CALL FOR PAPERS

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference on Digital Transformation for Social Impacts and ESG Performance
July 31–August 1, 2025

Hanoi, Vietnam

In today’s rapidly changing world, digital transformation plays a critical role in enhancing social impact and enhancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. Organizations are increasingly using innovative technologies, like artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), to drive sustainable practices and address pressing social challenges. By utilizing data-driven insights, businesses can optimize their operations, reduce their carbon footprint, and promote ethical labor practices throughout their supply chains.

Furthermore, digital tools enable companies to engage more actively with their communities, allowing for tailored initiatives that address specific social issues. Ultimately, a strategic focus on digital transformation can lead to enhanced ESG performance, attracting socially conscious investors and improving overall corporate reputation.

In this global momentum toward ESG practices and technology development, there is a growing awareness of the necessity for countries and organizations to develop specific strategies to address pressing sustainability challenges. However, a gap remains in understanding ESG implementation in regions with distinct resource and technological constraints. This conference seeks to bridge that gap by emphasizing innovative ESG solutions, particularly for emerging countries.

Foreign Trade University (FTU) and Social Business Creation (SBC) are pleased to announce the Conference on Digital Transformation for Social Impacts and ESG Performance, to be held on July 31 – August 1, 2025, in Hanoi, Vietnam. This interdisciplinary academic conference seeks to promote research and foster dialogue regarding the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) challenges and opportunities arising from the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with a focus on actionable insights for fostering sustainable development.

The conference will feature keynote addresses by renowned experts in ESG and sustainable business, as well as workshops on refining research for publication in high-impact journals.

Publication Opportunities

Selected high-quality papers will be considered for publication in:

  • Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Scopus Q1) – Special Issue on “Digital Entrepreneurship for Social Impact”. (Link)
  • Journal of International Economics and Management (ACI) – Special Issue on “Digital Transformation, ESG Practices, and Economic Development in Emerging Markets”. (Link to be available soon)
  • Edited Volume – Digital Transformation for Social Impacts and ESG Performance, to be published by a reputable publisher recognized by the NAFOSTED Foundation.
  • Conference Proceedings – Available upon request.

Key Topics

Submissions for the Conference may address, but are not limited to:

  1. Circular economy practices in emerging markets.
  2. Assessing the scalability of circular economy models in industries such as textiles, agriculture, and construction.
  3. Social entrepreneurship and ESG integration.
  4. Examining how corporate leadership drives ESG adoption and performance in emerging market firms.
  5. ESG-driven innovation in emerging markets.
  6. How ESG initiatives inspire technological and business model innovations in emerging markets.
  7. AI and blockchain in ESG implementation.
  8. Examining the potential of AI and blockchain technologies to enhance ESG compliance and reporting in emerging markets.
  9. The role of ESG in bridging the digital divide.
  10. Investigating how ESG principles guide corporate efforts to reduce digital inequities.
  11. Innovative business models integrating ESG principles.
  12. The role of digital technology in enhancing ESG outcomes.

Keynote Speakers
Professor Léo-Paul Dana, Dalhousie University, Canada
Professor Norris F. Krueger – Entrepreneurship Northwest, USA
Professor Mai Thai – Director of the Social Business Creation, HEC Montreal, Canada

Dates and Deadlines

• Abstract Submission Deadline: May 30, 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: June 15, 2025
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: June 30, 2025
• Conference Dates: July 31 – August 1, 2025

* Full paper submission is required for authors seeking consideration in the Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Journal of International Economics and Management, or the Edited Volume

Submission Guidelines

Authors are invited to submit original research papers that have not been previously published. Extended abstracts ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 words (including references) with a maximum of 5 keywords should clearly address the following aspects of the study:

  1. A clear problem statement;
  2. An outlined theoretical framework;
  3. A description of the methodology employed;
  4. A comprehensive overview of the key findings;
  5. An assessment of originality, highlighting contributions to the literature or practical applications.

Submissions should be prepared using Microsoft Office, following these specifications:

  1. 12-point Times New Roman font
  2. 1.0 line spacing
  3. Harvard style formatting

All submissions are required to include the following information on a separate title page:

  1. Author(s)’ name(s) in intended order of authorship
  2. Author(s)’ position(s)
  3. Author(s)’ affiliation(s)
  4. Corresponding author’s contacts (email address, telephone number)
  5. Number of words

Submission Portal

Submit paper here: https://jiem.ftu.edu.vn/index.php/jiem/login?source=%2Findex.php%2Fjiem%2Fsubmission%2Fwizard

Registration Information

Conference Participation Timeline

• Early bird registration: June 15, 2025
• Regular registration: July 20, 2025

Conference Participation Fee

A participation fee of 100 USD or 2,600,000 VND will be applied to all accepted presenters and participants who attend the JIEM 2025 Conference. This fee helps cover the organization’s costs, conference materials, coffee breaks, and lunch.

However, we are committed to making the conference as inclusive and accessible as possible. Therefore, the Organizing Committee is pleased to offer fee waivers or discounts in the following cases:

🔹 Full Waiver

  • Authors and co-authors affiliated with Foreign Trade University (FTU)
  • Invited speakers, keynote speakers, and session chairs
  • Returning scholars who have contributed to previous editions of the JIEM (English Edition) as reviewers
  • Early-career researchers (within 5 years of PhD defense) with accepted papers, upon submission of a request and CV
  • Authors whose papers are selected for the Best Paper Award or Young Scholar Recognition
  • Participants from low-income or lower-middle-income countries (as classified by the World Bank), upon request

🔸 50% Discount (Fee = 50 USD)

  • Participants from partner institutions (with MOUs with FTU)
  • PhD students presenting accepted papers
  • Master’s students presenting accepted papers
  • Independent researchers with no institutional funding
  • Participants who register before May 30, 2025

🔸 Group Discounts

  • Groups of 2 or more participants from the same institution may request a group discount of 30%.
  • Supervisors bringing student participants may request a discounted package.

🔹 Other Discounts (Case-by-Case Basis)

Suppose you do not meet any of the above conditions, and you genuinely cannot afford the registration fee. In that case, the corresponding author should contact jiemconference@ftu.edu.vn immediately upon abstract submission to discuss your options.
Your ability to pay will not affect the peer review outcome. Requests will be assessed confidentially on a case-by-case basis by a dedicated team of the Organizing Committee, separate from the Scientific Committee, to ensure editorial independence.

Payment Method:

The participation fee should be paid via bank transfer. The details are as follows:

  • Account name: TRUONG DAI HOC NGOAI THUONG
  • Account number: 1122336789
  • Bank name: Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank)
  • Transfer Description: “Name of Participant”+ ESG conference fee

Registration Link: https://jiemconference.ftu.edu.vn/registration-online/

We look forward to your participation and contribution to the success of this event.

Contacts:

Ms. Nguyen Hoang Gia Linh: +84 354667099
Ms. Pham Hien Phuong: +84 962958455
Foreign Trade University
91 Chua Lang Str., Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website: https://jiemconference.ftu.edu.vn/
Email: jiemconference@ftu.edu.vn