1. Education

The Unicaf University Graduate Conference (UGraC) is an annual postgraduate conference established in 2021. It aims at providing the opportunity to Unicaf University Doctoral students and candidates to present their preliminary research results, attend fellow students’ doctoral presentations, attend workshops and participate in interesting discussion sessions.

All Unicaf University doctoral students and candidates can participate in the conference. The event includes poster and oral presentations presented by the doctoral students as well as plenary presentations and workshops presented and delivered by faculty members.

2. Conferences

a. 2021

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first online Unicaf University Graduate Conference. This serves as the premier event for our academic conference calendar and is spread over two days, featuring five parallel sessions, and further complemented by two plenary discussions.

Overall, our conference features an eclectic array of 38 oral presentations and 16 posters being presented by a multilingual and multinational group of doctoral candidates from all Unicaf University campuses. The presenters are all doctoral candidates currently working towards the completion of their doctoral dissertation.

Conference proceedings will open on Day one, with a brief welcome address by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Innovation) Anthony Brogden-Ward, and conclude with a brief closing address by the Vice-Chancellor of Unicaf University in Malawi, Dr Robert Ridley, at the end of Day two. It is with great pleasure to see that the candidates’ presentations, abstracts featured in this publication, are accompanied by two plenary discussions. The first plenary presentation is by our Unicaf University Zambia Vice Chancellor, Dr Christine Phiri Mushibwe. She will present on ‘The conundrum of research and its endless misconceptions and interpretations’ during Day one of the conference. This plenary presentation will be followed, on Day two, by Dr Attridge Mwelwa’s presentation on the ‘Preparedness of trade unions in Zambia amidst Covid-19’ who is a Unicaf University in Zambia Faculty member.

Following the main conference proceedings, a separate event will be held during which we will announce the winners of the “Best Presentation / Best Poster” competition, from among the conference participants.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the Conference Committee for all their work and dedication towards organising this event, as well as all other colleagues who actively assisted and supported this important University initiative.

On my behalf, as well as all colleagues we trust you thoroughly enjoyed participating in this year’s conference and hope to see you at the next one.

Dr Vassias Vassiliades, PhD, FHEA, MAUA

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Federal)

Unicaf University

Unicaf University Graduate Conference Abstract Booklet & Programme 2021 (attached)

Organising Committee

• Dr Elena Papadopoulou
• Dr Olga Novokhatskaya

Scientific Committee

• Dr Elena Papadopoulou
• Dr Olga Novokhatskaya
• Dr Antonia Kakoulli
• Dr Florentia Antoniou

Editorial Committee

• Dr Florentia Antoniou
• Mrs Lyda Eleftheriou (PhD candidate)
• Mrs Georgia Sakka Vronti (PhD Candidate)
• Mr Costas Kallides

b. 2022

On behalf of Dr Nicos Nicolaou, Unicaf CEO/Founder, and Dr Kevin Andrews, Vice Chancellor (Federal)/Chief Academic Officer, I would like to welcome you to the Second Annual Online Unicaf University Graduate Conference (UGraC).

Building on the successes of last year, this year’s Conference offers a platform for Unicaf University’s doctoral candidates to showcase their ideas over a five-day programme. Contemporary areas of thought in business, education, accounting & finance offer fresh perspectives from many regions around the world, including East, West and Southern Africa. From food to social media, banking to natural disasters, education to human resources management, the Conference has a great to offer on emerging themes in theory and practice.

We are delighted to have several of Unicaf’ s senior academic team contributing to discussions, many of which will be leading the plenary sessions. Of note, Dr Elena Papadopoulou, Dean of the Doctoral School and organiser of the UGraC, will act as the Conference’s chair and also lead plenary and workshop sessions. Dr Robert Ridley, the Vice Chancellor in Malawi and a world-renowned researcher, will also lead plenary sessions and actively engage with candidates throughout the five-day programme.

To all those candidates presenting, I trust that you will embrace this opportunity to test your ideas on like-minded critical friends and reflect on their feedback to develop your research and draw strength from peer-reviewers’ comments.

I commend this Conference to you and look forward to interacting with you throughout the programme.

Dr Anthony Brogden-Ward

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Innovation) (Federal)

The UGraC Organizing Committee

• Dr Elena Papadopoulou
• Dr Olga Novokhatskaya
• Mrs Eleni Stylianou

Scientific Committee

• Dr Elena Papadopoulou
• Dr Olga Novokhatskaya
• Dr Georgia Sakka Vronti
• Dr Ioanna Theotokatou
• Dr Kyrillos Nicolaou
• Doctoral Candidate Christiana Stylianou

Editing Committee

• Dr Olga Novokhatskaya
• Mrs Eleni Stylianou

Unicaf University Graduate Conference Abstract Booklet & Programme 2022 (attached)

c. 2023

Invitation for Participation 

Unicaf University invites all Unicaf Doctoral students to participate in the Third Annual Online Unicaf University Graduate Conference (UGraC) which will be held online, on March 13^th-17^th, 2023

The conference aims to provide the opportunity for Unicaf University Doctoral students and candidates to present their preliminary results, attend fellow students’ presentations and participate in the discussion sessions.

You are invited to participate in the conference with an oral or poster presentation. Please complete the registration form and submit your abstract latest by September 5^th, 2022*.

The authors of the selected abstracts will be given the opportunity to present their research in a 20-min oral presentation or poster presentation, including a poster pitch (5 min). Priority will be given to students who are registered in dissertation stage three and four.

Following the conference, selected abstracts will be invited for publication online through the UNICAF Graduate Student Papers (UGraSP). Papers are published following the conference by the end of the year (2023). All submissions will be reviewed prior to publication.

Abstracts Submissions:

Please complete the registration form and submit your abstract latest by September 5^th, 2022*.

1. The title should be as brief as possible but long enough to indicate clearly the nature of the study. Capitalize the first letter of the first word ONLY (place names excluded). No full stop at the end.
2. Abstracts should state briefly and clearly the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions of the work.
   •    Introduction: Clearly state the purpose of the abstract
   •    Methods: Describe your selection of observations or experimental subjects clearly
   •    Results: Present your results in a logical sequence in text, tables, and illustrations
   •    Discussion: Emphasize new and important aspects of the study and conclusions that are drawn from them.

All authors will be notified via e-mail by November 4^th, 2022 of their abstract’s acceptance status.

We are looking forward to meeting you at the Third Annual Online Unicaf University Graduate Conference!

Please contact the UGraC Committee at: doctoral.studies-aa@unicaf.org for further information.