24th Annual BMDA Conference
“The Necessity for the Resilience: Business–Academia Partnerships for Today and the Future”
The 24th Annual BMDA Conference connects business school leaders, researchers, and industry partners to turn cooperation into practical results. Participants will explore what companies expect from research, what universities need from business, and how to design partnerships that improve programme relevance, research impact, and graduate employability. Through dialogue and real cases of successful collaboration, the conference offers ideas participants can apply directly in their own institutions.
This year’s conference offers a unique multi-city experience across Lithuania and a joint pre-conference day organised with ISM University of Management and Economics and the Academy of Management (AOM).
Join decision-makers from international business schools and organisations to exchange ideas, develop partnerships, and discover practical collaboration models.
WHERE
Kaunas, Vilnius, Alytus
Lithuania
WHEN
May 20-22, 2026
Wednesday to Friday
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The BMDA Annual Conference is the central meeting of the Baltic Management Development Association community and an international platform for dialogue between higher education institutions and industry.
The 2026 conference focuses on resilience in business education — the ability of institutions to remain relevant impactful, and responsive to economic and societal change.
The programme examines how partnerships with business organisations, applied research, and international cooperation can be used to address practical challenges faced by business schools. Participants will discuss how to strengthen programme relevance, support graduate employability, and increase research impact in cooperation with industry and partner institutions.
Through interactive sessions, peer exchange, and company visits, participants will analyse real examples of collaboration and identify ideas they can apply directly within their own institutions.
WHY ATTEND
Business schools and management programmes are facing increasing expectations: ensuring graduate employability, demonstrating societal impact, maintaining research relevance, and responding to rapid technological change.
The BMDA 2026 Conference provides a practical platform to address these challenges.
By attending, participants will:
- learn practical models of cooperation between universities and companies
- explore approaches to strengthen programme relevance and student employability
- understand how research can create measurable impact
- gain ideas for international and institutional partnerships
- exchange experience with leaders of business schools from multiple countries
- support the professional development of early-career academics
- identify collaboration opportunities for joint projects and initiatives
The conference is designed not only as a forum for discussion, but as a working environment where participants can develop ideas applicable in their own institutions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Primary participants
- Deans and Vice-Deans of business schools
- Programme Directors and Study Programme Managers
- Heads of Departments and academic leaders
Also relevant for
- Faculty researchers
- PhD students and early-career academics
- Corporate partners cooperating with higher education institutions
- Organisations supporting higher education and innovation ecosystems
The conference traditionally gathers participants from 13–17 countries, creating a diverse international network and partnership opportunities.
CONFERENCE STRUCTURE
A Three-Day Collaborative Experience
Day 1 — Pre-Conference (Vilnius)
Co-hosted with ISM and the Academy of Management Participants may choose one of three specialized streams:
Stream 1 – Publications for Impact
Improving research visibility, relevance, and practical influence.
Stream 2 – Academic Career Pathways for Young Academics
Mentoring, career development, and academic progression.
Stream 3 – Academia and Business Partnerships
Practical approaches to collaboration with industry.
The day concludes with an informal networking gathering.
Day 2 — Main Conference (Kaunas, 21 May)
Official opening of the BMDA Conference.
Programm includes:
- keynote presentations
- panel discussions
- real case studies
- peer exchange sessions
- community discussions
Evening: BMDA Awards Gala Dinner — celebration of achievements within the BMDA community and an opportunity for informal networking.
Day 3 — IMMERSION & INSPIRATION (Alytus, 22 May)
Real-World Collaboration in Action
Participants will visit organisations and observe practical examples of cooperation between education institutions and business. The visits demonstrate how partnerships support applied learning, research relevance, and regional development.
FEES
Participation fee 450 Eur (for BMDA members)
Paticipation fee 550 Eur (non BMDA members)
Late participation fee (from May 1, 2016) 550 Eur (for BMDA members)
Late participation fee (from May 1, 2026) 650 Eur (non BMDA members)
NETWORKING & COMMUNITY
The BMDA Conference is designed as a community-building event.
Participants will have opportunities to:
- meet leaders of international business schools
- exchange institutional practices
- initiate joint programmes and projects
- explore research collaborations
- connect with corporate partners
Networking activities include:
- welcome interactions during the pre-conference day
- informal discussions and roundtables
- BMDA Awards Gala Dinner
- company visits and group activities
PROFESSIONAL & INSTITUTIONAL BENEFITS
Participation supports both individual professional development and institutional advancement.
For participants
- professional networking
- exposure to international practices
- mentoring and academic development
- exchange of teaching and research experience
For institutions
- development of international partnerships
- benchmarking against peer institutions
- improved industry engagement
- strengthened research relevance and visibility
- ideas for programme development and employability initiatives
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Pre-Conference Meeting – May 20
The pre-conference day (May 20) will take place at:
ISM University of Management and Economics
Gedimino pr. 7, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania
All conference participants are invited to meet at this venue for the pre-conference activities.
Transportation to Kaunas
After the pre-conference program, transportation will be organized for all registered participants from Vilnius to Kaunas, where the main part of the conference will take place.
Conference organizers will provide a group transfer from ISM University of Management and Economics to Kaunas immediately after the pre-conference activities.
Recommended Hotels in Vilnius (Optional)
If you plan to arrive in Lithuania earlier than the pre-conference day and would like to spend some time in Vilnius, the pre-conference host recommends the following hotels:
Amberton Cathedral Square Hotel
https://ambertonhotels.com/vilnius/
Novotel Vilnius Centre
https://all.accor.com/hotel/5209/index.en.shtml
Main Conference
Participants are kindly asked to book their accommodation in Kaunas, where the main conference sessions will be held.
The official shuttle pick-up and drop-off point for conference transportation during the event will be:
Park Inn by Radisson Kaunas
K. Donelaičio g. 27, LT-44240 Kaunas, Lithuania
The recommended hotels listed below are located approximately 5–10 minutes walking distance from Park Inn, making them convenient for daily conference transportation.
Recommended Hotels in Kaunas
Moxy Kaunas Center
Kauno kolegija has partnered with Moxy Hotel Kaunas to offer special discounted rates for conference guests.
To book a room, please email: reservations@moxykaunas.com
In your email, please mention the “Kauno kolegija rate.”
The discounted price applies to single and double rooms including breakfast.
Park Inn by Radisson Kaunas
Booking link: https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/destination/lithuania/kaunas
BEST BALTIC Kaunas
Booking link: https://www.booking.com/hotel/lt/daniela.lt.html
Kaunas City Hotel
Booking link: https://www.booking.com/hotel/lt/kaunas-city.lt.html
Kaunas Hotel
Booking link: https://www.booking.com/hotel/lt/kaunas.lt.html
SPEAKERS
Prof. Dipak C. Jain
President Emeritus, Professor of Marketing at CEIBS, Co-Director of CEIBS Social Security and Aging Finance Institute, USA
Prof. Peter Bamberger
Chair in Organization and Management at Coller School of Management (Tel Aviv University), Director of Research at Smithers Institute (Cornell University ILR School). Past President, Academy of Management (USA)
Prof. Vita Akstinaite
Vice-Rector for Research and Faculty at the ISM University of Management and Economics, Lithuania
Practice Professor Dr. Dalius Misiūnas
President of ISM University of Management and Economics, Lithuania
Dr. Pijus Krūminas
Head of Wargaming Lab, ISM University of Management and Economics, Lithuania
Dr. Virginijus Kundrotas
Managing director of Adizes Institute Lithuania and Dean of Adizes Academy for Organizational Health, USA (Lithuania/USA)
Prof. Sherif H. Kamel
Dean of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo, Egypt
Mr. Paulius Insoda
CEO of the leading German-Lithuanian IT software company NFQ Technologies, Lithuania
Dr. Andrius Brusokas
Director at Kauno Kolegija, Lithuania
Prof. Dr. Achim Förster
Vice President of Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS), Germany
Prof. Iryna Tykhomyrova
President of BMDA, President of MIM Business School, Ukraine
Assoc. Prof. Olga Štangej
Executive Master of Management Study Programme Director and Head of Organizational Resilience Module of ISM University of Management and Economics (Lithuania)
Dr. Ralf Dillerup
Head of Department at Heilbronn University Graduate School (Germany)
Ms. Irina Burns
Global Manager, Community Accelerator Program; Senior Managing Editor at Academy of Management (USA)
Dr. Matthew Cronin
Professor of management at George Mason University (USA)
Mr. Tautvydas Cinelis
CEO of „Kika Group” (Lithuania)
Dr. Inga Stravinskiene
Deputy Director for Research and Organizational Development, Kauno kolegija higher education institution (Lithuania)
Mr. Ruslan Kozhakhmetov
Vice President at Almaty Management University, Almaty, (Kazakhstan)
Dr. Tessa Renkers
Program Manager Dutch Innovation Factory, The Hague University of Applied Sciences -THUAS, (The Netherlands)
Prof. Irene Henriques
Professor of Business Economics & Policy and Area Coordinator of Business Economics and Policy at the Schulich School of Business, York University (Canada)
Mr. Kalle Volkov
Head of Engineering at Iute Group, programme head at Estonian Business School -EBS,(Estonia)
Prof. Eileen McAuliffe
Executive Vice President, Chief Thought Leadership Officer and EMEA (the Netherlands)