NETWORK OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOLS

NIBS Annual Conference 2026

Business Education for a Changing World.
Exploring collaboration, innovation and global impact.

The IBA is proud to host the NIBS Annual Conference 2026.

Here you can find more information about the conference and scheduele.

Join the Conference

5th – 8th May 2026
IBA International Business Academy, Havneparken 1, 6000 Kolding
Join the Conference

The IBA International Business Academy in Kolding is proud to host the NIBS Annual Conference 2026. Join us and be part of a vibrant global community shaping the future of business education.

Over three inspiring days, delegates will share ideas, build networks, and explore new years to collaborate and innovate in a rapidly changing world. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, contribute and celebrate excellence in international business education.

Time and Place

Date: 5th – 8th May 2026
Place: IBA International Business Academy
Address: Havneparken 1, 6000 Kolding

If you are arriving by car, you can find the parking overview here >> (only in Danish)

Participation & Registration

Join the Conference

Participation Fee – Payment link

Participation Fee: €650 + online payment fee (DKK 4,810 + DKK 246,75 = DKK 5.056, 75)

Meet the Keynote Speakers

Dr. Uwe Brandenburg

PhD, Managing Director of the Global Impact Institute, Prague, Czech Republic

Keynote Session: “Make a better world your business!”

Dr. Gert Biesta

Professor of Public Education in the Centre for Public Education and Pedagogy, Maynooth University, Ireland

Keynote Session: “World-Centred Business Education in a Changing Global Landscape”

Conference Programme

Tuesday, 5 May 2026 – Arrival & Welcome Reception

Time

Session

Details

12:00 – 17:00

Pre-conference event: China Business Forum (free event, separate registration needed)

19:00 – 21:00

Informal Welcome Reception

Please drop-in to say hello and meet everyone informally prior to the start of the conference.

Venue to be confirmed.

Wednesday, 6 May 2026 – Conference Day 1

Time	Session	Room	Details
09:00 – 09:20	Welcome	IBA Auditorium	Welcome from the IBA Denmark and the NIBS Board. Carsten Vikkelsøe, Rector of IBA Hans van Oudheusden, President of NIBS
09:20 – 10:20	Keynote 1	IBA Auditorium	“Democracy, Climate change and the world – none of my Business, is it?” “Make a better world your business!” Dr. Uwe Brandenburg, PhD, Managing Director of the Global Impact Institute, Prague, Czech Republic
10:20 – 10:40	Introduction to New Members	IBA Auditorium	Introductions and networking activity for new NIBS members and first-time delegates.
10:40 – 10:55	NIBS Accreditation Awards	IBA Auditorium	Presentation of NIBS accreditation certificates to member institutions demonstrating excellence in international business education.
10:55 – 11:25	Coffee Break	IBA Canteen
11:25 – 12:30	Members’ Opportunities Session	IBA Auditorium	UCLL, Belgium Mario De Wolf, International Officer
		IBA Auditorium	Hochschule Kaiserslautern, Germany Prof. Dr. Christian Armbruster
		IBA Auditorium	University of Northern Iowa, USA Assistant Prof. Chris Schrage, Global Opportunities Coordinator
12:30 – 13:30	Lunch (optional campus tour)	IBA Canteen
13:30 – 14:00 14:15 – 14:45	Workshops	Room A	What’s in Erasmus for Non-Members — exploring Erasmus+ opportunities and partnerships beyond existing membership frameworks. Danish European Agency
13:30 – 14:00 14:15 – 14:45	Workshops	Room B	Incorporating Data Analytics Teaching into the Business Curriculum, exploring innovative pedagogical approaches to integrating analytics and digital literacy in business programmes. Institute of Analytics, UK, (The global body for Data Analytics Professionals, https://ioaglobal.org/)
14:45 – 15:15	Coffee Break	IBA Canteen
15:15 – 15:45	NIBS Innovation	IBA Auditorium	NIBS Case Studies NIBS Experts NIBS Proceedings
15:30 – 16:30	NIBS Research Session 1	IBA Auditorium	“From Silos to Studios: Rewiring Business Education” Dr. Adity Saxena & Mr. Ed Overes “How Business Education Shapes Graduate Employability in Times of Disruptions” Dr. Elisa Gagnon & Dr. Svetlana Davis
Evening	Networking Dinner	IBA Auditorium	A guided tour of Christiansfeld (a UNESCO site) and dinner at a traditional inn. (Comfortable shoes and clothing)

Thursday, 7 May 2026 – Conference Day 2

Time	Session	Room	Details
09:00 – 10:00	Keynote Session (2)	IBA Auditorium	“World-Centred Business Education in a Changing Global Landscape” Dr. Gert Biesta, Professor of Public Education in the Centre for Public Education and Pedagogy, Maynooth University, Ireland
10:00 – 10:45	Plenary	IBA Auditorium	Business Education for a Changing World Morten Kier, Assistant Professor, IBA, Denmark Gitte Marie Juhl, Assistant Professor, IBA, Denmark
10:45 – 11:15	Coffee Break	IBA Canteen
11:15 – 12:30	The David Gillingham Awards	IBA Auditorium	From Local Projects to Global Proof-of-Work: Making Experiential Learning Visible Across Borders Bishop’s University, Williams School of Business Dr. Svetlana Davis Outdoor Challenge Norway – Learning Beyond the Classroom Dr. Femke Sterckx UCLL University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Management Student Sustainability Research Challenge: A Story of Learning Across Borders Dr. Marieta Velikova Belmont University and Ed Overes, Zuyd UAS A Day in My Life: A COIL Digital Storytelling Initiative Dr. Ciarán O’Carroll Technological University Dublin, Faculty of Business AI-Driven Global Entrepreneurship Simulator: Immersive International Experiential Learning Across Four Countries Dr. Hemachandran Kannan Woxsen University, School of Business UBUNTU and SOUL: A New Architecture for Global Business Education Dr. Marieta Velikova Belmont University, Jack C. Massey College of Business United States of Europe 2035: A Collaborative Online International Learning Initiative Dr. Marilena Antoniadou American College of Greece
12:30 – 13:30	Lunch	IBA Canteen
13:30 – 14:30	Competences for the Future Workforce	IBA Auditorium	Business Education in the Age of AI Kim Plevoets, Dean of the Faculty of Management, UCLL, Belgium Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) Rudi Madalijns, Dean School of Business and Management, HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Belgium Building AI-Enhanced Innovation Systems for Experiential Learning Mitch Hamm, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Studies, University of North Alabama, USA
14:30 – 15:00	Coffee Break	IBA Canteen
15:00 – 16:00	NIBS Research Session 2	IBA Auditorium	“Learning, Leadership and Legacy: The benefits of International Business Case Competitions for Students, Coaches, and Universities” Dr. Mark Crowder & Dr. Marilena Antoniadou “Building Interregionalisation: A Call for a Research Network” Dr. Diederich Bakker
16:00 – 16:30	NIBS Annual General Meeting (AGM)	IBA Auditorium	Updates from the NIBS Executive Committee and plans for the year ahead.
16:30 – 16:45	Conference Closing	IBA Auditorium
Evening	Gala Dinner	Hotel Koldingfjord

Friday, 8 May 2026 – Conference Day 3 – Industry visits

Details of the industry day are still to be confirmed, but the return times are confirmed as dropping off those delegates flying from Billund Airport at 16:00hrs and returning back to Kolding for 17:00 hrs.

Time	Details
09:00	Departure from the IBA.
16:00	Drop-off at Billund Airport.
17:00	Drop-off at the IBA, Kolding.

NIBS Worldwide Case Competition

The NIBS Worldwide Case Competition is one of the world’s most established student case competitions. Teams of four students analyse real-life business challenges and present their solutions to an international jury of academics and industry experts.

After a qualifying round, the 16 best teams from across the globe are invited to the championship round, making it a unique opportunity to test skills, gain international experience, and build a global network.

After a three-year break, the IBA is once again competing in the NIBS Case Competition, fielding one or two student teams.

Case Competitions