The 8th ICABEP 2026, Szczecin, Poland
26 – 27 May 2026· University of Szczecin, Poland

Conference 8th International Conference on Accounting, Business, Economics & Policy (ICABEP)
Venue University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
Dates 26 – 27 May 2026
Organizers Tishk International University & University of Szczecin, with 13 international partner universities
Countries Kurdistan–Iraq, Poland, Germany, Turkey, Kosovo, Malta, Kobane–Syria, South Africa, Morocco, Babylon–Iraq, Greece, Romania, Lithuania, and others

The picturesque port city of Szczecin, Poland, played host to one of the most distinguished academic events of 2026, as scholars, researchers, policymakers, and industry voices from across the globe convened for the 8th International Conference on Accounting, Business, Economics and Policy — ICABEP 2026. Held on the 26th and 27th of May at the University of Szczecin, the two-day conference brought together brilliant minds from over a dozen countries, united by a shared commitment to advancing knowledge in business, economics, law, governance, and the rapidly evolving intersection of technology and society.

Jointly organized by Tishk International University (TIU), Erbil, and the University of Szczecin, with the collaboration of thirteen other international universities, the conference reaffirmed TIU’s growing stature as a leading academic institution on the world stage. The diversity of participating nations — from Kurdistan-Iraq, to Greece, Germany, South Africa, Morocco, Poland, Kosovo, Malta, Turkiye and Syria — speaks powerfully to the truly global character of ICABEP 2026 and to the international reputation that TIU continues to build.

Day One – 26th May 2026

Opening Keynote Addresses

The conference opened with a distinguished series of keynote speeches that set an intellectually ambitious tone for the days ahead. The opening address was delivered by Dr. Sultan Abu-Orabi, President of Tishk International University, whose remarks underscored TIU’s commitment to academic excellence, international collaboration, and the transformative role of higher education in the region and beyond.

He was followed by four internationally acclaimed keynote speakers:

  • Dr. Thomas Burkhardt, University of Koblenz and Landau, Germany
  • Dr. Eleftherios Thalassinos, Professor of Quantitative Methods and International Economics, University of Piraeus, Greece
  • Dr hab. Tadeusz Trzaskalik, Professor of Operations Research, University of Economics in Katowice, Poland
  • Dr. Krzysztof Kompa, Emeritus Head of the Financial Engineering Chair, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland

Together, these keynotes spanned themes of quantitative economics, financial engineering, operations research, and international policy, providing a rich intellectual foundation for the conference.

Panel Discussion I: AI, Energy and Leadership

Following a coffee break, a panel discussion titled “AI, Energy and Leadership: How AI is Reshaping Energy Management” convened four distinguished professor-panellists and a moderator. The session explored the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in the energy sector — a matter of acute global relevance as the world navigates the twin imperatives of digital transformation and energy transition.

Afternoon Keynotes

The afternoon opened with two further keynote addresses from:

  • Vigita Vebaite, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Vilnius University, Lithuania, bringing a vital European legal perspective to the conference
  • Witold Repetowicz, War Studies University, Poland, who brought a sharp geopolitical and security dimension to the proceedings

Panel Discussion II: Digitalization and AI in Justice

The second panel, moderated by Prof. Kinga Flaga-Gieruszyńska, Vice-Rector of the University of Szczecin, examined “Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Decision-Making Proceedings in the System of Justice.” Six professors and panelists engaged in a rigorous discussion on how AI-driven technologies are reshaping judicial processes and legal decision-making across European and international legal systems.

Panel Discussion III: European Security in Transition

The third panel addressed: “European Security in Transition: Energy, Nuclear Policy, and Institutional Limits in the Shadow of the War in Ukraine.” Moderated by Prof. Tomasz Czapiewski, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute of Political Science and Security Studies at the University of Szczecin, five panelists engaged in a frank and rigorous discussion on Europe’s evolving security architecture and the structural limitations of international institutions in times of conflict.

Close of Day One

Day One was brought to a close with remarks by Dr. Karolina Beyer, Deputy Director for Education at the Institute of Management, University of Szczecin, who reflected on the richness of the day’s exchanges and set an anticipatory tone for the second day.

Day Two – 27th May 2026

Morning Keynote Addresses

The second day opened with three keynote addresses from leading international academics:

  • Professor Ph.D. Habil. Gratiela Georgiana Noja, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timisoara, Romania
  • Dr hab. Dorota Maria Witkowska, Professor and Senior Research Associate at IPPM College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Salah Koubaa, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, Faculty of Law, Economics, and Social Sciences, University of Hassan II Casablanca, Morocco

These keynotes traversed themes of economic transformation, business administration, and entrepreneurial strategy, bringing the perspectives of three distinct continents into one room and further enriching the conference’s global dialogue.

Parallel Scientific Sessions for Paper Presentations

Following a short coffee break, the conference convened two simultaneous parallel scientific sessions.

Session I centred on “Sustainable Economic Transformation: Market, Governance and Inclusion,” examining the policies, institutional frameworks, and market dynamics that drive inclusive and sustainable economic development. Tishk International University was proudly represented by two of its leading academics:

Dr. Abubakar Karaye, Head of the Departments of Accounting, Banking and Finance, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq, presented: “The Impact of Board Gender Diversity on Global Sustainability Performance: The Moderating Role of Government Effectiveness.”

Dr. Dana Sajadi, Head of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq, presented: “From Liberal Hegemony to Strategic Disorder: Trump’s Foreign Policy and the Reshaping of the International System.”

Session II focused on “Managing Urban Mobility Services in Relation to the Needs of an Aging Society,” addressing the urgent challenge of designing transportation and urban infrastructure systems that serve aging populations across growing cities.

Closing Remarks

The 8th ICABEP 2026 was formally closed by Prof. dr hab. Inż. Kesra Nermend, Director of the Institute of Management at the University of Szczecin, whose closing remarks celebrated the depth and diversity of intellectual exchange achieved across the two days and expressed enthusiasm for the continued growth of the ICABEP conference series.

A Milestone for TIU on the World Stage

The 8th ICABEP 2026 stands as a landmark moment in the journey of Tishk International University as a globally engaged academic institution. By co-organising a conference that drew scholars from more than a dozen nations — spanning three continents and covering disciplines from Artificial Intelligence to international law, energy governance to entrepreneurship — TIU has once again demonstrated its commitment to knowledge without borders.

The participation of TIU’s own faculty as paper presenters on the global stage — contributing research on corporate governance, gender diversity, sustainability, and the reshaping of the international order — underscores the scholarly depth that defines this institution. Their presence at ICABEP 2026 is a source of immense pride for the entire TIU community, and a powerful inspiration to students and staff alike.

As the echoes of Szczecin resound through academic corridors around the world, Tishk International University looks forward with confidence and ambition to the collaborations, discoveries, and conversations that lie ahead — carrying the spirit of ICABEP 2026 back to the classrooms and corridors of Erbil.