16th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences Hosted by ARUCAD Concludes

Arkin University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD), in collaboration with the PEN Research Institute, hosted the 16th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences (ECLSS 2026). Held between 29 June and 1 July, the conference brought together 168 researchers from 65 universities across 19 countries, who presented a total of 118 scientific papers covering a wide range of fields, including economics, finance, entrepreneurship, sustainability, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, education, culture, law, management, and social change. Conducted in both in-person and online formats, the conference aimed to strengthen international academic collaboration and promote interdisciplinary knowledge exchange.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, ARUCAD Vice Rector and Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, Prof. Dr. Burcu Toker, expressed her pleasure at welcoming participants to ARUCAD, stating: "We are delighted to welcome you to our university as part of the 16th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences. By bringing together researchers from different countries under one roof, we aim to create a productive environment that encourages the exchange of ideas, knowledge sharing, and international academic collaboration."

Conference Co-Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Karacan highlighted the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences, saying: "Topics such as economic growth, sustainability, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, education, culture, law, health, management, and social change can no longer be considered independently of one another. Bringing together different disciplines within the same conference provides researchers with the opportunity to look beyond their own fields and benefit from insights across diverse areas of scholarship."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alla Tsarikova, President of the PEN Research Institute, USA, emphasised the importance of the conference in fostering scientific interaction, stating: "We believe that the sessions covering areas such as business, finance, entrepreneurship, sustainability, digital transformation, public policy, tourism, innovation, and artificial intelligence will contribute to productive academic discussions. We place great importance on the active participation of our delegates in these discussions."

Following the opening remarks, the conference keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Emil Velinov. In his presentation, titled "The Future of Global Economic Growth in an Era of Geopolitical Fragmentation", he examined the impact of geopolitical developments on the global economy. Velinov discussed the restructuring of international trade, the transformation of supply chains, technological sovereignty, energy security, and the role of emerging economies in shaping global economic balances. He also emphasised that artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and regional economic cooperation are among the key factors shaping the future of the global economy.

Throughout the conference, both in-person and online sessions featured research in a wide range of fields, including economics, digital transformation, software engineering, sustainable development, communication, cultural studies, arts and cultural management, law, education, psychology, and management. Over the course of three days, the sessions brought together academics and researchers from different countries on a shared scientific platform, contributing to stronger international academic engagement.

The 16th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences concluded on 1 July following the final online sessions. Hosted by ARUCAD, the conference made a significant contribution to the development of international scientific collaboration by bringing together academics and researchers from different countries on an interdisciplinary platform. The full conference programme is available at eclss.org/kyrenia.