Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in Arab Countries

This track will focus on papers that directly deal with issues relating to accounting, banking and finance. Contribution may be based on theoretical, empirical or case study analysis, with implications for sustaining and improving global competitiveness in both private and public organisations.

This track includes papers dealing with topics as diverse as appropriate to Aerospace and Aviation industry. These include technology development, industrial applications, environmental issues, aviation management and related topics. It will cover knowledge generation, application, dissemination, plus related issues arising from civil society and hybrid organisations, on such matters as development, intellectual property rights, investment and educational policy. Original contributions from members of the academia, industry, the public and the private sectors, would be sought. Papers with a critical perspective are especially encouraged, as are contributions from those whose “local knowledge” can stimulate thinking around the world.

The track welcomes contribution in all areas of agricultural science and technology transfer, adoption and impact analysis. Papers on the following topics will be considered: Sustainable management of the natural resource base; Animal health, food safety and post harvest; Biotechnology; Identification of crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry practices suitable for disaster prone areas; Underutilized crops plant species and commodities; Climate change and agriculture; Production systems; Impact of using gender analysis in technology development and transfer; Agriculture and health; Organic agriculture; Experience in participatory technology development and transfer; and Agricultural research and poverty reduction.

This track welcomes contribution in all areas of animal research and veterinary medicine. Papers focusing on animal health, livestock, etc will be considered.

This track will focus on papers which directly address current issues in in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation management and related topics. It offers an interface between entrepreneurship and domains of innovation, as well as Benchmarking, R&D evaluation and Technology Road-mapping and governmental economic development. Additionally, it considers business incubators best practices and outcomes worldwide such as smart employment growth, technology transfer and commercialization. The track also welcomes papers that are strongly empirical and apply rigorous statistical and econometric techniques to good quality macro and microeconomic data.

The backbone of a discipline is a critical engagement with the literature of that discipline. By contributing to the Book Review section, WASD will show the seriousness of its intellectual engagement in issues at the core of WASD. Reviews are therefore invited that will stimulate readers not only to read the relevant texts, but also to act as a vehicle for disseminating current knowledge.

This track will focus on papers which address issues such as: Economics, finance, management, marketing, and planning; Economy and marketing agricultural products; Management of agricultural enterprises; Management of golf courses; and Appraisal of environmental and agricultural issues.

This track welcomes papers in all areas of change management which address issues such as:

• What the change is?
• Why is the change important?
• What are the reasons for change?
• What are the processes to undertake for successful change management?
• What are the intended benefits?
• How and when to communicate change?
• What are the risks associated with not managing the change?

This research track includes papers that treat with different dimensions of population dynamics and their past and prospective impacts upon variations in living standards and the attainment of sustainable development in developing countries. It seeks papers that draw on demographic insights which emphasize the impact of population dynamics on national and regional development outcomes. Prospective panellists are encouraged to submit abstracts of papers addressing the impact of changing population structures predicated upon factors such as age, ethnicity, human capital and nativity in the context of implications for enhancing national and regional development outcomes. Moreover, the implications of changes in fertility behaviour, mortality trends and migratory patterns have profound implications in determining the fate of human populations in national and regional contexts. As such, prospective panellists are also encouraged to submit abstracts of papers that focus on such themes.

The primary focus here is the effects of climate change and the socio-economic and political implications for environmentally sustainable development. The challenge of mitigating anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions which cause climate change is inextricably linked to the challenges of sustainable development and environmental sustainability. Humanity’s pursuit of development and progress is now in conflict with the limitations of our planet’s “carrying capacity”. Indeed climate change is now a central topic of concern in multilateral fora, as evidenced by its centrality in the recently held UN General Assembly. As such, prospective panellists are encouraged to submit abstracts of papers that focus on such themes as climate change, environmental sustainability, the environment and development, trade and the environment and sustainable development.

This research track is concerned with exploring and deconstructing analytical frames that guide cultural development, including praxis that can inform deeper understanding of culture as an integral part of development. While there is much to suggest that culture plays a significant role in human progress and development, the treatment of culture largely remains disconnected from the overall agenda on development. Papers under this research track ought to consider the relevance of culture to the burgeoning creative economy, global trade, intellectual property wealth, and sustainable development. Prospective presenters are invited to submit abstracts for papers focusing on creativity, innovation and development; culture and IPRS – challenges and prospects for national development in the digital era; cultural industries and global trade; culture and the diaspora as a nexus for development; cultural policy and national development; and culture as an agent of sustainable development.

This track will examine the strategic opportunities from diasporic tourism and investment (the travel and tourism impact of diasporic communities). Under examination will be the challenges associated with this sub sector of DCs tourism, and the potential wider impact on the DCs economy in terms of employment growth, foreign exchange earnings and the distribution of income. Recommendations will be explored on how local and diasporic enterprises and agencies can enhance diasporic tourism through ICTs and thereby expand market share in the sector. The track will also examine the strategic opportunities for DCs from brain circulation – the return migration and/or investment of professionals and other skilled labour. The track will assess the existing and potential impact of brain circulation on the DCs economy and identify some of the challenges associated with facilitating the return of skilled resources and/or facilitating their investment. Recommendations will also be explored on how source country governments, enterprises and agencies can exploit the benefits of brain circulation and ensure increased access to needed skills.

This track will focus on papers which directly address current issues in economic development, applied analyses of economic and financial issues including growth, trade, IMF and World Bank policies, financial liberalisation and matters which straddle both economic and finance problems relating to sustainable development. The track also welcomes papers that are strongly empirical and apply rigorous statistical and econometric techniques to good quality macro and microeconomic data.

This track will focus on papers, which directly address current issues on eco-tourism and sustainable tourism practices and principles. It will provide knowledge on how tourism development can directly contribute to environmental sustainability and conservation of natural ecosystems. Its policy-oriented research will also focus on eco-tourism as a tool for poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation, as well as socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices. This track welcomes articles and book reviews as well. Contributions to this track could be based on empirical, field studies or case studies. Papers covering theoretical and empirical issues on the following topics will be considered: Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability; Sustainable Travel &Tourism: The Tour Operators’ Contribution; Managing Environmental and Social Issues; Renewable Energy Opportunities in the Tourism Industry; Water and Waste Management in the tourism industry; Tourism, Biodiversity and Conservation Management; Industry as a Partner for Sustainable Development; Ecolabels in the Tourism Industry; Environmental Codes of Conduct for Tourism; Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas; Improving Coastal and Marine resources Environment; Development of National Parks and Protected Areas for Tourism.

Includes papers dealing with topics as diverse as the employment or labour market effects on different groups of the application of alternative technologies, and/or entrepreneurship organizational changes etc at national, local or firm levels. Papers may cover theoretical and applied issues, leading to clear improvements in knowledge and/or policy prescriptions. Contributions from those whose “local knowledge” can stimulate thinking around the world are welcomed. Papers for this track are welcome that contextualise HR within a sustainable development context. Although all papers are welcome, however, in line with the theme of the conference contributors are encouraged to consider issues, for example, such as the impact of Climate Change, Environment, Energy on:

• the restructuring of the labour force profile – the development of new positions, job redundancy, job restructuring etc
• unemployment relating to the theme
• the restructuring of organisations and work
• employment in the small and medium size business sector – a way to address the new changes and challenges
• migration
• developments in information technology relating to HR

This track includes papers focus on Industrial Engineering; Engineering Design; Town Planning; Transportation; Electricity Generation & Distribution; Satellites; Remote Sensing; Aerospace and Aviation Technologies. These include technology development, industrial applications, environmental issues, aviation management and related topics. It will cover knowledge generation, application, dissemination, plus related issues arising from civil society and hybrid organisations, on such matters as development, intellectual property rights, investment and educational policy. Original contributions from members of the academia, industry, the public and the private sectors, would be sought. Papers with a critical perspective are especially encouraged, as are contributions from those whose “local knowledge” can stimulate thinking around the world. The track also includes papers covering both conceptual and applied studies of the technological and socio-cultural issues and impacts of specific modes of transportation as well as the integration of different modes of tranportation to form efficient, multimodal transportation networks. Special emphasis will be given to papers focusing on the development and sustainability of transportation systems and networks.

This track will focus on papers address issues related to environment and development, green productivity and impact of development on environment from economics, management and environmental perspectives. The track welcomes empirical and policy papers connected to environment and development.

This track welcomes contribution in all areas with diverse topics of environmental engineering and management including papers in the areas of wastewater treatment, management, recovery, reuse as well as solid waste managements, disposal, recycling and the role of community in promoting recycling activities. Moreover, environmental awareness and regulations that lead to proper managements of waste, resulting in the protection of environment, heath and sustainable developments are all important. Case studies in developing countries in addition to successful ones of developed countries to properly manage environmental problems leading to dissemination of information and technology transfer in global basis are also encouraged. Environmental impact assessment, industrial pollution reduction and the use of renewable energy as an alternative for pollution reduction are important factors nowadays.

This track will focus on food science, nutrition and public health. Topics covered include: impact of nutritional science on food product development; nutritional implications of food processing; food safety, hygiene and control; bioavailability of nutrients; nutritional quality of novel foods; food-nutrient interactions; use of biotechnology in food science/nutrition; food acceptability and dietary selection; nutritional and physiological aspects of food; dietary requirements and nutritive value of food; nutritional epidemiology studies relating nutrition to health or disease risk; evaluation of effectiveness of intervention studies aimed at improving health; role of nutrition in high risk and vulnerable groups; development of research methods, validation of measures, calibration; population based research related to primary prevention of illness; nutritional biochemistry and metabolism; nutrient requirements in health and disease; digestion and absorption of foods; nutritional anthropology and epidemiology; the influence of socioeconomic, cultural and political factors on nutrition of the individual and the community; the impact of nutrient intake on disease response, work performance and behaviour; the consequences of nutritional deficiency on growth and development, endocrines, nervous system and immunity; food intolerance and allergy; nutrient drug interactions; nutrition and aging; nutrition and cancer; obesity; intervention programs; Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT); Scope/ Standards of dietetics practice; Quality managment in nutrition & dietetics practice; Nutrition care process; code of ethics for the profession of dietetics; nutrition & dietetics services and practice; nutrition informatics.

This track will focus on papers which directly addresses current issues on food security and indigenous development. It will provide knowledge on how advances in technological innovations in information and communications technologies have contributed to food security and advancement in indigenous development, especially in narrowing the digital divide between by addressing needs of the most disadvantaged communities in developing countries.

This track will focus on the role of communities and voluntary organizations within the Diaspora in the development of future cultural programming. Do such organizations have a role to play in developing trends within the Diaspora? How can they shape future trends within the Diaspora? How can they help in promoting greater cultural participation within the Diasporic thematic context outlined above? How will they enable experimentation and social change within the cultural milieu of Diasporic contestations? What are some of the future challenges such organizations are likely to face in developing perspectives that encompass pluralism and diversity as major characteristics in Diasporic societies? What is the future role of religion and spirituality in Diasporic Culture? Does religious conversion have an impact on cultural practices in the Diaspora?

As the ‘subprime’ crisis of 2007 mutated into a full-blown global emergency, characterised by widespread – and co-ordinated – recessions, massive and unprecedented public investments to stave off collapse of industry, and soaring commodity-price inflation which had debilitating impacts in much of the poorer parts of the world, many thinkers began to question whether Neoliberalism had finally reached its nadir. However, by late 2009, as bankers in the developed-world begin to enjoy the return of their notorious bonuses, the way the crisis has been constructed intellectually by many neoliberal gatekeepers reflects a very different reality. The purpose, therefore, of papers in this track, is to explore the ways in which the crisis has been constructed, what it means for Neoliberalism in either theory or practice, and what the future (if, indeed, one exists) of a post-Neoliberal development theory might look like.

The current financial, economic and ecological crisis is not just a blip on the curve of what would otherwise be described as business as usual. The current crisis relates to the fact that the global economy has been in a phase of massive structural changes, with a myriad of imbalances (e.g. global warming, credit crunches, housing and technology bubbles, rising trade deficits, decline of the US$ as the world reserve currency). Economic historians suggest that the contemporary challenges are similar to the systemic transformations that accompanied the economic crises of the 1820s, 1870s, and the 1930s. However, periods of crisis are not bad for everyone or every place. The countries that have been able to expand their share of global value–added are those that have been able to amass the requisite human and technological resources to capture market shares in new leading sectors. What is the appropriate innovation and technology governance strategy for small and developing economies in the emerging global economy? Which countries and sectors are the winners and losers and from where will the new sources of world demand and consumption come are some of the key questions that this panel aims to address.

This track will explore the range of legacies and historical experiences that continue to shape host communities across the world for the Diaspora. It would consider issues such as religio-cultural beliefs and practices; cultural and economic traditions; Language as a vehicle for the transmission of culture; cultural diversity, ethnicity and nationalism; and adaptations, assimilations and synthesization of culture in the host country.

This track includes papers covering a broad spectrum of diverse topics in the fields of information technology and e-commerce, including the technological pace of change, the impact of technology, technological developments, e-commerce and dotcom on marketing, management and communication in businesses, innovative information technology research, interconnectiveness, database marketing, online marketing and marketing in the electronic age, to mention a few. Papers with critical theoretical perspectives and/or research and development in these areas are encouraged. The track will also focus on papers deal with matters linked to ICT, Human Capital and Development, Knowledge economy, knowledge management and issues related ICT and human capital role in development. The track welcomes empirical, theoretical and policy papers connected to ICT, Human Capital.

The global financial crisis has affected credit flows towards various groups of firms to different degrees, depending on their size, location and riskiness. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) continued innovation is critical for survival, in such a context, SMEs are particularly vulnerable to the availability of capital capacity. Papers in the areas within context are welcome, some areas for consideration are:

• impact of the global financial crisis on SME sustainability
• innovation risk and SME sustainability
• qualitative and quantitative models of sustainability in dealing with SME financial distress
• SME Risk Management

This track includes theoretical and applied papers that present clear and sound theoretical, qualitative and quantitative assessment, evaluation of existing models, or suggest new models that discuss appropriateness or barriers and problems of International business and trade. This track will further include papers dealing with topics as diverse as appropriate Foreign entry, networking, international business and technology, industrial ecology, globalization, global marketing and management, cultural across countries, culture and managerial skills, country business attractiveness, the democratic management of international business, international innovation, technology transfer, international economical, technological, legal, juridical, social, political and ecological factors impacting international business and trade. business- Government Relations and Business ethnic and ethics.

This track includes papers dealing with topics relating policy and conceptual contributions that link science, technology and sustainable development with poverty reduction and the 2015 targets, inequality and economic growth in developing countries. Papers with a critical perspective are especially encouraged, as are contributions from researchers and scholars in the South.

This track welcomes contributions in all areas of marketing: Operations (4 P’s), strategy, research, private or business consumer behaviour, segmentation, marketing management and control etc. Contributions should be capable of increasing knowledge of the nature and role of marketing, particularly the potential application of marketing approach to current problems of economic development and poverty alleviation, as well as improve the practice of marketing in business organisations. Review articles or book reviews are also welcome. Contributions to this track could be based on empirical, field studies or theoretical or conceptual analysis.

Includes applied papers that present clear and sound quantitative assessment, evaluation of existing models, or suggest new models that discuss appropriateness or barriers and problems of technology transfer within an urban and rural development context. The tools to be utilized in the analysis include statistical and mathematical modeling techniques and other quantitative methods. Papers may cover a variety of issues in sustainable development and technology transfer. These include (but are not limited to):

1. Use of Operations Research, optimization and linear programming in issues such as resource allocation, performance and technology measurement, and technology adoption constraints.
2. Use of demographic techniques in assessing the growing role of demographic issues in human resources development, particularly in transition economies.
3. Modeling the impact of finance and investments on technology, the impact of epidemic and chronic problems on development.

The track includes papers related to the development of strategies for management of health and disease. Emphasis will be given to the topics like development of health policies for developing countries, biotechnological revolution in the current century, research on vaccine development, etc.

This track includes papers covering a broad spectrum of diverse topics in the fields of information technology and e-commerce, including the technological pace of change, the impact of technology, technological developments, e-commerce and dotcom on marketing, management and communication in businesses, innovative information technology research, interconnectiveness, database marketing, online marketing and marketing in the electronic age, to mention a few. Papers with critical theoretical perspectives and/or research and development in these areas are encouraged.

The global system in the 21st century has more state & non-state actors who face more global issues than ever before. Hence the proliferation of regions as different actors attempt to garner support from neighbouring networks. Today, the goals and focus of regionalism have expanded to include not only economic, political, security, and social issues, but also the private sector and non-state actors in their activities. The ‘new’ regionalism approach to analysis & practice recognises non-state & non-formal even illegal transboundary relationships; involve river valleys & energy pipelines as well as drugs & guns, people & animals; include EPZs, triangles & corridors; and can also stretch to inter-regionalisms as in EU’s EPAs & ASEM. While the meaning of new regionalism may refer to a variety of approaches and theories, underpinning it are numerous interrelated dynamics: a stronger construction among geographically contiguous states of their collective identity as cohesive regions; greater political intent by leaders to foster consolidation; and the perceived need to strengthen regional blocs as a means to integrate more effectively into the globalizing world economy. Thus, new regionalism is characterized by two features:
a) it exceeds the framework of the nation-state and projects the regions in a competitive mode; and
b) it is characterized by increased cross-border trade at a regional level, as well as cross-border coalitions of states, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, business coalitions, and multinational firms engaged in the co-construction of an emerging regional governance framework.

Again, new regionalism is not only emerging more or less all over the world, but is more inclusive around emerging issues like ecology, energy, land, security, and water. Another characteristic of new regionalism is the relevance of bottom-up phenomena. It is both pluralistic and global, has evolved in a multipolar context, and multifaceted. This tract seeks papers that address the emerging forms and impact of new regionalisms and the challenges that face its myriad actors in their quest to realize viable economic development and integration in light of a changing global political landscape.

This track explore the future impact of Oil, Gas and Coal Technologies on Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development. Despite current decline in oil prices, hydrocarbon resources especially oil and gas reserves are limited and it is expected that once the world goes through the current economic downturn, demand on these commodities will increase sharply. As now the attention is on increasing energy production from renewable sources, future of petroleum industry would be in the petrochemical industries and non-fuel applications. Future refineries can be used as to produce feedstocks to petrochemical industries and integration of these industries is being studied by major oil companies. Conversion of petroleum to petrochemicals rather than fuels for transportation would be attractive from economical and environmental points of view. In this session we are interested in having papers that address future directions for the oil, gas and coal industries with environmental and economical considerations.

This track focus on all aspects of performance management activities that are in place to enhance organisational performance as well as managing individuals and teams in order to achieve a high level of performance in accordance with the organisations objectives. The track also welcomes papers exploring various tools used for performance management such as:

• Performance and Development Reviews
• Learning and Development
• Coaching
• Objectives/Goals and Performance Standards
• Competences and Competencies
• Measurement
• Pay
• Teams
• 360 degree feedback

This track would explore issues relating to new opportunities for creativity within the diaspora context; challenges of the evolving performative, visual and creative arts in the Diaspora environment; future changes in the Diaspora in terms of traditions and innovations; constraints, responsibilities and sustainability in terms of the construction of new vistas for the arts in the Diaspora.

Much was made of the way in which, with the onset of the global crisis, the hastily-promoted G20 conferences of November 2008 in Washington DC, and 2009 in London, were intended to achieve a putative ‘Bretton Woods II’. Not wishing to be under-hyped, the conferences were even hailed in some quarters as representing the opening of global democracy to the hitherto unrepresented (perhaps oblivious to the 150 countries, or the 36% of the global population not encompassed by the G20). Others suggested that the G20 was actually something of a ‘G2’ or ‘G4’ and yet other critics pointed to the fact that the institution is actually, at best, of marginal importance in global affairs. Meanwhile, the WTO is in limbo as the Doha Development Agenda has reached an impasse, and calls for further democratisation of the IMF and World Bank grow ever louder. The UN makes slow but meaningful progress in moving towards a post-Kyoto agreement with the Cop-15 process, whilst being stymied in other policy arenas, and all the while, other processes of regional and global governance – the EU, Caricom, ALBA, Mercosur, the African Union the OECD, the G7/8 etc. – move onwards in a variety of complex ways. As such, the purpose of papers in this track should be to explore the different processes of regional and global structural reconfiguration, and attempt to make critical sense of what they mean for broader processes of international governance and development.

Because Politics permeates many endeavours, this track will entertain papers anchored in matters political from cross-cutting disciplines and sub-disciplines. In the main, however, papers argued from political perspectives will be considered which provide: Critical, up-to-date, comparative analysis of competing value systems that impede or enhance sustainable development in many regions of the globe; Empirical essays of undiluted originality that enhance our understanding of and proffer solutions to impediments to sustainable development; Enhancement of our understanding of the regional, state and global decision-making that impact sustainable development; Challenge to preconceived and biased assumptions about Third World development; Arousal of curiosity and fostering of critical thinking on solutions to development problems; Discussions on power, its use and abuse that impede transfer of appropriate technology, thus impeding development; Discussion on roles of state and international actors that impact sustainable development; Step-by-step methodology on technology transfer vis-à-vis technology dumping; Case studies and models of sustainable development; and Above all, discussions and solutions that are neither speculative nor academic but practical and actual; simple and non-esoteric.

This track welcomes a wide variety of contributions that include technology and its application to teaching and learning in Higher Education. These may include topics such as e-learning/distance learning and globalisation, technologically driven learning and teaching strategies, the application of technology in teaching and learning, the evaluation of technologically driven teaching and learning strategies. Papers with a critical perspective are particularly encouraged. Quality assurance and accreditation of higher education institutions and programs concerning related standards such as learning resources, program administration, facilities and equipment, student administration, support services and research are also welcomed.

This track focus on empirical and theoretical papers addressing issues of property rights, security of titles to land and landed property, real estate development and finance, corporate real estate issues and how innovative thinking in these areas could be combined to harness the potential of real estate sectors in the developing world to achieve sustainable economic development. Papers drawing on lesions from the developed world would be welcomed. So are those analysing the state of real estate sectors in chosen developing countries and pointing out sources of problems and suggesting solutions.

This track address issues that will be central to the contribution of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) in the energy sector, technological upgradation, innovations, policies, strategies, best practices, political ecological and social implications and sustainable development.

This interdisciplinary track on the dynamics of global change will address the convergence of social trends including aging, global social networking, migration, transnational crime and postcolonial identity politics with advanced information, communications and strategic technologies. Papers should offer perspectives on the challenge of balancing diverse cultures, sources of information and authority and social systems with the needs to maximise the efficiency of commercial and governance systems at the local and global level. Papers should include a theoretical or empirical framework that combines at least two (2) of the following themes:

• Environment and Political Ecology
• Peace and Conflict
• Human Rights and Collective Responsibility (incl. Multilateralism)
• Governance (incl. perspectives on religion, family and education)
• Management, Business and Development
• Aesthetics (Arts, Cultural Policy and Architecture)
• Reproduction, Health, Sexuality and Recreation

Collaborative, non-linear or multi-media presentations are welcome, but should be accompanied by publishable manuscripts.

The track welcomes contributions in all areas of risk management and risk behaviour. Contributions can straddle the different dimensions of risk management and risk behaviour including financial risk management (covering issues such as insurance risks, pension and social insurance risks, corporate risk and systemic risk implications for organisations), physical risk management (covering issues such as crisis and disaster management and systems risk) and behavioural risk (risk of human failure, corporate governance, risk regulation, simulation and operations risk and modelling). Contributions to this track may be empirical, conceptual or case study analysis, with relevance to current organisational contexts.

This track seeks to attract representatives of the various multilateral organisations that do work in the MENA region and to give them the opportunity to share their views/perspectives/approaches/activities with respect to sustainable development in the region. We hoping to have a panel discussion during the conference focusing on the work of different organisations in the region.

This track include papers dealing with topics as diverse as appropriate technology, industrial ecology, globalisation and the democratic management of innovation. It will cover knowledge generation, diffusion and uptake and actors in academia, the public and the private sectors, plus issues arising from civil society and hybrid organisations, on such matters as intellectual property rights, investment and educational policy. Papers with a critical perspective are especially encouraged, as are contributions from those whose “local knowledge” can stimulate thinking around the world.

This track is concerned with the mounting debate concerning the soundness and direction of security policies and aspires to reflect the inherently multidisciplinary character of the field. Security is increasingly being defined by nations not only in the conventional modes of military power, sovereignty and governmental stability, but also in terms of disciplines previously less fundamental: Economic Security; Energy Security; Environmental Security; Food Security; Health Security; Human Security; Resource Security; Security Development Nexus. Arguments of the merits and demerits of the utility of globalization abounds. Proponents of the neo-liberal approach posit that globalization has brought new opportunities. But arguably globalization has increasingly “diffuse insecurity” to the south and immensely facilitated increasingly complex, interconnected and unpredictable risks and threats to security. These developments and others are driven by diverse and interconnected set of underlying factors, including competition for energy, poverty, poor governance, demographic changes, climate change, information and communication technologies which have given rise to novel security conditions and dynamics. Prospective presenters are invited to submit abstracts for papers focusing on security issues: Economic Security; Energy Security; Environmental Security; Food Security; Health Security; Human Security; Resource Security; Security Development Nexus; globalization and Security; Private Security; Regional Security: Sovereignty, Failed State.

This track welcomes contribution in all areas covering broad and diverse issues in service research. Manuscripts could be based on empirical, field studies or theoretical or conceptual analysis leading to clear improvements in knowledge and/or policy prescriptions to cope with an increasingly service-based economy. Manuscripts offering a multidisciplinary and international perspective on services practices are welcomed. The following topics are illustrative, but are neither exhaustive nor mutually exclusive: Service marketing; Service operations; Quality initiatives and developments in service sector; E-Service initiatives; Service information systems; Customer satisfaction, customer retention and service quality; and Global issues in service.

In this track, we take our starting point in cities and communities through integrated perspectives where we identify challenges and explore potentials and successful practices. The increasing focus of UN policies on sustainable development as a balance between social, economic, environmental and cultural goals has prompted more aware city strategies in many countries. Meanwhile, various challenges, including financial, political, institutional and legal limit cities’ opportunities and place pressure on jobs, services and housing. This often results in new priorities, reinforces inequality and releases conflicts. How can cities and communities face these challenges and become better places for living and work? How can they make the best use of their local potentials, qualities and resources in all terms to become fair, efficient, resilient, and leaders in their regions? How to improve planning approaches, institutional settings, governance, culture and legislation to enable more intelligent responses? What role can urban design and regeneration strategies play in strengthening the potentials and the sustainability of cities in terms of environment and health, dynamics, inclusiveness, connectivity, safety and synergies? What role can the innovative sectors play? How can a new urban-rural relationship benefit development and sustainability? How can an informed social entrepreneurship reinforce resilience and sustainability?

This track includes papers dealing with topics relating policy and conceptual contributions that link science, technology and sustainable development (SD) with poverty reduction and the 2015 targets, inequality and economic growth. Papers with a critical perspective are especially encouraged. The track will also look at the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the role that civil society organisations can play in meeting it. It welcomes papers that critically look at the dilemmas, opportunities and challenges that the current consensus around the MDGs poses for civil society organisations. Contributions from researchers and activists working in developing countries are especially welcome. Papers may cover a variety of issues related to the MDGS from a variety of perspectives (e.g. human rights, gender, etc.) and these include but are not limited to: Examples of what civil society organisations are doing at the national and international levels to make governments and international institutions meet MDGs; Reflections on whether MDGs are effective instruments for poverty reduction; and Analysis of what opportunities MDGs create for global movements focusing on democracy, human rights, and poverty reduction. The track will also focus on empirical and theoretical papers addressing issues of property rights, security of titles to land and landed property, real estate development and finance, corporate real estate issues and how innovative thinking in these areas could be combined to harness the potential of real estate sectors to achieve sustainable economic development. Papers drawing on lessons from the developed world would be welcomed. So are those analysing the state of real estate sectors in Sudan and pointing out sources of problems and suggesting solutions.

This track welcomes contribution in all areas covering broad and diverse issues in the subject of sustainable infrastructure systems at local, national or global levels. Papers cover theoretical and applied issues on the following topics will be considered: Sustainability and environmentally-conscious design; Concurrent engineering; Life-Cycle Cost Optimization; Sensor Technology; Intelligent System Technology; Signal Processing; and High-Performance Computing and Large-Scale Simulation.

Various themes will be discussed in this track. The ‘emerging powers’ or the BRICs identified by Goldman Sachs have begun to organize themselves as well as be recognised by other state & non-state actors. But can they be increased to include the Outreach 5 of the G8 and/or the Next-11 (N-11)? South Africa is part of IBSA & Mexico is a member of NAFTA? How extensive is this new global middle will impact where it focuses: joining the OECD, being part of the global South or NAM, or stepping out as a new middle? Both BRICs & BRICSAM impact the global ecology, from energy & minerals to nuclear & climate change, including gender imbalances.

Recent advances in integrated and community medicine have motivated a lot of research in the direction of traditional, alternative and complementary therapies. Such combined specialities may have a wide range of applications, including assessments, interventions and surveillance of complex syndromes. They are bringing many new challenges and considerations in combating illnesses, which go well beyond the realm of conventional medicine. Given the overwhelming interest in traditional, alternative and complementary therapies in Western countries and their extensive usage in developing countries, this track is discussing efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness and accessibility of traditional, alternative and complementary therapies in disease management. Furthermore, it aims to determine how some of these therapies can be integrated into clinical practice to improve patient care.

This track will examine issues such as: How have traditions, commerce and cultural issues contributed to the development of future Diaspora communities? What are some new perspectives that might find parallel acceptability alongside traditional concerns in the future? What are some new cross-‘technoscapes’, ‘ethnoscapes’ and ’ideoscapes’ that can possibly influence approaches to future cultural developments in diaspora communities within the context of culture? In what ways and to what extent can present evolving trends of contemporary culture problematize the survival of identity in diaspora countries? Presenters on this topic may also consider the following topics: Traditions vs. innovations; Socio-religious context and future trends; identity: shifts, possibilities and perspectives in the 21st century.

This track includes papers covering both conceptual and applied studies of the institutional, technical, technological, economic and socio-cultural issues and impacts of specific transportation modes and processes (and the interaction thereof) to foster efficiency and multimodalism in transportation networks. Special emphasis will be given to papers focusing on the development and sustainability of transportation systems and networks throughout the world. Abstract and papers of the track are based on, but not restricted to, the following themes:

• Safety issues/trends of different transport modes
• Institutional challenges to sustainable transport systems
• Socio-economics and cultural factors vs. sustainability
• Technologies and operating practices that improve system performance
• Linking of transport systems funding and sustainability
• Modal barriers to transport system optimization
• Impacts and contribution of different Transport modes to public health
• Operational, environmental and economic impacts of automation, autonomous vehicles
• Sustainability and the economics of active transport
• Sustainability of transport systems and advanced computation
• Sustainability, reliability and resilience of transport systems
• Environmental and climate impacts of transport systems
• Energy impacts of transport systems
• Role of information availability/use to promote modal efficiency
• Safety, operational efficiency and economic impacts of connected vehicles
• Planning for and integrating adaptation in transport systems

This track welcomes contribution in all areas with diverse topics of wildlife science and technology transfer. Papers on the following topics will be considered: wildlife diseases, epidemiology and biotechnology, wildlife management, protected areas management plan, wildlife biology and wildlife conservation. The tracks will also focusing on papers address issues related to environment and sustainable development, socioeconomic , ecotourism and economic important of wildlife.

The world of tomorrow belongs to the youth of today, therefore it is necessary to observe and act on their issues, comments and concerns. The purpose of this research track is to highlight the main topics of advocacy amongst youth and examine new and emerging methods of influencing policy and raising consciousness (eg media, IT), identify problematic areas and find solutions for message delivery, implementation of policy and programme longevity.

Presenters in this track will discuss issues relating to gender equity and youth and the important role and contribution they are expected to make in the future Diasporic cultural development. Some of the other issues that can be discussed here relates to how youth and gender shape identities in the modern world; How diasporic communities challenge or reinforce gender inequalities in the evolving Diasporic centers?; In what ways can future Diasporic activities offer opportunities for women and youth to chart new approaches to Sudanese cultural manifestations in view of their contributions, challenges and vulnerabilities within the host country context?