The Annual Convention Event of 2014 was jointly organised by Tartu University and EBS

The members of the Estonian Convention Bureau ECB) elected the Annual Convention Event of 2014, the 37th Annual Congress of the European Accounting Association (EAA) and a Doctoral Colloquium which was jointly organised by Tartu University and EBS, and visited by over 1,200 delegates in Tartu and Tallinn at the end of May 2014.

The congress took place on three days in 25 parallel sessions at the Convention Centre of the Olympia Hotel and on the premises of EBS. There were participants from 48 countries and 725 oral presentations which makes it the biggest convention that has ever taken place in Estonia. A three day doctoral colloquium that preceded the convention took place in the Tartu Dorpat Convention Centre. The Head of the Estonian Convention Centre Kadri Karu says that “this convention proves it is possible to organise conventions with a huge number of participants in Estonia. In the event of fruitful collaboration it is possible to organise conventions in two cities and several buildings simultaneously.”

The Annual Congress of EAA is one of the most essential worldwide conventions of scientists in the field, whereas out of the 37 conventions it was only the third time to organise a convention in a new European Union member state. Toomas Haldma says that it was necessary” to convince the Western-European scientists to trust the Estonian transport connections, hospitality, comfort and European like atmosphere” to bring the Congress to Estonia and the doctoral colloquium to Tartu. About 90% of the participants were here for the first time. It is good to realise that the organisation of the congress was a success. Estonia hosted the congress really well and the start-up of several joint projects may hopefully prove successful in the future.“

A joint organiser, the Head of EBS Chair of Management professor Ruth Alas considers the event a success as well: „ I am especially glad as we could raise the recognition and image of Estonian universities.“

16 Jan 2015