Theory in Practice Conference 2027
BRIDGING SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
ACROSS BUSINESS, SOCIETY, AND TECHNOLOGY
24–25 March 2027
In person: Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland
Online: Participate from anywhere
TIP2027
- The conference will be held in a hybrid format on 24–25 March 2027. You can attend in person at Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Rajakatu 35, 40200 Jyväskylä, Finland) or join online.
- The conference is free of charge. Participants pay for their own accommodation, lunch, and conference dinner.
- Registration is open until 14 March 2027.
Important dates
10 September 2026
Call for Extended Abstract opens
10 January 2027
Submission of Extended Abstracts deadline
25 January 2027
Extended Abstract acceptance notification
14 March 2027
Registration closes
24 - 25 MARCH 2027
Conference days
30 april 2027
Submission deadline of finalized Extended Abstracts to be published in the conference proceedings book
15 May 2027
Submission deadline of selected papers to be published in the Finnish Business Review journal
Conference venue
The Theory in Practice (TiP) Conference 2027 will be held in a hybrid format. You can attend in person at Jamk University of Applied Sciences’ Main Campus or participate online.
Venue for in-person attendance:
Jamk University of Applied Sciences
Rajakatu 35
40200 Jyväskylä
Finland
Accommodation and other practical information
Accommodation options in Jyväskylä cater to a wide range of preferences and budgets. Whether attendees seek the comfort of hotels, the charm of boutique lodgings, or the convenience of vacation rentals, they can find an option that suits their needs.
Further information on accommodation options will be available on this website shortly.
The city’s excellent transportation infrastructure ensures easy accessibility. Efficient public transportation and well-maintained road connections make it simple for attendees to reach conference venues and explore the city and its natural surroundings.
If you are arriving to Jamk’s Main Campus by car, please see our instructions for parking.
About Jyväskylä
Located in the heart of Finland, Jyväskylä combines vibrant city life with some of the country’s most beautiful lake and forest landscapes. Situated on the shores of Lake Jyväsjärvi and surrounded by thousands of lakes, the city is known for its unique blend of nature, education, culture, and innovation. With the population of 150 000, Jyväskylä is the seventh largest city in Finland.
In a compact city, almost everything is but a walking distance or a bike ride away. Sports enthusiasts are spoilt for choice be it world-class sports or physical exercise. Jyväskylä is called the Capital of Sport in Finland. No surprise as sports and wellbeing are close to a passion in Jyväskylä.
Elias Lönnrot, the author of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, nicknamed the city “the Athens of Finland”. This nickname refers to Jyväskylä’s important role as an educational centre. The works of the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto can be seen throughout the city. The city hosts the Rally Finland, which is part of the World Rally Championship.
Read more about Jyväskylä:
Host
Jamk School of Business
The core competences of the School of Business are business development, pedagogy and life-long learning. We offer studies in business, tourism and service business, and business information technology.
In developing our curricula and innovative pedagogical solutions, we work closely together with the industry. Various projects, internships, labs and regional development platforms offer our students excellent learning opportunities.
We offer Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes both in English and in Finnish in the fields of Business Administration and Tourism and Hospitality Management. Our Degree Programme in International Business is an EFMD Accredited Bachelor – has been since 2012.
Contact
Conference Chair
Dr. Shab Hundal
shabnamjit.hundal@jamk.fi
Organizing Committee
The conference organizing is comprised of the faculty of the Jamk School of Business and its student body. Its objectives are planning, coordinating, decision making and other operational aspects related to the conference.
Dr. Murat Akpinar
Dr. Murat Akpinar earned his PhD in international business at Turku School of Economics in Finland in 2009. He has been working at Jamk University of Applied Sciences since 2009 as a principal lecturer and academic coordinator for the master’s degree programme in international business management. He teaches and researches in the fields of strategic management, international business, and competitiveness. He has been a member of Michael Porter’s Microeconomics of Competitiveness (MOC) network at Harvard Business School. He is also the chief editor of Finnish Business Review, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal in Finland. Before joining the academic world, he worked for more than ten years in managerial positions in the oil & gas, energy transportation, and fast-moving consumer goods sectors in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.
Dr. Aila Ahonen
Dr. Aila Ahonen is a Principal Lecturer at the School of Business, Jamk University of Applied Sciences. She is a leading researcher in Sport Business at Jamk and serves as the Programme Coordinator of the Master’s Degree Programme in Sport Business Management. She lectures, writes, consults, and conducts research in the applied fields of sport business, sport entrepreneurship, and sport events. Dr. Ahonen is an Editorial Board Member of Managing Sport and Leisure, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (Sport Management, Marketing and Economics section), and the Journal of Management and Business Education. She is the President of the European Association for Sport Management (EASM), a Board Member of Kokonniemi Sports Center Development Ltd., and a member of the Finnish Sports Ethical Affairs Advisory Board under the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Dr. Juha Saukkonen
Dr. Juha Saukkonen holds a position of a senior lecturer (Management) at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. In his work, Saukkonen focuses on technology business, growth companies and entrepreneurship. His Doctor of Science (econ.) dissertation treated dynamic knowledge management in technology-based SME companies. Juha Saukkonen has various journal and conference publications in areas of knowledge management, HRM and tech entrepreneurship. He is also a peer reviewer for multiple journals and conferences. In addition, Saukkonen is a certified Supercoach™ LaunchPad instructor for first-time science- and technology-based new venture teams.
Dr. Anne Törn-Laapio
Dr. Anne Törn-Laapio works as a Principal Lecturer in Hospitality Management at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. In addition, she serves as the Degree Programme Coordinator for two master’s degree programmes, teaches a variety of subjects including research methods, and participates in RDI activities. Her research interests broadly encompass sustainability and responsibility, the service sector, higher education pedagogy, leadership development, and career studies. She has worked at both the University of Helsinki and the University of Oulu in Finland. She is also a member of Jamk’s Ethical Committee.
Dr. Marianne Ekonen
D.Sc. (Econ.) Marianne Ekonen is a Principal Lecturer (Management and Leadership) at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. Dr. Ekonen has over 15 years of experience in researching, teaching and developing management and leadership topics. Currently, she is working in Generative AI Pioneers: Exploring and Developing Innovation Capabilities -project funded by Business Finland. Her expertise spans Leadership in an AI era, Human Resource Management, Careers, DEIB, and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Dr. Sanna Nieminen
Dr. Sanna Nieminen is a Principal Lecturer at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. She holds a Doctor of Science (Technology) degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Aalto University. Before entering academia, she held several procurement and supply chain management positions at Valmet. Her research and development work focuses on procurement and supply management, the circular economy, business networks, systems intelligence, and sustainable business transformation. She has extensive experience in executive education, industry collaboration, and research projects that support the competitiveness and sustainability of industrial SMEs. She is also the author of a Finnish business book on procurement and sustainable business.
Dr. Sunday Olaleye
Dr. Sunday Adewale Olaleye is a Finnish Certified Teacher, Senior Lecturer at Jamk University of Applied Sciences and Docent of University of Helsinki, Finland. He holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Marketing from the University of Oulu, Oulu Business School (AACSB), Finland. He earned his Master of Science in Information Systems from Åbo Akademi, Turku, Finland; his MBA from the Lapland University of Applied Sciences, Tornio, Finland; his NMS iICT Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the Nordic Master School of Innovative ICT, Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS), Turku, Finland; and his Certificate in Leadership and Management in Health from the University of Washington, USA. Dr. Olaleye completed his post-doctoral studies at the University of Oulu in Finland and is a visiting scholar at the McCombs School of Business, Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management (IROM), The University of Texas at Austin, USA. He is also a visiting professor at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) in Mexico and an adjunct professor at the University of Gondar and Bahir Dar, University Ethiopia. He has served as a pre-examiner and examiner for doctoral students and as a reviewer for various academic journals. Dr. Olaleye has taught Bachelor’s, Master’s, MBA, and PhD students at different universities. He has also secured several international funding awards and presented papers at conferences and published in academic journals. He has been recognized as the Ambassador of the Month, Star Ambassador, and Gold Ambassador for Researcher Life (developed by Cactus Communications).
Dr. Sami Kalliomaa
Dr. Sami Kalliomaa is a Principal Lecturer at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. He holds a D.Sc. in Economics and Business Administration, from the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, Finland. He has two master’s degrees, M.A. in Education, Joensuu University, Finland and M.Sc. in Economics and Business Administration, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, Finland. His major fields of research are Leadership and Higher Education.
Dr. Francesca Allievi
Dr. Francesca Allievi is a Senior Researcher at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. She holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Turku, Finland, and both an MSc and a BSc in Environmental and Land Planning Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy. She has previously worked at the Finland Futures Research Centre and the Barilla Foundation in Italy. Dr. Allievi has more than 15 years of experience in food sustainability and sustainability education. Her main research interests include the environmental and social impacts of food systems and the development of sustainability competencies.
Dr. Rositsa Röntynen
Dr. Rositsa Röntynen is a Senior Lecturer at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. She holds a PhD in Management of Non-Material Assets from Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar,” a Master’s degree in Sport Science (Management) from the University of Jyväskylä, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Marketing) from the University of Economics, Varna. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she serves in various expert roles in research and development projects. Her expertise includes socially responsible tourism, destination management, and ecosystem governance. Her research interests encompass socio-ecological systems, resilience, regenerative tourism, alternative economic models, local community engagement, and regional development. Throughout her career, Dr. Röntynen has led cross-regional, national, and international development projects in both higher education and the municipal sector. One of her most significant contributions has been the development of tourism services, infrastructure, and collaborative networks related to Southern Konnevesi National Park.
Dr. Anna-Mari Simunaniemi
Dr. Anna-Mari Simunaniemi is a Principal Researcher at the School of Business, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, and a Visiting Senior Researcher at the Kerttu Saalasti Institute, University of Oulu, Finland. She holds a PhD from Uppsala University, Sweden, in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. Her research focuses on microentrepreneurship, responsible leadership, and sustainable small businesses. She serves as an Editorial Board Member for the International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development and Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. Dr. Simunaniemi has over 15 years of experience in research, development and innovation (RDI) projects carried out in collaboration with local businesses and regional development actors.
Dr. Minna Tunkkari-Eskelinen
Dr. Minna Tunkkari-Eskelinen holds a PhD in Economics with a specialization in entrepreneurship and family businesses. She has spent most of her academic career working in the field of entrepreneurship at the University of Jyväskylä and in the Tourism Degree Programme at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. Dr. Tunkkari-Eskelinen has expertise in sustainability analysis and responsible business practices. She has chaired conferences in Finland, presented papers at international conferences, and co-edited several publications in the field of responsible tourism. Currently, she applies entrepreneurial pedagogy and teaches research-based critical thinking at the Jamk School of Business.
Dr. Shab Hundal
Dr. Shab Hundal is a Senior Lecturer (Financial Management) at Jamk University of Applied Sciences. He is Jamk’s lead researcher in the E3UDRES2 Center of Excellence ‘Business Modeling for Managing Sustainability in a Circular and Climate Neutral Economy: Creating opportunities for Smart and Sustainable Regions’. He holds a D.Sc. in Accounting from the Jyväskylä School of Business and Economics, Finland. He has two master’s degrees, M.Sc. Financial Management, Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, U.K, and M.Sc. (Honours School) Economics, Punjab School of Economics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. He completed his pedagogical training and teaching registration from the General Teaching Council of Scotland (Edinburgh). Earlier, he worked at the Ministry of Education, Singapore; Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council (UK), Marks & Spencer (UK), and British Telecom (UK). His major fields of research are Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, and Sustainable Finance.
Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee consists of faculty members from universities in Finland and abroad who have extensive experience in academic and applied research. The committee is meant to guide, support, and advise the Organizing Committee members related to the intellectual aspects of the conference.
Dr. Antti Rautiainen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Professor of accounting in the discipline of accounting and corporate finance at Jyväskylä University, School of Business and Economics (JSBE). Professor Rautiainen is currently also the vice dean for education at JSBE. His research and teaching interests cover the changing accounting work and the roles of accounting professionals during digital era. Example of topics include management accounting, public sector accounting, financial statement analysis, auditing, relevance of accounting information, and accounting information systems. Professor Rautiainen actively participates in editorial board and reviewer work and to university-level development groups.
Dr. Luisa Cagica Carvalho, Institute Polytechnic of Setúbal, Portugal
Vice-Rector of Universidade Politécnica de Setúbal, Portugal. She is a Full Professor (Department of Economics and Management) Institute Polytechnic of Setúbal, Portugal. PhD in management. She is also a researcher in Life Quality Research Centre (LQRC-CIEQV). She is also the guest lecturer at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, in the Doctoral Programme of Management. Her research interests include entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability/circular economy. She has authored more than 20 books and 30 scientific papers.
Dr. Anca Draghici, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania
Professor and PhD Spervisor at Politehnica University of Timișoara, Romania, within the Faculty of Management in Production and Transportation, Research Center in Engineering and Management. She is an experienced researcher and academic with expertise in ergonomics, workplace management, sustainable development, and organizational behavior. Anca actively contributes to international research projects and academic networks, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches that integrate engineering, management, and sustainability. She is also the President of the Romanian Ergonomics and Workplace Management Society and serves as a reviewer, editor, and scientific committee member for numerous international conferences and journals. Her work emphasizes the development of innovative educational practices, human-centered systems, and sustainable organizational performance. She is committed to supporting academic collaboration and advancing research at the intersection of business, society, and technology.
Dr. Anna-Mari Simunaniemi, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Principal Researcher at the School of Business, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland, and a Visiting Senior Researcher at the Kerttu Saalasti Institute, University of Oulu, Finland. She holds a PhD from Uppsala University, Sweden, in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. Her research focuses on microentrepreneurship, responsible leadership, and sustainable small businesses. She serves as an Editorial Board Member for the International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development and Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. Dr. Simunaniemi has over 15 years of experience in research, development and innovation (RDI) projects carried out in collaboration with local businesses and regional development actors.
Dr. Sujata Shankaran, Farook Institute of Management Studies, India
Deputy Director and Professor at Farook Institute of Management Studies (FIMS), India, with nearly 25 years of experience in industry and higher education. She has served in key leadership roles as the Academic and Placement Head, contributing significantly to academic excellence and industry engagement. Her areas of interest include capital markets, investment management and portfolio management. She has organized several national and international academic events. She is committed to research, promoting innovation, and outcome-based learning among management students.
Dr. Tiina Onkila, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Professor of Corporate Environmental Management in Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics. Her research interests include sustainable business, circular economy, microlevel CSR, stakeholder approaches, and sustainability reporting. She also heads the CEM-group. Professor Onkila is a member of Nature Panel Finland.
Dr. Timber Haaker, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
Professor of business models at the School of Finance and Accounting at Saxion University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands, holding a PhD in Applied Mathematics. With over 20 years of experience in researching and applying business models, he has consulted numerous organisations in sectors such as e-health, e-government, media, ICT and digital services. At Saxion he leads the research group on business models and is the founder and coordinator of the Business Model Lab, where his team develops methods and tools for designing and testing business models, with a focus on sustainability and enabling technology.
Dr. Silky Vigg Kushwah, New Delhi Institute of Management, India
Professor of Finance at the New Delhi Institute of Management, India. She holds a Ph.D. in Finance and is currently pursuing postdoctoral research at Amity University Dubai. Her research interests include Financial Analytics, Sustainable Finance, and Corporate Finance. She has published over 60 research papers, including several in Scopus-indexed Q1 and Q2 journals. She actively contributes to research, academic publishing, and international conferences in the field of finance.
Dr. Heli Bergström, Xamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Principal Lecturer in Digital Business with a strong focus on research, development, and innovation (RDI) at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Xamk, Finland. She holds a Doctor of Science degree in the field of learning organization and leadership and has extensive experience in higher education, applied research, business development, and senior leadership. Her professional background includes long experience in leadership roles, with a particular focus on leading change, developing organizations, and supporting strategic renewal. Her current work focuses on artificial intelligence in business and education, data-driven leadership, leadership development, and the pedagogical renewal of higher education. Dr. Bergström has also played a key role in developing master-level education, work-life-oriented learning, and RDI activities in close collaboration with organizations.
Dr. Susanne Roiser, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, Austria
Head of the Department of Digital Business and Innovation and Co-Director of the Institute for Innovation Systems at the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, Austria. Her work focuses on digital innovation and organizational transformation, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning. She has extensive experience in higher education leadership, innovation ecosystem development, curriculum design, and the creation of practice-oriented educational initiatives. Dr. Roiser’s research and professional interests center on how organizations can leverage innovation, emerging technologies, and collaborative networks to create value and drive transformation. She has led numerous strategic initiatives connecting academia, industry, and regional innovation stakeholders, with a strong focus on translating knowledge into impact. As an active contributor to the European University Alliance E³UDRES², she supports the development of innovation ecosystems and collaborative approaches to addressing societal challenges. Through her work, she actively promotes the integration of research, education, and innovation across institutional and national boundaries.
Mr. Thierry Tartarin, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
Senior researcher/lecturer of the Business Models Research group at Saxion School of Finance & International Business in the Netherlands. He initiated and now leads the Eudres Centre of Excellence for Business Modelling for Managing Sustainability in a Circular and Climate Neutral Economy. He is a business model expert with a research interest in drones as an enabling technology for creating multiple values (economic, environmental, and social). Recent work includes Aerowind, a four-year project just started on collaborative drones for the maintenance and repair of offshore wind turbines, and SafePort Drones AI, an Interreg German/Netherlands InnoLoop research focusing on the safety and security of ports using AI. Recent book contributions include a chapter on Business Model teaching for the book series (Elgar Guides to Teaching – Teaching Methods – Book Series (e-elgar.com) , expected to be released in Autumn 2026
The 2027 conference is organised by Jamk University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with University of Jyväskylä and E³UDRES².
