yannick Griep.
The conference kicked off with four workshops, among which the PhD colloquium led by Elaine Farndale from Penn State University, Denise Rousseau, and Bex Hewett from Erasmus University, garnered significant attention. The colloquium provided an invaluable platform for 17 attending doctoral delegates to exchange ideas and receive valuable feedback.
One of the highlights of HRIC2023 was the gala dinner. Participants were treated to a unique experience, starting with a game drive, followed by a safari dinner.
Prof Lizelle Rossouw from the NWU shared the “Best Presentation Award” with Annica Lau from the University of Worcester in the United Kingdom.
The successful organisation of HRIC2023 was made possible through the support of various organizations, notably the HR Division and the South African Convention Bureau. Individual contributions from René Schalk and Jan Kraak, who led the scientific committee, were also instrumental in ensuring the conference’s success. Most of the organisational efforts, however, were spearheaded by the local organising committee under the guidance of Bennie Linde.