The first oikos UNDP Young Scholars Development Academy provided PhD students and young scholars working on poverty and sustainable development from a management or economics perspective a platform to present and discuss their ongoing research projects with fellow students and senior faculty.

Research on inclusive business models, market development and sustainability at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) is a promising and challenging field for young researchers and PhD students. It calls for a multitude of methods, combination of disciplines in management and economics and new research designs like experimental development economics. The topic selected, Growing Inclusive Markets, aimed to attract papers fostering new ideas and solutions with regard to how businesses, governments and other stakeholders can build markets that include the poor and create opportunities for human development that actively take into account environmental and social resources and limits. The event aimed to advance academic research on the Base of the Pyramid (BoP), development and governance issues, build networks across disciplinary boundaries and to prepare the ground for research that is relevant for both academic and business audiences.

Programme

The programme encompassed graduate student presentations, guest lectures, professional development roundtables and social events. Feedback was given by fellow students and three internationally well-reputed researchers:

Jonathan P. Doh, Villanova School of Business, USA
Ashok Som, ESSEC Business School, France
Ana-Maria Peredo, U. Victoria, Canada

Participants had the opportunity to apply their insights and skills in a practitioner day with responAbility Social Investments Ltd., Zürich, Switzerland.

Application

To allow in-depth discussions the oikos UNDP Young Scholars Development Academy is always limited to 15 PhD students and young scholars working on poverty and development from a management or economics perspective. The fee is CHF 400. The oikos Foundation for Economy and Ecology will cover the total cost of accommodation, food and excursions.

Please submit, by 15 September 2009, the following documents in electronic form:

a proposal abstract of max. 2-3 pages,
a short curriculum vitae and
a letter of interest in the oikos UNDP Young Scholars Development Academy

Applications must be received no later than September 15, 2009 at development @oikos-international.org.

All applicants will be notified by September 30, 2009.
Final papers must be received for circulation to academy participants by October 15, 2009.

UNDP GIM Travel Grant

With the kind support of UNDP’s Growing Inclusive Markets initiative, three grants (travel, fee and accommodation) are available for outstanding young scholars from developing countries.