Accounting, Society and the Environment (ASE) 13th Annual Research Workshop | Business School

Booking

Book your tickets for the workshop via Ticketsource here.

The registration fee for the workshop is £30. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Accounting, Society and the Environment (ASE) 13th Annual Research Workshop

We are pleased to invite you to the annual Accounting, Society, and the Environment (ASE) Research workshop, which will be held on Wednesday 7^th May 2025 at the University of Aberdeen, Linklater Suite. ASE is a friendly, scholarly event bringing researchers together from around the world to present, discuss and debate their research projects in various stages of development. This workshop is intended as a forum to encourage research collaboration across institutions and disciplines and for the dissemination of research outputs. This event is sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

This year’s workshop, themed ‘Accounting for a Sustainable Future: Navigating Social, Environmental, and Ethical Challenges,’ explores the ways in which business, accounting, and finance practices shape society and everyday life. Debates around accounting for a sustainable future have been gaining traction in recent years, highlighting the growing recognition of the critical role that both the accounting professions and academic researchers play in addressing global challenges. As the world faces urgent issues such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality, accountants and researchers are increasingly called upon to drive transformative change. By advancing accountability, transparency, and sustainability, modern accounting practices can help shape a future where economic progress aligns with social equity and environmental stewardship.

However, despite a consensus on the importance of embedding social accounting within organisations, it is widely acknowledged that finding a meaningful and consistent way to measure and report on such social issues remains a fundamental challenge. The principal aim of this workshop is to engage a global community of scholars and practitioners in research projects that explore a range of issues on social, environmenatal and ethical challenges. Potential contributors are encouraged to interpret this theme broadly, yet critically, including applying diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives to a wide range of countries, regional setting, and organisational types. Of particular interest are social enterprises, third sector organisations, and co-operatives.

The submission deadline for workshop papers is 7^th April 2025. Manuscripts should be sent electronically (in a Word file format) to: aseresearch95@gmail.com.

Location Information

The workshop will be held in the Linklater Suite, which is situated adjacent to Elphinstone Hall. The Linklater Rooms enjoy a similar baronial style and are equally as stunning, with unique period features including original fireplaces, oak panelled walls and hammer-beam roofing.

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Faculty Profiles

Find out more about our speakers and their current research topics

Audrey Paterson

Audrey Paterson is the School Director of Postgraduate Research. She holds a Visiting Professor position at the Universita Degli Studi Dell'Insurbia, Italy. She is also the school representative for the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science. Audrey is the founder the Accounting, Society, and the Environment (ASE) research network. The ASE network is interdisciplinary and is interested in the interaction between accounting, business activity and their socio-economic and political environments, and encourages critical analysis of policy and practice in these areas. She has served as guest editor for Critical Perspective on Accounting, the British Accounting Review, Financial Accountability & Management and Accounting, Auditing and Accountability journals. Audrey has published works in high-ranking international journals covering a variety of issues in accounting, management, and education. Her recent work investigates how to build, maintain, and deepen relationships between Scotland and Europe, with the purpose of building a circular economy, in the pursuit of sustainability and net zero targets.

Current Research Topics: The circular economy and net zero principles and applications. SDG’s and circularity in charities, the public sector and education.

Bill Jackson

Dr Bill Jackson is the Deputy Dean of the Business School at the University of Aberdeen. His research interests focus primarily on the history of and contemporary practice of accounting in public and third sector organisations. A secondary interest lies in the intersections of the accountancy profession and accounting practice with issues such as gender, technological innovation and the circular economy. Bill has published in and contributed guest editorials to a range of highly ranked international journals and works with a number of international collaborators.

Current Research Topics: The circular economy and net zero principles and applications. SDG’s and circularity in charities, the public sector and education.

Julie Bertz

Dr Julie Bertz is an Associate Professor of Accounting at Dublin City University Business School. With credentials as a Fellow of both Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Higher Education Authority, she brings a wealth of her practical experience to her academic pursuits. Her research is deeply influenced by her experiences and interest in the intricate dynamics of public services delivery and management. She has an avid interest in how individual's behaviours, interactions and values impact this space. Additionally, she maintains a strong interest in exploring factors that influence the accounting profession, accounting history and student motivation and wellbeing. Julie publishes in top ranked international journals. Additionally, she is the founder of the institute’s special interest group, Business and Public Policy.

Current Research Topics: Readability and usability of local government budget reports, accounting for water sustainability, business and public policy.

About the University of Aberdeen

The home of the University of Aberdeen is in Old Aberdeen, which is one of the most beautiful and historic urban areas in Scotland, with buildings dating back to the 15th Century. Founded in 1495 by William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland, the University of Aberdeen is Scotland's third oldest and the UK's fifth oldest university. Established to serve the north-east of Scotland, today our university is a global presence in higher education. A dual focus on our region and the wider world is as important to us today as it was five centuries ago.

Indeed, over five centuries Aberdeen has consistently increased its programme offerings and student recruitment, which now stands at over 15,000. Teaching at the University of Aberdeen is organised across 12 schools which encompass a broad range of disciplines. Multidisciplinary research centres and institutes bring together experts at the cutting-edge of their fields to work with colleagues across the UK and beyond. The University is committed to four key areas; inclusivity, interdisciplinary, international and sustainability, which guide our present work and future direction.

Travel

Loganair and Scotrail are offering delegates 30% discount on routes to Aberdeen for the conference. (See below for details)

Accommodation

There are a good number of hotels within close range of the workshop venue. Search for and book your accommodation here.

Travel

Loganair can offer delegates 30% discount on all routes to Aberdeen for the conference.

In the UK they fly to Aberdeen from:

Belfast
Birmingham
Bristol
Isle of Man (via Manchester or Birmingham)
Kirkwall
Manchester
Newquay
Norwich
Sumburgh

Internationally they fly to Aberdeen from Esbjerg & Dublin.

Also included Dundee as we fly there from Heathrow.

Promo Code: ASE2025

Delegates can book the discount from Today until 09 Apr - This is very last day we can offer discount.

Delegates can travel from 03 May until 11 May – Given extra time to explore beautiful Aberdeenshire.

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