We are pleased to announce the AfRIC 2024 PHD PROJECT-AFRICA Bootcamp which will be held on 10-15 November, 2024 at Universite Senghor and Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Eligibility and Requirements

The Bootcamp aims to foster in-progress scholarship and connect an interdisciplinary community of scholars working on topics connected to sustainability, innovation, entrepreneurship as well as the issues related to climate change and green growth. The PHD Project-Africa Bootcamp provides an opportunity for PhD students, early career researchers  and senior researchers to 1) focus on the crafting and development of paper (i.e. existing paper drafts, conference papers or previously rejected manuscripts); 2) participate at the Doctoral consortium and 3) the Meet the Editors. At the crafting and development of paper workshop, Bootcamp participants are required to attend all sessions, as (i) author, (ii) reviewer, and (iii) additional discussant. They are also expected to attend all keynote presentations. Regarding the Doctoral consortium and the Meet the Editor, there are additional requirement to be considered (see the specific calls for each for more details).

In addition of participants, the Bootcamp also welcomes by invitation a number of selected international experts who will play the role of facilitators and keynotes.

Please note that acceptance to the PHD Project-Africa Bootcamp is limited and is by invitation only. We invite scholars who are interested by this opportunity to submit a title, abstract, and CV to both Prof. dt ogilvie (dt@saunders.rit.edu) and Prof. Mahamadou Biga Diambeidou (mahamadou.biga@uclouvain.be)  by midnight on 10 October, 2024 CET. Full papers—which may be at any stage of development prior to publication, including early-stage work —will be due on  31 October, 2024.

Each accepted paper will be assigned two discussants, who will provide feedbacks. Each session will be leaded by an expert, senior scholar who will also discuss the paper among the author and other workshop participants.

If accepted as participant at the bootcamp you are required to bring your own copy of each of your papers (as author), and each of the written reviews (as reviewer) that you have completed. Only one print copy of each paper and the written reviews will be provided at the bootcamp.

2The PHD PROJECT-AFRICA Doctoral Consortium is scheduled for November 12, 2024. Thirty doctoral students and early-stage researchers pursuing research and teaching careers will have an opportunity to participate in the program and attend the conference. Application deadline is 20 (extended to 30) October, 2024.

Eligibility and Requirements

The program welcomes empirical and conceptual papers as well as developmental research projects examining topics across all areas of Sustainability and Green Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the African context, both in the private and public sectors, and a comparative analysis of the African context with other parts of the world. Research projects examining real life problems from other disciplines but linked to issues in Sustainability, Innovation or Entrepreneurship are also welcome. Work based on interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary-oriented approaches is a real asset in the selection process.

Candidates will submit a two-page (maximum 900-word) abstract including principal topic, method, and results online no later than 20 (extended to 30) October , 2024.

Abstracts will be double-blind reviewed by members of the Scientific Committee.

Guidelines for preparing abstract:

• Principal topic:
  • Problem: What specific research (clarify the related discipline) problem does the submission focus on?
  • Current understanding: What is known about this problem, who and how has it been tackled before?
  • Research question: What is the submission goal?
• Method (or research design): How precisely and in detail was/will the work (be) executed. The methodology/approach should be described.
• Results: What are/will be the main outcomes and results?
• Contribution: What will the outcomes and results add to current understanding or theory in the related discipline?
• Practical implications: Who will practically gain what and in which way from the findings?

Authors will be notified via email on acceptance of abstract no more than two weeks after submission. For selected candidates,

• a one-page, maximum 400-word summary is due by October 15 (extended to 30), 2024
• a six-page max PowerPoint for presentation is due by October 30, 2024
• please be sure to register no later than October 20 (extended to 30), 2024. If you register late, your summary may not be included in the Conference Abstract Book, and we may give chance to another selected candidate in the top-40 list.

Papers will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee and selected for publication. The top-30 selected submissions will have their one-page summary published in the 2024 issue of AfRIC 2024 Best Abstract Book.

An award will be granted to the best paper for PHD PROJECT-AFRICA Doctoral consortium. Winners will receive a certificate, and the paper highlighted in the AfRIC 2024 Program. Best papers will also be considered for an extensive training program leading to publication in one of supportive journals of AfRIC 2024, subject to the journal’s blind review process.

Papers will be evaluated by the Board of Reviewers and selected for publication. Particular attention will also be given to successful work with real practical implication or potential significant implication for entrepreneurs and other actors involved in the sustainable innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem and with socio- economic impact in Africa.

The ‘Meet the Editors session is an opportunity for all conference participants to meet and talk with the editors of the AfRIC supportive journals: Small Business Economics, Journal of African Business, Journal of Organizational Change Management, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Economies, Business & Society Review, Cleaner Waste Systems Journal.

While the AfRIC 2024 ‘Meet the Editors’ is aimed at any career level, it will be particularly useful for doctoral students especially first-time writers, early career researchers and those with an interest in reviewing and editing for related journals.

In this AfRIC 2024 ‘Meet the Editors session, you will hear from several editors about their respective journals and the publishing process – from submission to acceptance. They will also give their top tips for a successful publication and advise on topics including cover letters, responding to criticisms and how to get involved in reviewing and editing. In addition of writing for journals, the AfRIC 2024 ‘Meet the Editors’ will also focus on two additional special topics including writing monograph and text as well as dissemination and communication.

The AfRIC 2024 ‘Meet the Editors’ is scheduled for November 13, 2024. The session will be moderated by  members of the convener team.

If you have any questions about the AfRIC 2024 ‘Meet the Editors’ session, please contact us via email at : mahamadou.biga@uclouvain.be

Thanks to our supportive journals, we are also glad to invite you to join the scholarly debates trough the opportunities of special Issues. Only the authors targeting the special issues related to AfRIC will need to submit an extended abstract (short paper). A ten-page (maximum) double-spaced document, excluding references and exhibits, to include Abstract, Principal Topic (with the statement of the Problem, Current understanding, and Research question), Method, Results and Contribution/ Practical implication, should be submitted online no later than October 30, 2024. For more information, please check the call for papers associated to the targeting journal. You may also find the links to the journal web pages. Stay turnred to learn more about the forthcoming calls for papers. The forthcoming special issues will be announced in due time directly on the conference web site.

Papers will be evaluated by the scientific panel on double-blind basis. Only the authors of the selected short papers will be invited to continue the editorial process after AfRIC 2024.

Submit a manuscript

The submission Web page for AfRIC 2024 will be open soon.

If you have any questions about the associated special issues, please contact us.