02 June, 2021

This year Munster Technological University hosted the Irish Accounting and Finance Association (IAFA) Doctoral Colloquium and 33rd Annual Conference from 12th to 14th of May, 2021.

Both events, spanning three days, were held online, under the guidance Dr Ruth Vance-Lee and Sylvia Dempsey, from the Department of Accounting and Information Systems at MTU, who have been involved with the IAFA for many years. Professor Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, opened proceedings with a welcome address and expressed her delight at MTU’s selection as this year’s host.

The Annual Conference and Doctoral Colloquium provide incredible opportunities to bring academics in the field of accounting together to present, discuss and evaluate important research. By hosting the event online for 2021, Munster Technological University opened attendance to a larger audience than in previous years.

The Doctoral Colloquium, held on the 12th of May, provided students at all stages of research with the opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from academics in their field. On the day, 24 PhD students presented their work to 15 different facilitators from the research community and were eligible to enter the Masters/Doctoral Research Funding Competition. This competition, with a  prize fund of up to €5,000, was open to all registered IAFA members undertaking research towards a Masters' or Doctoral qualification.

The IAFA Conference, held from the 13th – 14th , featured an impressive line-up of guests and speakers. Empirical, theoretical and review papers in areas of accounting, finance, taxation, and governance were presented at the conference to over 150 registered delegates. The conference also saw the launch of the first online version of the Accounting, Finance and Governance Review Journal.

Keynote speaker Professor John Burns from the University of Exeter Business School presented an early-stage consideration of the inter-connections between accounting, accounts and accountability, and the importance of underpinning values. His paper entitled “Further thoughts on accounting as beyond technical, instrumental activity” mirrors Professor Burns’ main interest in the use and consequences of accounting, accounts and accountability in organisations and society.

Other speakers at the events included Professor Christopher Humphrey from the Alliance Manchester Business School and Professor Giovanna Michelon from the University of Bristol.

Event organiser Dr Ruth Vance-Lee spoke about the support the accounting department received from colleagues and staff at MTU, contributing to the smooth running of the event: “We are delighted with how the event went and even more than that we are overwhelmed with the help and support from our colleagues in MTU. Approx. 50 staff made significant contributions to the running of the IAFA conference. They volunteered for zoom room security, session chairs, presenting papers, IT support and set up and lots more. MTU has been commended on so many levels since the conference on such a fabulous event driven by an obvious community spirit.”

You can read more on the conference at the IAFA website here.

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