Current conference time in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Programme of the Conference
You can access the digital versions of the programme here with all of the parallel sessions:
- Full version: https://www.openconf.org/mltiimpiconf2026/program/full/
- Mobile version: https://www.openconf.org/mltiimpiconf2026/program/mobile/
Saturday Optional Day Trip: Slovenian Coast & Karst Region (23 May 2026)
Join us for an optional full-day excursion exploring Slovenia’s coast and Karst region.
Discover the charming seaside town of Piran, known for its Mediterranean atmosphere and historic streets, followed by a visit to the picturesque village of Štanjel, famous for its stone architecture and scenic views.
The day concludes with a tasting of local Karst wine and prosciutto, offering a true taste of the region.
Date: 23 May 2026
Time: 08:00–18:00 (from City Hotel Ljubljana)
Price: €50 per person
Includes transport, guide, visits, and degustation.
WELCOME ADDRESSES
The conference will officially open with welcome speeches delivered by representatives of the organizing institutions: the International School for Social and Business Studies (Slovenia), Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (Poland), Kasetsart University (Thailand), and MED.E.A (Malta). These addresses will formally inaugurate the conference, welcome participants from around the world, and outline the shared vision, international cooperation, and academic focus that define the MakeLearn, TIIM & PIConf community.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Jay Liebowitz, DSc., Special Advisor to the President, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Keynote Title: Leveraging AI for Business Innovation
Speech Abstract:
AI seems to be omnipresent. Whether at home, school, office, or play, AI seems to have a role in our lives. It is hotter than ever in the 70 years of its existence. Businesses are discovering new ways of leveraging AI for business innovation. However, some recent reports and studies indicate that GenAI hasn’t produced the enterprise-wide return on investment as predicted. The presentation, based on his new book Leveraging AI for Business Innovation (World Scientific, 2026), will discuss how organizations can best leverage AI for innovation, and will highlight future trends ahead.
Opinion Piece:
Building on the themes of his keynote, Dr Jay Liebowitz offers a reflective opinion piece on why “AI is all the rage.” Drawing on decades of experience in the field, he explores the opportunities and challenges of AI—from ethics and governance to human-centered decision-making—and invites readers to explore his full perspective in the opinion piece available below.
Access the Opinion Piece here: AI is All the Rage – Opinion Piece
About the Speaker:
Dr. Jay Liebowitz recently served as Professor of Business Innovation and Industry Transformation and Director of a new AI-EDGE Center in the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. He is a Special Advisor to the President at Thomas Jefferson University on AI and Analytics initiatives. He also served as the inaugural Executive-in-Residence for Public Service at Columbia University’s Data Science Institute. He was a Full Professor in the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining Hopkins, Dr. Liebowitz was the first Knowledge Management Officer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Before NASA, Dr. Liebowitz was the Robert W. Deutsch Distinguished Professor of Information Systems at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Professor of Management Science at George Washington University, and Chair of Artificial Intelligence at the U.S. Army War College. Dr. Liebowitz is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Expert Systems With Applications: An International Journal (published by Elsevier; ranked as a top-tier AI journal). He is a Fulbright Research Chair, IEEE-USA Federal Communications Commission Executive Fellow, and Computer Educator of the Year (International Association for Computer Information Systems). He is in the Top 2% of the top scientists in the world, according to a 2019 Stanford Study.
Prof. dr. Živilė Stankevičiūtė, Kaunas University of Technology, School of Economics and Business. Lithuania
Keynote Title: Future of Work: Sustaining People and Performance in a Complex World
Speech Abstract:
Today’s organizations operate in the face of increasing complexity and the need to cope with and manage tensions. Work itself has been transforming as never before, addressing dimensions of spread, speed, and depth. How employees will work in the future and how they are managed reflects the Future of Work concept, where ensuring the sustainability of both people and performance is more important than ever. The presentation will first discuss how the future of work is evolving and what kind of leadership is needed to successfully navigate this landscape. It will then examine how AI and new ways of working are transforming organizations, reshaping skills, driving the need for continuous learning, and redefining employee expectations. Finally, it will address a critical tension: how to drive high performance without exhausting people or weakening organizational resilience.
About the Speaker:
Živilė Stankevičiūtė, PhD in Management, is a Professor at the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Management and the Head of Corporate and Human Sustainability Research Group at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. Her research interests include Sustainable Human Resource Management, Employee and Organizational Resilience, Employee Wellbeing, Digital Transformations, and Organizational Sustainability. She is a member of National Expert Council for sustainable development goals at Lithuanian Responsible Business Association (LAVA) dealing with SDG8 „Decent work and economic growth“. She is an expert of Research Council of Lithuania, a chairperson of The Research Ethics Commission of Kaunas University of Technology, a member of the Scientific Committee for The Baltic University Programme (BUP) PhD Award for 2024-2026. Recently she deals with Open Science initiatives. Prof. Živilė Stankevičiūtė has international experience in managing projects and collaborating with businesses and Chambers of Commerce on research, seminars, and data-driven decision-making. She has been honored for her contribution to developing junior researchers.
EDITOR'S & ACADEMIC WRITING WORKSHOP: Publishing in Transition – AI, Openness, and Research Integrity
Editors’ & Academic Writing Workshop: Publishing in Transition – AI, Openness, and Research Integrity
This workshop will offer insights into publishing in a rapidly evolving academic landscape shaped by artificial intelligence, open access, and research integrity.
Workshop Leaders:
PROF. ZBIGNIEW PASTUSZAK, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Poland
(Editor-in-Chief: International Journal of Value Chain Management)
(Associate Editor: Expert Systems with Applications)
PROF. KONGKITI PHUSAVAT, Kasetsart University, Thailand
(Editor-in-Chief: International Journal of Innovation and Learning)
PROJECTS' FORUM: European and Global Cooperation through Research – Funding, Impact and Innovation Perspectives
Projects’ Forum: European and Global Cooperation through Research – Funding, Impact and Innovation Perspectives
The Projects’ Forum will highlight European and global research cooperation, with a focus on funding opportunities, project implementation, and societal impact. Participants will explore best practices, challenges, and innovation perspectives in international research collaboration, encouraging networking and future partnerships.
Co-Chairs:
PROF. TAMAR DOLIDZE, Batumi State Maritime Academy, Georgia, MED.E.A., Malta
PROF. ANCA DRĂGHICI, Universitatea Politehnica Timisoara, Romania
Panelists:
PROF. IA MOSASHVILI, Kutaisi International University, Georgia
PROF. DANA PERNIU, Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
PROF. ANDRA DIACONESCU, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
PROF. VALERIJ DERMOL, International School for Social and Business Studies, Slovenia
PROF. ANNA RAKOWSKA, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland
About the Forum:
The Projects’ Forum serves as a strategic platform for evaluating how different projects initiatives bridge the gap between initial funding and long-term viability, specifically through the lens of Societal Impact and Sustainability. Central to this forum is the transition from localized innovation to global scalability, ensuring that the socio-economic benefits of a project (such as environmental protections, health advancements, or technological breakthroughs) do not vanish once the grant period concludes. By focusing on “Ensuring results continue”, the forum emphasizes the development of robust post-funding roadmaps, including the integration of results into public policy, the creation of spin-offs, and the fostering of community-led maintenance. Ultimately, it redefines project’s success not just by the achievement of technical milestones, but by the enduring footprint left on the global research ecosystem and the communities it serves.
OPEN SCIENCE FORUM: Open Science for Global Knowledge Equity – Opportunities, Challenges and Institutional Strategies
Open Science Forum: Open Science for Global Knowledge Equity – Opportunities, Challenges and Institutional Strategies
The Open Science Forum will bring together academic leaders and practitioners to discuss opportunities, challenges, and institutional strategies for advancing open science globally. The session will focus on knowledge equity, responsible research practices, and the role of universities and international cooperation in fostering openness and impact.
Co-Chairs:
PROF. MATTI MUHOS, University of Oulu, Finland
PROF. DAVID VANNOZZI, Vice President of International Academic Relations and Development, Multiversity Group; General Manager MED.E.A. University, Malta
Panelists:
PROF CLAUDE MEIER, HWZ University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich, Switzerland
PROF JANNE HARKONEN, University of Oulu, Finland / ISSBS, Slovenia
PROF MATTIS ALTMANN, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany
PROF EMILIO FERRARI, University of Bologna, Italy
PROF ROSE ANNE CUSCHIERI, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), Malta
DR ERIK MARTIJNSE, MED.E.A Malta, Director at the Inspectorate of Education, Netherlands
About the Forum:
This forum will explore how open science can broaden access to knowledge globally—while confronting persistent inequities. Seminal work by Ross Hellauer et al. (2022) highlights how open science may inadvertently reinforce cumulative advantage—favoring well resourced researchers and institutions. We will juxtapose this e.g. with recent critique by Bezuidenhout (2025), who urges a shift from aspirational access to actionable equity, employing capabilities approach to ensure meaningful openness; Farrow (2025), who emphasizes that open science must address structural challenges—misaligned incentives, infrastructure disparities, unequal funding/training, and emerging AI dynamics; and Chtena et al. (2025), who suggest embedding equity, diversity and inclusion principles, as well as public participation more directly into Open Science policies and incentives. We invite professor-level academics to discuss institutional strategies—such as capacity building, incentive alignment, infrastructure investment, and policy reforms—to transform open science into a truly equitable global practice. Our goal is to co-develop ideas and, perhaps, pragmatic scenarios of the next steps towards global knowledge equity.
References
Bezuidenhout, L. M. (2025). Critically unpacking the concept of equity for open science. Social Epistemology. https://doi.org/10.1080/02691728.2025.2475460
Chtena, N., Alperin, J. P., Morales, E., Fleerackers, A., Dorsch, I., Pinfield, S., & Simard, M.-A. (2025). Towards an inclusive Open Science: Examining EDI and public participation in policy documents across Europe and the Americas. Royal Society Open Science, 12(4), 240857. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240857
Farrow, R. (2025). Open science and epistemic equity: Opportunities and challenges in the contemporary research ecosystem. BMC Research Notes, 18, 504. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-025-07608-2
Ross Hellauer, T., Reichmann, S. E., Cole, N. L., Fessl, A., Klebel, T., & Pontika, N. (2022). Dynamics of cumulative advantage and threats to equity in open science: A scoping review. Royal Society Open Science, 9(1), 211032. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211032
CONTACT
International School for Social and Business Studies
Mariborska cesta 7, SI-3000 Celje, Slovenia
Phone: +386 3 425 82 24
Fax: +386 3 425 82 22
E-mail: ma*******@***bs.si