Symposiums

King's College London, UK

Symposium Chair: Dr. Canh Thien Dang, Lecturer in King's College London

On February 20, 2025, we hosted a symposium on the economics and financial aspects of climate change actions. We are delighted to welcome two speakers Thi Nguyen and Fang Kao to present their researches on two topics. Thi discussed how firms may use blockchain and cryptocurrency as a way for firms to hedge against climate change risks, exploring the use of textual analysis to investigate how firms’ financial reports and conference calls discuss climate changes risks and relate the risks to their potential disclosure of cryptocurrencies. Fang gave a speech, targeting MSc students, and discuss how firms around the world navigate climate finance, which refers to the allocation of resources for adaptation, resilience and infrastructure to enables countries to mitigate climate risks. Both speakers discuss two interesting features of the climate change literature, one from the firms’ investing strategy, and the other on the public service’s perspectives. We welcomed both interested academics and students and had many interesting conversations around these topics.

Birmingham City University, UK

Symposium Chair: Dr. Chinny Nzekwe-Excel, Associate Professor in Birmingham City University

The symposium “What factors will drive growth for small business enterprises” was held at Birmingham City Business School, Birmingham City University. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a strong asset or channel for partnerships, economic growth and different aspects of development for any country. Some countries boast of their innovative capabilities on a global platform because of the productivity of their SMEs. Nonetheless, evidence shows that small businesses still struggle due to the lack of adequate management practices. Arguably, identifying factors of growth and the ‘right’ implementation of the factors are even more vital for small-sized business enterprises, as these could be their lifeline for productivity and (enhanced) sustainability in a fast-evolving market environment. Therefore, the symposium, which draws attention to the urgent need to support small businesses towards the adoption of pertinent management practices for the purpose of competing effectively and driving productivity, argues that the management practices can be fostered through enabling small businesses to clearly identify and effectively implement their growth factors. The symposium offers insights on how to enable businesses uncover valuable factors for own organizational growth through application your applicable business models/ frameworks.

China Agricultural University, China

Symposium Chair: Dr. Li Chai, Associate Professor in China Agricultural University

The symposium focused on the intersection of business innovation and sustainable policy. 10 groups of participants explored critical topics such as new quality productivity, sustainable trade partnerships, green economy transition, China-ASEAN agricultural trade stabilization, etc. Throughout the event, interactive discussions and expert presentations provided insights into the economic valuation of the role of policies in driving sustainable business practices, and the latest advancements in eco-friendly technologies. Speakers highlighted case studies demonstrating how businesses can align profitability with sustainability goals. A key outcome of the symposium was the collaborative exchange of ideas and strategies that can help businesses, researchers, and governments navigate the complexities of sustainability. The event fostered new partnerships and inspired innovative approaches to integrating sustainability into business and policy decision-making.

As sustainability continues to be a global priority, this symposium successfully contributed to advancing knowledge and fostering actionable solutions toward a greener and more sustainable economy.