Centre For Research Dispatch – September_October 2023
Welcome
A warm welcome to the Centre for Research’s second Dispatch. As mentioned in the previous edition, this newsletter will be issued bi-monthly. The purpose is to update staff and students on the Centre for Research’s activities in the research space, provide information on upcoming conferences (where research papers can be presented), and share insights on conferences attended and much more.
Colloquiums and conferences attended by the IMM Graduate School faculty and students
The IMM Graduate School faculty attended and presented papers at a number of conferences in the past two months.
Date: 12 & 13 September 2023
UNISA ACADEMIC COLLABORATION WORKSHOP
The IMM Graduate School was invited to participate and present at the UNISA Academic Collaboration workshop. The theme of the workshop was ‘Sustainable Development Goals and the Marketing Education in South Africa’. The Centre for Research members’ presentation focussed on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Marketing curriculum. The presentation addressed six areas of focus for the IMM Graduate School, these are:
- Integration into the Curriculum
- Interdisciplinary Approach
- Ethical Leadership
- Research Emphasis
- Industry Connectedness
- Partnership
Date: 28 & 29 September 2023
UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG: Strategic Communication Conference
Dr Helena van Wyk attended the conference and presented a paper titled ‘Designing a conceptual digital communication framework to suit luxury fashion brands’. The study acknowledged that South African fashion designers are geographically removed from the iconic and established fashion houses in New York, Millan, Paris and Tokyo. As a result, the South African fashion designers need to work smarter to create and build their unique brands through the African fashion system to the point where they generate enough interest to move into a broader international fashion industry. The purpose of this qualitative paper was to suggest a digital communication framework to suit the South African luxury fashion brands in their journey to global success.
Date: 24 to 27 September 2023
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE (IBC), NAMIBIA 2023
Two IMM Graduate School Master’s candidates presented their research papers at the 16th International Business Conference (IBC) in Namibia. The conference focused on creating an international platform for the presentation and discussion of academic research on recent developments within a business environment.
Mr John Nhari, supervised by Prof Teresa Carmichael presented a research paper at the 16th International Business Conference (IBC) in Namibia. The title of his paper was ‘Utilising dynamic capabilities to develop a competitive advantage in the Zimbabwean pharmaceutical sector under hyperinflation’.
Ms Melainey Mpofu, supervised by Prof Geoff Bick with Prof Teresa Carmichael (collaborator) presented a paper, entitled ‘Content Marketing Best Practices in the Digital Age: A South African Perspective’.
Future conferences
As part of our commitment to drive research within the IMM Graduate School, the Centre for Research has curated a list of upcoming conferences that offer a wealth of knowledge, networking opportunities and inspiration. These conferences cover a wide range of industry topics.
Date: 7 November 2023
SAPHE EDUCATION with IMPACT Conference: IMM Graduate School Parktown
The South Africa Private Higher Education (SAPHE) association will be hosting a one-day conference under the theme Education with Impact on 7 November 2023 at the IMM Graduate School in Parktown, Johannesburg. The conference aims to showcase some of the exciting research highlights of the SAPHE member institutions in South Africa.
Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) are known to align their research and programme offerings to the needs of industry, the world of work and society at large.
Join the SAPHE’s Education with Impact conference which will serve as a platform to create awareness of PHEIs’ research outputs and the important role they play in strengthening the broader societal imperatives. Please visit: https://www.saphe.ac.za/conference, to register for this FREE conference.
Date: 8 & 9 November 2023
THE ANNUAL IMM INSTITUTE CONFERENCE
This is the annual platform for all levels of marketing professionals across South Africa. The IMM Institute Conference is an inclusive event that is accessed by all marketing professionals.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Global thoughts, Local Leaders.”
Attendees will enjoy an array of practical case studies, panel sessions, and insights from international and local industry giants as they share what it means to be a marketer in 2023.
To book your seat at the conference click on: https://imminstitute.co.za/
Date: 16 November 2023
International Conference on Learning in Higher Education (ICLHE)
The aim of the International Conference on Learning in Higher Education is to bring all the top experts, academicians, students, and concerned personalities to one platform to discuss the subject. The conference will welcome interesting conversations about the present and future scenarios. Active participation in these events will help you explore new fields, build connections and present yourself. So, get ready with various topics for some great discussions. For more information visit their website. Link: https://researchplus.co/event/index.php?id=2113196
Date: 28 November 2023
World Conference on Supply Chain Management and Business (WCSCMB)
The main purpose of the World Conference on Supply Chain Management and Business is to bring industry professionals, experts, academicians, and scholars to discuss their expertise for better collaboration in the field. For more information visit their website. Link: https://internationalconferencealerts.com/eventdetails.php?id=2021158
Date: 8 January 2024
International Conference on Strategic Management and Marketing (ICSMM) (8th January 2024 Durban, South Africa)
The main purpose of the International Conference on Strategic Management and Marketing is to bring industry professionals, experts, academicians, and scholars to discuss their expertise for better collaboration in the field. The conference will be hosted in Durban. For more information visit their website. Link: https://internationalconferencealerts.com/conferences/durban/business.
The American Marketing Association is offering FREE seminars. Staff and students can sign-up for these FREE conferences offered by the AMA. See information below.
Date: 5 December
AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION: FREE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: AUTOMATION & AI.
The virtual conference focuses on exploring cutting-edge technologies transforming the marketing landscape, with expert speakers sharing insights on harnessing automation and AI to boost your campaigns.
Link: https://www.ama.org/events/conference/virtual-conference-martech-automation-ai/
Research opportunities
An invitation has been extended to submit abstract(s) for presentations for The 17th Edition of eLearning Africa will be held from 29 – 31 May, 2024 in Kigali, the booming capital city of Rwanda at the Kigali Convention Center.
Kigali has become known for its ICT-based initiatives in a variety of sectors and services. The city’s enthusiasm for new, tech-based solutions has led observers to refer to it as the “Innovation City of Africa”. Kigali is also one of Africa’s most attractive cities – eLearning Africa participants will be able to take advantage of its bustling streets, ridges, valleys, and lush hillsides, not to mention Rwanda’s world renowned Gorilla trekking tours, only a short journey away.
The overall theme for the 17th edition of eLearning Africa is:
“Education Fuels Innovation, Investment Amplifies Skills: Africa’s Vibrant Leap Forward”
Should you require any further information, please contact Aobakwe Ledikwe on aobakwel@immgsm.ac.za or visit https://www.elearning-africa.com/conference2024/
Academic publications
Retail and Marketing Review Journal Issue 19 (1): Navigating the Digital Wave in Modern Retail: Insights and Implication.
The latest edition of the Retail and Marketing Review Journal explores the diverse and ever-changing spheres of consumer behaviour, digital integration, and retail strategies across a range of industries and regions. With a special focus on the African, Bangladeshi and German markets, this issue presents empirical studies and literature reviews to offer a comprehensive understanding of these subjects. This issue presents a panoramic view of consumer behaviour and digital transformation across diverse industries and global landscapes. To download the issue click on: https://retailandmarketingreview.co.za/previous-issues/volume-19-issue-1-2023/
Publications: Dr Cecelia Rosa (Dean of Learning, Teaching and Assessment) and Dr Helena van Wyk, submitted an abstract to the SA Journal of Higher Education, which was accepted. They are in the process of collecting data for their article. Their research presents the findings of a pilot study done at the IMM Graduate School on hybrid classrooms and aims to explore the effectiveness of current teaching strategies in hybrid classrooms.
Library events
Topic: An Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Academic Writing Workshop
During this workshop participants learn:
- Learn how AI can inform, strengthen, or distort scientific research.
- Explore the limitations of AI in scholarly research.
- Discover useful support and detection tools.
- Explore AI ethics, authorship, and copyright issues.
- Reflect on scientific relevance in the wake of AI tools and chatbots.
Contact: Nadja Augustyn on nadja.augustyn@wwis.co.za or info@wwis.co.za
We need you
Do you know of upcoming conferences or seminars in the Marketing, Business or Supply Chain industries? Please send any such information to Dr Helena van Wyk at Helenavw@immgsm.ac.za to ensure that we utilise as many opportunities as possible.