APIIT Business, Law and Technology Conference attracts Local and International Researchers
The Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) launched the Business and Technology Conference in 2015; the Conference attracted over 100 participants, giving APIIT the encouragement to make it an annual conference that promoted interdisciplinary research. APIIT held the Business, Law and Technology Conference for the second consecutive year on 7th July, 2016 with a new discipline, Law, added to the conference themes.
Dr Athula Pitigala-Arachchi, Chief Executive Officer of APIIT, speaking to Sunday Times, stated that the event was born out an overwhelming desire to promote a vibrant research culture at APIIT. “When a research paper is presented, the questions and comments on that research help to improve the research, extend it further, and publish comprehensive findings in reputable journals,” said Dr PitigalaArachchi.
In its nearly two decades of existence, APIIT has prided itself in providing a high quality education to students and, naturally, its primary focus had been on teaching excellence, admitted Dr PitigalaArachchi. However, he pointed out that, in the recent past, APIIT has made significant strides in research thereby making APIIT a ‘complete university’. He elaborated that a university in not only a place where students are educated, but also a place where new knowledge is created and disseminated through conferences, symposia, and publications. “APIIT, as leading private higher education institute, has a responsibility to set an example and promote research in the private higher education sector”, said Dr PitigalaArachchi.
With a gathering that includes researchers from the other local universities, private institutions and foreign universities, APIIT Business, Law and Technology Conference creates a platform for researchers to present and discuss their findings across the disciplines of Business, Law and Computing.
A large number of research papers in Computing and Business Management were presented in the previous conference, which were then published as proceedings and distributed to libraries and interested parties. Several of the notable research papers presented at the last year’s conference were; ‘Neuro Marketing: The New Path to Marketing Success?’, ‘Status of Islamic Banking and Finance Industry in Sri Lanka’, ‘The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Emotional Labour’, and ‘Understanding Sonic Branding and its Effects on Brand Recall and Recognition’.
This year’s conference, aptly themed “Breaking Barriers: Interdisciplinary Research for Global Challenges” featured two keynote speakers, namely, Hon. Attorney General Mr Jayantha Jayasuriya P.C and Mr Madu Ratnayake, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Virtusa Polaris. Dr PitigalaArachchi explained that the keynote speeches by eminent professionals provide an insight into the professions and the industry and help orient research efforts towards addressing current issues.
This year’s conference attracted 21 oral presentations and 19 poster presentations. Some of the notable presentations were ‘An Investigation into Sales Forecasting Techniques and Distribution Management Methods to Reduce the Forecasting Errors’, ‘What Constitutes “Goods” under the Sale of Goods Ordinance? : Liberating the Convention’, and ‘Mediating Effect of Coping Strategies in the Relationship between Big Five Factors and Psychological Distress: A Quantitative Study on Private Sector Executives in Sri Lanka’.
Dr Pitigala-Arachchi stated that the papers by international researchers set a benchmark and help the Conference aspire to international standards. He expressed confidence that the APIIT Business, Law and Technology Conference will evolve into an annual event of great significance.