Iscte Business School hosted the XXV Grudis Conference and Doctoral Colloquium on 30 and 31 January, a landmark edition celebrating 25 years of the Grudis Accounting Research Network as a cornerstone for accounting research, advanced training, and the development of an international scientific community.

Under the theme “Global Horizons”, the conference brought together researchers, academics and doctoral students from diverse geographical backgrounds, reinforcing Iscte Business School’s position as a centre of excellence for international academic debate and for reflection on contemporary challenges in accounting, management, ethics and sustainability. Over the two days, around 100 researchers from more than 50 higher education institutions and research centres took part, representing countries such as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The morning of the first day, dedicated to the Doctoral Colloquium, began with a welcome session at the J.J. Laginha Auditorium, featuring remarks by Ana Cristina Conceição, Deputy Dean of Iscte Business School, and Ana Isabel Lopes, Chair of the XXV Grudis Conference and Doctoral Colloquium. This was followed by an information session from the European Accounting Association (EAA) and a dedicated briefing for doctoral students led by Professor Mark Clatworthy (University of Bristol), moderated by Sofia Lourenço, member of the Grudis Executive Board. Doctoral research projects were then presented and discussed, fostering critical and constructive dialogue between authors, discussants and participants.

The official opening session of the conference, held on the afternoon of 30 January, included addresses by Maria de Fátima Salgueiro, Dean of Iscte Business School; Isabel Lourenço, Head of the Department of Accounting at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon; Paula Franco, President of the Order of Certified Accountants; and Aldónio Ferreira, President of the Grudis Executive Board. In her address, Paula Franco emphasised the importance of bringing academia closer to professional practice and highlighted the essential role of scientific research in a context of increasing economic complexity, technological transformation, and growing demands for transparency and accountability.

During this session, the Accounting and Management Review (AMR) Award was also presented, recognising high-quality and high-impact scientific work selected from self-nominated submissions. This award further underlined the Order of Certified Accountants’ commitment to promoting research and supporting the future of the profession. Three papers were distinguished, including one co-authored by Paulo Dias, a lecturer in the Department of Accounting. The afternoon continued with the presentation and discussion of high-quality research papers, reflecting the collaborative spirit that characterises the Grudis network.

The second day, 31 January, was marked by the keynote address delivered by Professor Mark Clatworthy (University of Bristol), focusing on a comparison between the objectives of financial reporting and sustainability reporting, preceded by a musical interlude. The programme also included a roundtable discussion on the ethical challenges facing accounting in the era of artificial intelligence, bringing together representatives from international organisations (Rui Peres Jorge, International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants – IESBA), academia (Aldónio Ferreira, Monash University), and professional practice (Mário Freire, KPMG, and Maria do Céu Ribeiro, PwC).

The day also featured an awards session organised by the Grudis Standing Scientific Committee and independent members, during which Gisela Baptista, a PhD student in Management specialising in Accounting, was distinguished with one of the Best PhD Project Awards. Throughout the morning and afternoon, additional parallel sessions took place, addressing topics such as artificial intelligence and accounting, ESG, governance, auditing, ethics, sustainability, public management and innovation.

The conference concluded with a celebration marking the 25th anniversary of Grudis, highlighting the network’s journey from its pioneering role in supporting the first accounting researchers in Portugal to its current global reach. By hosting this commemorative edition, Iscte Business School reaffirmed its commitment to research excellence, internationalisation, and strengthening the links between academia and society, actively contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge and the training of new generations of researchers.

📸 View the photo gallery: https://iscte.canto.global/b/UDCGB