DCU Hosts the First Irish Annual Doctoral Colloquium in Finance (IADCF)

The First Irish Annual Doctoral Colloquium in Finance (IADCF) took place at DCU Business School and opened with an official welcome from Prof. Dominic Elliott, Executive Dean of DCU Business School. His address highlighted the importance of doctoral research in shaping the future of finance and set a strong, forward-focused foundation for a day of academic exchange and discussion.

The colloquium gathered doctoral researchers and academics from across Ireland and beyond, bringing together participants from DCU, UCD, UCC, Maynooth University, Queen’s University Belfast, and several international universities. The event provided a dedicated platform for PhD students in finance to present their research, exchange ideas, and receive constructive feedback in a supportive academic environment.

The programme featured keynote contributions from Professor Michael Dowling (DCU Business School) and Professor Chandra Thapa (University of Surrey), both of whom offered valuable insights to support the development of emerging finance scholars.

The day concluded with closing reflections from Prof. Geraldine Ryan, President of the Irish Academy of Finance; Dr. Sandeep Rao, Head of the Financial & Operational Performance Group; and Dr. Aref Mahdavi Ardekani, IADCF Chair and finLAB Lead. Their remarks emphasised the collaborative spirit of the event and reinforced a shared commitment to advancing finance research in Ireland.

The inaugural IADCF has established a strong foundation for future editions and marks a significant step in fostering collaboration, learning, and innovation within the finance research community.