The Global Conference on Emerging Technologies, Business, Sustainable Innovative Business Practices, and Social Well-being unequivocally established itself as the premier forum for investigating cutting-edge ideas. The 2-day conference was organized by Rushford Business School and the European School of Data Science and Technology (ESDST), Switzerland, in association with Confab 360 Degree, India, on December 10th and 11th, 2022. The gathering was overseen by Dr. Nishu Ayedee, Dr. Monika Arora, and Dr. Asmat Ara Shaikh, who hosted over 700 authors and co-authors presenting 238 papers. It spotlighted 18 themes and subthemes, such as dark tourism, the FinTech revolution, digital HR, human-robot interaction, Industry 5.0, and social well-being, among others. 

The motive of the event was to explore the confluence of cutting-edge technologies for responsible business practices and environmental well-being with sustainable and social well-being as the key theme. The conference organizers submitted thirteen papers for consideration. Out of which, the editorial team and guest editors have finalized seven papers.

Selected Papers Overview

The carefully selected pieces represented the core of the conference within spheres like dark tourism, sustainable development, innovations, digital human resource management, social well-being, and firm value analysis. Each paper carefully emphasized a strong theme – the push for sustainable development principles across industries. Some of the highlighted dialogues of the conference are given below:

Innovation for Sustainable Tourism

Dark tourism, characterized by travel to morbid historical sites associated with death or tragedy, presents a unique challenge. While it offers economic opportunities for local communities, ethical considerations and responsible management practices are central. The researchers presented approaches and frameworks for balancing economic viability while respecting historical narratives. Some include training programs for local communities for visitor management, strict guidelines to prohibit disrespectful activities and vandalism, educational programs, and virtual or augmented reality experiences to minimize tourism’s environmental footprint.

Sustainability in Business

Across industries, businesses are grappling with integrating sustainability into their core operations. From human resource management to financial analysis, the conference shed light on practical strategies for achieving this. Papers explored the efficient implementation of remote work models to reduce carbon footprint and innovative talent acquisition strategies prioritizing diversity and inclusion. It also included frameworks for measuring and reporting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance to ensure responsible financial decision-making.

Digital Transformation and the Future of HR

Within sustainable human resources, the papers offered a panoramic view of innovative HR practices aligned with sustainability goals. They dissected effective strategies to promote a harmonious blend of organizational objectives and environmental responsibility. It involved effectively implementing digital tools and technologies for talent acquisition and employee engagement along with performance management. They are also necessary for ethical considerations and responsible data management practices for human resource management.

Prioritizing Social Well-being

Moving beyond profit maximization, the authors emphasized the inextricable link between business practices and the collective well-being of the community and stakeholders. They showcased corporate social responsibility initiatives empowering communities, employee mental well-being programs prioritizing work-life balance, and ethical considerations in supply chain management and vendor relations. The conference also addressed how AI-powered healthcare technologies can fulfill the necessity of quality care even in remote and underserved areas.

Redefining Firm Value Analysis

Financial analysis underwent a paradigm shift at the conference as researchers integrated sustainability considerations into its core. Some thematic areas were the circular economy, FinTech revolution, and technology 5.0 under the sustainable economy. The objective was to assess financial returns and long-term environmental responsibility for the investors and stakeholders to make informed decisions. The research pieces challenged traditional economic models through quantitative analysis, qualitative evaluations, and comprehensive case studies. This shift signals a move towards a more responsible approach by promoting accountability through complete disclosure of (ESG) metrics. 

Acknowledgment 

The special issue propelled valuable research onto a wider stage. Authors benefitted from many publication opportunities in prestigious Springer books, Scopus journals, ABDC journals, Web of Science journals, and a UGC CARE-I journal. The Rushford Business School and the European School of Data Science and Technology (ESDST) extend heartfelt gratitude to all of the collaborating institutions for charting a path toward a sustainable future – 

• London Churchill College, United Kingdom LEO Jajaring IImu, Indonesia
• Integral University, Lucknow, India
• International Training Institute, Maldives
• Wollo University, Ethiopia
• ITM University, Raipur, India
• Guru Nanak Institute of Management, Delhi, India 
• Narayana Business School, Gujarat, India
• School of Commerce & Management, Mohan Babu University, Andhra Pradesh, India
• Swami Vivekananda Institute of Science and Technology, Kolkata, India 
• Shri Jairambhai Patel Institute of Business Management and Computer Applications, Gujarat, India

Collaboration to Foster Groundbreaking Research 

The Global Conference catalyzed collaboration and action with an in-depth exploration catering to 18 themes and sub-themes for various sectors. The insights presented in this special issue offer a roadmap for businesses, policymakers, and researchers to work together toward building a more sustainable future. Rushford Business School and the European School of Data Science and Technology (ESDST) encourage you to engage with us with your thought-provoking research. We invite you to contribute your own voice to such critical conversations in our upcoming events to build a future where economic progress and environmental well-being go hand-in-hand.