The department of Accounting and Finance successfully hosted the 38th Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association from April 27–30. The Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association is a major event that takes place in a different country during springtime each year. This year there were almost 1,200 delegates and 777 papers. The papers originated in 51 different countries. The top 5 were Germany (119); UK (79); USA (60); Spain (49) and Canada (44). There were also papers from diverse countries such as Brazil, China, Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Russia and UAE, marking the conference as genuinely global.
In addition to the Parallel sessions there were eight research symposia, which represented the professional practitioner engagement with the congress as well as the research expertise of the department of accounting and finance. The symposia were as follows:
The congress began with an opening ceremony at which Professor Ann Jorissen, EAA president, University of Antwerp; Professor Xinmin Zhang, Accounting Society of China; Anne Simpson, Baillie, Glasgow City Council; Professor Tim Bedford, Professor Phil Taylor, and Professor Christine Cooper from Strathclyde Business School, were the speakers. After the speakers, the delegates were treated to a performance by "Bag Rockers" – traditional Scottish music and dance with a modern twist.
Professor Cooper said, "Aside from the academic aspects of the congress, delegates were able to develop research connections at the lively social functions. Glasgow City Council hosted the Civic Reception of the Congress in the Glasgow Science Centre. The Congress Dinner took place in The Arches and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Each venue had a Ceilidh band and delegates danced until they dropped!"