The second day of the 12th Responsible Management Education Research Conference (RMERC 2025) continued to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration among academics, practitioners, and students from across the world.
The day began with a multi-stakeholder panel discussion on “Partnerships for a Regenerative Society,” which brought together representatives from academia, business, and international organizations. Panelists Tijana Janković (UN Global Compact), Sandra Živković (Banca Intesa), Đorđe Lazić (Egzakta Group), Jelena Stanković (Faculty of Economics, University of Niš), Stefan Jovanović (CIRSD), and Adrian Solomon (EIT Manufacturing Serbia) discussed how cross-sector collaboration can accelerate the transition toward regenerative and inclusive economic systems. The session was moderated by Marko Ćirović and Milica Jovanović from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences.
Following the panel, the conference program featured 58 academic paper presentations across 17 tracks, showcasing diverse research on responsible management, innovation, and sustainability. Participants exchanged insights and shared best practices, contributing to the collective effort of reimagining the role of management education in addressing global challenges.
The day’s highlight was marked by two exceptional keynote lectures from globally recognized leaders in their fields.
Prof. Gordana Vunjak-Novaković, University Professor at Columbia University, delivered a lecture titled “Learning from Nature: Lessons in Regenerative Medicine.” As the first engineer ever to receive Columbia’s highest academic title and a pioneer in tissue engineering, Prof. Vunjak-Novaković shared profound insights on how nature-inspired principles can drive breakthroughs in regenerative medicine and redefine the future of healthcare.
Dr. Ichak Adizes, Founder of the Adizes Institute and creator of the Adizes Methodology for Organizational Therapy, presented his lecture “The Present Deficiencies of Leadership/Management Education and Training.” Drawing on his extensive experience advising leaders in over 50 countries, Dr. Adizes emphasized the urgent need to rethink leadership education and cultivate organizations capable of thriving amid constant change.
The afternoon and evening were reserved for informal networking and cultural activities, including a Belgrade sightseeing tour and a gala dinner in Skadarlija, offering participants an opportunity to connect in a relaxed atmosphere and experience the city’s spirit of creativity and hospitality.
With meaningful exchanges, inspiring ideas, and a sense of community, Day 2 of RMERC 2025 reaffirmed the conference’s mission — to nurture responsible leaders and partnerships for a regenerative future.