On African Soil for the First Time
ACBSP Region 8 Conference
November 5, 2026, 8:00 AM - November 7, 2026, 8:30 PM
Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) | 10 Marais Road, Mostertsdrift, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch, 7600
Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) | 10 Marais Road, Mostertsdrift, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch, 7600
Where African excellence meets global standards in business education
The AI Revolution: Reshaping Business,
Reinventing Education, and Transforming Our World.
Reinventing Education, and Transforming Our World.
3
DAYS OF PROGRAMMING
150+
LOCAL, CONTINENTAL AND INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES
4
CONTINENTS REPRESENTED
1st
ACBSP CONFERENCE IN AFRICA
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
A landmark gathering of business education leaders.
Join us on November 05
For the first time in its history, ACBSP is bringing its Region 8 Conference to African soil. This moment represents a bringing together of leaders in business education to collaboratively navigate the challenges facing higher education globally.
Stellenbosch offers a setting of remarkable natural beauty and genuine academic seriousness. It is also a place that carries South Africa's complexities, which makes it an honest backdrop for a conference that believes the best ideas emerge when we engage the world as it is, not as we wish it were.
Hosted by Boston City Campus and supported by Peregrine Global Services, the ACBSP Region 8 Conference 2026 brings together academics, practitioners, and institutional leaders from across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia (excluding parts of South and Southeast Asia), and Oceania to do work that matters.
Stellenbosch offers a setting of remarkable natural beauty and genuine academic seriousness. It is also a place that carries South Africa's complexities, which makes it an honest backdrop for a conference that believes the best ideas emerge when we engage the world as it is, not as we wish it were.
Hosted by Boston City Campus and supported by Peregrine Global Services, the ACBSP Region 8 Conference 2026 brings together academics, practitioners, and institutional leaders from across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia (excluding parts of South and Southeast Asia), and Oceania to do work that matters.
World-Class Academic Programming
Three days of keynote addresses, curated presentations, panel discussions, and workshops from leading business educators and practitioners
Meaningful Networking
Connect with deans, faculty, accreditation specialists, and institutional leaders from across four continents, in a setting deliberately designed for the kind of conversations that don't happen in larger rooms
Awards & Competitions
Teaching Excellence Awards, the Best of Regions Competition, and student entrepreneurship and simulation competitions
Publishing Opportunity
A dedicated publishing pathway is being finalised with a leading Scopus-listed South African journal. Details will be announced shortly.
A Regional First — The ACBSP Region 8 Conference Comes to Africa
For the first time, the Region 8 Conference comes to Africa: a genuine commitment to a continent where ACBSP's presence is growing.
The Conversation Starts Now
ACBSP Region 8 and SABSA have partnered to bring you a series of webinars in the lead-up to the conference, tackling the themes and questions shaping business education in our region. These webinars aim at creating value within our region and are free to attend with SABSA.
Watch the latest episodes below or visit the Conference Hub for more.
Watch the latest episodes below or visit the Conference Hub for more.
How do you build assessment that actually improves student learning, rather than just satisfying an accreditation checklist? In this SABSA and ACBSP Region 8 Capacity Development webinar, Dr Katalin Kovacs of Peregrine Global Services makes the case for purpose over compliance: keep assessment simple, sustainable and continuous, and always close the loop by acting on the data.
How do business simulations strengthen curriculum design, assessment and student engagement? In this SABSA & ACBSP Region 8 Capacity Development webinar, Prof Wynand van Dyk shares how he builds simulations into teaching and assessment, and Veijo Kyosti, CEO of Cesim, looks at where simulation-based learning and AI are heading.
How can your business school and its students take part in an international business simulation competition, at no cost? In this SABSA and ACBSP Region 8 session, we introduce the Cesim Elite ACBSP Region 8 Qualifier and explain how institutions, faculty coaches and student teams can get involved.
CONFERENCE THEME & CALL FOR PAPERS
The AI Revolution: Reshaping Business, Reinventing Education and Transforming Our World.
Artificial intelligence is not on the horizon. It has arrived. How we respond will define the next generation of business education.
This conference invites the most current thinking on AI's impact on teaching, learning, and professional practice. Whether you are pioneering new pedagogical approaches, conducting research on AI in business contexts, or navigating AI's transformation of your industry, your insights will contribute to a vital global conversation.
The conference takes place in Stellenbosch, South Africa, ACBSP's first African host city, bringing a uniquely diverse and international perspective to the AI dialogue in business education.
This conference invites the most current thinking on AI's impact on teaching, learning, and professional practice. Whether you are pioneering new pedagogical approaches, conducting research on AI in business contexts, or navigating AI's transformation of your industry, your insights will contribute to a vital global conversation.
The conference takes place in Stellenbosch, South Africa, ACBSP's first African host city, bringing a uniquely diverse and international perspective to the AI dialogue in business education.
Who Should Submit?
→ Academics and researchers in business education
→ Business practitioners and industry professionals
→ ACBSP members and non-members alike
→ Educators from South Africa, Africa, Europe, Asia (excluding parts of South and Southeast Asia), and Oceania
→ Institutional leaders and accreditation specialists
→ Academics and researchers in business education
→ Business practitioners and industry professionals
→ ACBSP members and non-members alike
→ Educators from South Africa, Africa, Europe, Asia (excluding parts of South and Southeast Asia), and Oceania
→ Institutional leaders and accreditation specialists
track 01
Teaching with AI
Practical strategies and case studies for integrating AI tools into business courses to enhance student engagement, productivity, and learning outcomes.
TRACK 02
AI Literacy for Business Students
Best practices for equipping students with essential AI competencies, including ethical considerations and responsible AI usage.
Track 03
AI Trends in the Business Workplace
Emerging AI applications in finance, marketing, operations, and other business functions, and their implications for business education curricula.
Submission Deadline
15 September 2026
Abstracts and full paper submissions accepted.
The Conference Experience
Three Days. One Unforgettable Experience.
The ACBSP Region 8 Conference 2026 is designed to nourish the mind, forge lasting connections, and leave you with memories that outlast the programme itself. Here is what awaits you in Stellenbosch.
Keynote Addresses
Thought-provoking keynotes from African and global leaders shaping the future of business education and AI. Keynote speakers will be announced soon. Watch this space.
Research Presentations
Full-paper and work-in-progress presentations across three focused tracks, showcasing innovative thinking in business education from academics and practitioners alike.
Awards*
ACBSP celebrates excellence through two recognitions: the Regional Teaching Excellence Award and the Best of Regions Award, both of which honour members who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the quality of business education.
Gala Dinner & Braai
Experience authentic South African hospitality at an exclusive braai gala dinner hosted by Boston City Campus, where the warmth of African culture meets the collegiality of the academic community.
Cocktail Reception
An elegant evening sponsored by Peregrine Global Services, designed for relaxed conversation and meaningful connections in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Curated Excursions
Three curated excursions, each offering a distinctive experience of Stellenbosch and the wider Cape, will be available for delegates to select from. Details will be announced in the months ahead.
Stellenbosch, South Africa
A Destination Worthy of the Journey
Stellenbosch is a historic university town of genuine beauty, set among the Hottentots-Holland Mountains and surrounded by wine estates that have been producing celebrated vintages since the late 17th century. The town's Cape Dutch architecture and its proximity to Franschhoek, where French Huguenot refugees settled from 1688, give the region a layered history that rewards the curious visitor. STIAS, where the conference is hosted, reflects the best of what the town has to offer: rigorous thinking in a remarkable setting.
November marks the transition from spring to early summer in the Western Cape: predominantly sunny and warm, with relatively low rainfall compared to winter, and long days that make the winelands feel particularly alive. For delegates who prefer the outdoors, Stellenbosch is well known for its hiking trails and mountain bike routes through the surrounding nature reserves and mountain landscapes.
For delegates travelling internationally, Cape Town International Airport is around 40 minutes away, and Cape Town itself, a major global tourist destination, is an easy and worthwhile extension to the trip.
November marks the transition from spring to early summer in the Western Cape: predominantly sunny and warm, with relatively low rainfall compared to winter, and long days that make the winelands feel particularly alive. For delegates who prefer the outdoors, Stellenbosch is well known for its hiking trails and mountain bike routes through the surrounding nature reserves and mountain landscapes.
For delegates travelling internationally, Cape Town International Airport is around 40 minutes away, and Cape Town itself, a major global tourist destination, is an easy and worthwhile extension to the trip.
Easy Access
+/- 40 minutes from Cape Town International Airport.
STIAS Venue
South Africa's premier advanced study institute.
Cape Winelands
Celebrated wine estates at your doorstep.
Natural Beauty
Mountains, fynbos, and Cape Dutch heritage.
Registration
Conference Rates
Join 150+ business education leaders from across four continents for three days of research presentations, keynotes, and professional development in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Early bird registration closes on 31 August 2026.
Early bird registration closes on 31 August 2026.
$400 (USD)
Early Bird Rate, available until 31 August 2026
$460 (USD)
Standard Rate from 1 September 2026
Our Partners
Supported by Leaders in Business Education
The ACBSP Region 8 Conference 2026 is made possible by the generous support of our partners and sponsors. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities remain. Join us in making this conference one to remember.
Boston City Campus
HOST SPONSOR
Peregrine Global Services
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Cesim Business Simulations
SILVER SPONSOR
SABSA
NETWORK PARTNER
Perspectives in Education
PUBLISHING PARTNER
GOLD, SILVER AND EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
EXHIBITOR
SEPTEMBER 2026
SEPTEMBER 2026
AUGUST 2026
A Second Opportunity to Join the Conversation: Abstract Submissions Reopen for ACBSP Region 8 Conference 2026
How Accreditation Can Drive Institutional Excellence
Registrations Closing for the Cesim Elite ACBSP Region 8 Business Simulation Challenge
The first abstract submission window for the ACBSP Region 8 Conference 2026 has officially closed, but there is still an opportunity to be part of the academic programme.
The webinar titled: Beyond Recognition: The Strategic Importance of Accreditation in Higher Education, will be presented by Dr Germain N. Pichop, Chair of the ACBSP Board of Directors. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, from 11:00 to 12:00 SAST, online via Zoom.
Student teams from universities and colleges across Africa, Asia*, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania are invited to participate in the Cesim Elite ACBSP Region 8 Qualifier: Business Simulation Challenge, an exciting student competition that is part of the ACBSP Region 8 Conference 2026.
*Excludes mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao and Vietnam.
*Excludes mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao and Vietnam.