International Research Camp 2024

11:00 - 12:30 Uhr

Basics in the biological testings - molecular oncology

PhD Workshop with Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić (University of Belgrade)

Mobile Services in Slovenia: A Collaborative Approach to Supporting Children and Youth through Network Engagement

Lecture with Rok Demšar (University of Ljubljana)

The lecture addresses the functioning of mobile social pedagogical services in Slovenia, established following the adoption of ZOOMTVI Act (2020) regulating the activities of professional centers in Slovenia and opening up opportunities for active engagement of professional centers before children or youth are placed in residential care. Each professional center operates autonomously in implementing mobile services. The article will present the functioning of the mobile service at SC Višnja Gora, which is based on collaboration with networks of children and adolescents identified as emotionally and behaviorally challenging. Special focus will be placed on collaborating with networks and beliefs that can encourage collaboration.

13:30 - 15:00 Uhr

Designing the Business Model Transformation: From pipelines to platforms

Lecture with Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Bordean (Babes-Bolyai University)

The course describes how firms can develop and transform their business models so that will provide them with superior advantages in an era dominated by rapid technological advancements. This course will also examine various ways in which companies can make use of these new technologies and use the digital strategies for creating a long-lasting competitive advantage. Lectures, readings, and case studies will be used to introduce topics so as students can gain and develop the necessary skills design the transformation of the business models. The course uses cases studies that portray business models of various companies. The course is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students. 

Who Are We Saving? A Systemic Perspective on Working with Youth at Risk in Slovenia

Lecture with Rok Demšar (University of Ljubljana)

The lecture addresses the question "Whom do we save?" based on the practice of mobile social pedagogical service. This initial question leads to new inquiries encountered in social pedagogical practice. These inquiries are connected to questions of power: "Who has conferred the power to save?" "Who holds the power to save and who is being saved?", responsibilities: "Who must be actively involved in saving?", roles: "From whom are we saving our users?" "Who convinced us that they need saving?", hopes: "For whom do we have hope that they can be saved?". In mobile social pedagogical service, we are not alone in these questions, as we collaborate with the formal and informal networks of our users. Within these networks, we nurture beliefs about each other that guide our behavior and the behavior of others. 

Physics and modeling of single electron devices

Lecture with Prof. Dr. Ģirts Barinovs (University of Latvia)

Advantages of nanomaterials. The differences in physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials and bulk materials. Miniaturization of electronic devices. Single electron sources, and control of individual electrons. Electron pumps, single electron transistors, their use in the definition of ampere electrical unit and electron quantum optics. Modeling of single electron devices at the University of Latvia.

15:15 - 16:45 Uhr

Necessary Condition Analysis: Conducting Research in Business

Lecture with Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Bordean (Babes-Bolyai University)

Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) analyzes data using necessity logic. A necessary condition implies that if the condition is not in place, there will be guaranteed failure of the outcome. The opposite however is not true; if the condition is in place, success of the outcome is not guaranteed. NCA can be used with existing or new data sets and can give novel insights for theory and practice. You can apply NCA as a stand-alone approach, or as part of a multi-method approach complementing multiple linear regression (MLR), structural equation modelling (SEM) or Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The course explains the basic elements of NCA and uses illustrative examples on how to perform NCA with SmartPLS software.

07:30 - 09:00 Uhr

Physics Fundamentals

Lecture by Prof. Dr. Ģirts Barinovs (University of Latvia)

Kinematic description of motion and an introduction to 1D motion diagrams using active learning techniques, including tutorials in introductory physics and peer instruction.

09:15 - 10:45 Uhr

Sustainable Finance

Lecturewith Prof. Dr. Antonio Díaz (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha)

This session will cover the following key topics: Circular Economy, Introduction to Sustainable Finance, Impact of Climate Change, Transition to Climate Finance and a case study “Sustainability premium in energy bonds” (Díaz, A., Escribano, A. 2021, Energy Economics)

11:00 - 12:30 Uhr

ESG Investing and Green Bonds

Lecture with Prof. Dr. Antonio Díaz (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha)

This session will cover the following key topics: Introduction to ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Investing, Sustainable financing products, Greenwashing, Regulation of ESG and Green Finance and a case study “Portfolio management of ESG-labeled energy companies based on PTV and ESG factors” (Díaz, A., Esparcia, C., Alonso, D., Alonso, M.T, 2024, Energy Economics)

12:40 - 13:30 Uhr

The Path to Meta-Analysis in Wellness Tourism: Key Trends, Moderators, and Industry Importance

Presentation with Sethasilp Inthanon (University of Applied Sciences Merseburg)

This presentation outlines the journey towards a meta-analytic approach in wellness tourism, emphasizing its growing importance and the key trends shaping the industry-based on current PhD research of Sethasilp Inthanon. By analyzing comprehensive data, the study aims to identify critical determinants, moderators, and consolidated research gaps across various studies influencing the success and growth of the wellness tourism industry. As the sector evolves in response to shifting consumer preferences and global health trends, understanding these moderators is essential for forecasting future developments and ensuring sustainable growth. This research provides insights into how wellness tourism aligns with broader tourism trends, contributes to economic growth in diverse destinations, and how the findings will enhance supply chain networks and strategic management within the industry.

13:30 - 15:00 Uhr

Lost places in Israel – a comparison of countries

Lecture with Dr. Dalya Markovich (Beit Berl College)

There is a variety of abandoned places that have not yet been accepted, let alone canonized, as part of the cultural heritage of Israel. These places include houses, buildings, farms, institutions, industrial ruins, etc. The seminar will introduce these places, the heritage they echo, and the ethnic, national, and religious reasons that prevented them from being accepted into the Israeli cultural heritage. The digital transformation that the field of cultural heritage is going through in the last decade will be discussed as a potential way to "renovate" these sites and to integrate them into the Israeli cultural heritage.

17:00 - 18:30 Uhr

Why Loyalty? Understanding companies' shift towards customer loyalty and retention

Lecture with Dr. Giada Salvietti (University of Parma)

The lecture will address the topic of sustainable marketing through the discussion of three forms of marketing: Green Marketing (i.e. environmental sustainability), Social Marketing (i.e. any local or global social and cultural issue), and Brand Activism. As what concerns Green and Social Marketing, the lecture will focus on the different ways marketing levers (the "4Ps") can be twisted to promote environmentally conscious products and socially positive behavior, respectively. The lecture will then discuss the phenomenon of Brand Activism, that is changing the ways certain companies around the world shape their own business strategies and goals.

Using Marketing for good: an overview of sustainable marketing

Lecture with Dr. Giada Salvietti (University of Parma)

The lecture will address the topic of sustainable marketing through the discussion of three forms of marketing: Green Marketing (i.e. environmental sustainability), Social Marketing (i.e. any local or global social and cultural issue), and Brand Activism. As what concerns Green and Social Marketing, the lecture will focus on the different ways marketing levers (the "4Ps") can be twisted to promote environmentally conscious products and socially positive behavior, respectively. The lecture will then discuss the phenomenon of Brand Activism, that is changing the ways certain companies around the world shape their own business strategies and goals.

09:15 - 10:45 Uhr

Influence of Megatrends on Logistics Development

Lecture with Dr. Robert Rogaczewski (State University of Applied Sciences Konin)

Digitalization, robotics, and autonomous driving are megatrends in logistics. Widespread globalization, increasing customer demands, the production of 'customized' products, lean management, shortened production cycles, and rapidly advancing information technologies are placing ever-greater demands on companies, forcing them to meet these challenges in order to gain a competitive advantage. Global 'trends' play a crucial role in logistics, which, in turn, integrates material flows between suppliers, manufacturers, as well as retailers and end recipients.

Cultural management of non-profit organizations in Israel

Lecture with Dr. Dalya Markovich (Beit Berl College)

The lecture will introduce the cultural sector in Israel through the lenses of the work of non-profit organizations. We analyze the goals, modes, and practices that are used to manage independent museums, festivals, and street art. We will also discuss the digital transformation that is taking place in the Israeli cultural scene and the future potential effect of it, in terms of multi culturalism and sustainability, on the field of cultural education.

11:00 - 12:30 Uhr

Material Flow Management in Business Practice

Lecture with Dr. Robert Rogaczewski (State University of Applied Sciences Konin)

Material flow is a crucial component of any production and logistics process. It describes the physical movement of materials, products, and goods throughout the entire manufacturing process. Efficient design of material flow can help avoid bottlenecks and delays, increase productivity, and reduce costs. Students will have the opportunity to explore practical aspects of material flow management in a production company. Conducting a simulation of material requirements planning will be one of the practical aspects covered.

Exemplary approach: 3W for investigating anticancer drugs”

PhD Workshop with Dr. Sanja Mijatović (University of Belgrade)

13:30 - 15:00 Uhr

New perspectives of metal based drugs in cancer treatment

Lecture with Dr. Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić (University of Belgrade)

Cancer is a complex group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. It can arise in virtually any tissue and is often influenced by genetic, epigenetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Early detection and advances in treatment options, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies, have improved survival rates for many types of cancer. Despite progress, disparities in treatment outcomes remain a challenge, making the development of new therapeutic approaches of paramount importance. Following the discovery and clinical use of cisplatin, interest in exploring metal-based compounds as antitumor agents has increased significantly. A whole group of metallodrugs incorporating ruthenium, tin, iron, copper, iridium, etc. have proven their efficacy against various cancer cell lines. Although the efficacy and safety of metal-based drugs is found promising in vitro, only a small fraction of them have been shown to be effective in vivo. The lecture will cover the basic mechanism of the antitumor action of metal based drugs and the advantages and challenges in their biomedical application.

Introduction to Bibliometric analysis

Presentation with Chiara Bacchilega (University of Parma)

The course is designed to introduce Master and PhD students to advanced bibliometric analysis techniques. The course covers key tools such as VOSviewer, a software for building and visualizing bibliometric networks, and SciMAT, which focuses on science mapping and analyzing thematic evolution. Participants will learn how to conduct a systematic, transparent, and reproducible literature review, extract insights from large datasets, and visualize research trends. The course aims to equip students with practical skills in quantitative research, data-driven analysis, and the use of bibliometric software.

15:15 - 16:45 Uhr

Introduction to the meta-analysis

Presentation with Dr. Simone Aiolfi (University of Parma)

In this lecture an introduction to meta-analysis is provided, with a particular focus on its role in synthesizing empirical findings across management and social sciences research. The session will present an overview of the main stages of the meta-analysis process, including problem formulation, literature search, effect coding, analysis, and reporting. Additionally, practical applications will be discussed to illustrate how meta-analysis can contribute to advancing scientific knowledge in these fields.

11:00 - 12:30 Uhr

Secrets of nanotechnology application in drug delivery into tumor tissue - more than targeted therapy

Lecture with Dr. Sanja Mijatovic (University of Belgrade)

Despite significant technological advances and the accumulation of vast amounts of data on the genome, proteome, metabolism, and subcellular structures—enhanced by AI for processing and linking these extensive databases-diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune conditions continue to multiply. Most therapeutic approaches focus on managing disease progression and delaying complications, rather than offering a cure. These diseases often stem from prolonged disruptions in homeostasis, leading to the exhaustion of repair and control mechanisms, ultimately resulting in a breakdown of these systems when the disease becomes functionally apparent. This lecture will explore the challenges posed by malignant diseases by examining the phenomenon of malignant transformation and the behaviour of cancer cells, both individually and as part of a multicellular tumor entity that operates outside the control of the host organism, evolving from a treatable to an incurable state.