University of Aberdeen Business School Hosts 2026 PGR Annual Conference
The University of Aberdeen Business School hosted its 2026 Postgraduate Research (PGR) Annual Conference on 15 April, bringing together over 60 participants, including more than 40 doctoral researchers and 20 faculty members across five academic disciplines.
Structured around seven parallel sessions, the conference showcased a wide range of research addressing contemporary challenges in business and management. The event reflects the School’s growing strength as a vibrant, multidisciplinary research environment with a clear focus on high-quality academic output.
The conference was opened by Professor John Skåtun, Dean of the Business School, who highlighted the central role of doctoral researchers in shaping the School’s research future.
Professor Jie Wu, Director of Postgraduate Research, set the academic tone by emphasising the importance of positioning doctoral work within the core debates of each field. Drawing on extensive editorial and publication experience in leading international journals, he underscored the School’s commitment to supporting PhD researchers in developing work that not only meets the standards of top-tier journals but actively contributes to and advances scholarly conversations. As he noted, “Our aim is to support doctoral researchers in producing work that is not only rigorous, but also relevant and impactful within the global academic community.”
A dedicated session on research innovation and interdisciplinary thinking, led by Dr John Lamb and Dr Weihao Han, provided practical guidance on how to develop research with strong publication potential.
Throughout the day, faculty members and independent assessors engaged closely with presenters, offering structured, in-depth feedback on research design, theoretical positioning, and publication strategy. In several cases, discussions focused explicitly on how individual projects could be further developed towards submission to leading academic journals, giving doctoral researchers clear and actionable direction for the next stage of their work.
The 2026 PGR Annual Conference highlights the School’s strategic commitment to doctoral training that is both intellectually rigorous and internationally oriented. By fostering a research culture grounded in critical engagement, methodological excellence, and scholarly ambition, the School continues to strengthen its position as a hub for high-quality doctoral research with global relevance.