International Human Resource Management Conference

Edinburgh Napier University is pleased to host the 18^th Biennial Conference on International Human Resource Management at our Craiglockhart Campus from 15-17 June 2027.

About the International Human Resource Management Conference

The International Human Resource Management (IHRM) Conference is one of the most prestigious academic gatherings for like-minded HRM scholars, at all carer stages, to come together to share the latest research and thinking. The conference provides space for delegates to engage in professional development and to (re)connect with existing networks and develop new ones.

Over the last three decades, IHRM Conferences have been held every two years at different locations around the world including Singapore, Hong Kong, Ashridge House (UK), Gold Coast (Australia), San Diego (USA), Paderborn (Germany), Limerick (Ireland), Cairns (Australia), Tallinn (Estonia), Santa Fe-New Mexico (USA), Birmingham (UK), Gurgaon (India), Krakow (Poland); Victoria-British Columbia (Canada), Madrid (Spain), London (UK), and Dubai (UAE).

International Human Resource Management in a Polycrisis Era

The past decade has been defined by unprecedented turbulence. A rapidly evolving VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world has ushered in what scholars describe as a global polycrisis, defined as a convergence of interconnected geopolitical, economic, demographic, and socio‑political disruptions that amplify one another (Wood et al., 2024; Zeitlin et al., 2019). From climate change and global pandemics to technological transformation and societal instability, these forces are reshaping organisations, employment, and work relationships on a global scale (Lazarova et al., 2023). Many of these challenges align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations Development Program, 2024), highlighting the critical role of organisations and IHRM in developing solutions. As Baumann et al. (2023, p.166) argue, organisations must increasingly operate as “problem‑solving systems” capable of collective action.

At the organisational level, digital technologies and artificial intelligence (Ahlstrom et al., 2020), the rise of the gig economy (Mendonça & Kougiannou, 2025), and new models of remote and hybrid work (Grant et al., 2023) are transforming how work is designed and managed. Simultaneously, global threats, e.g., ranging from terrorism and regional conflict to cyber‑attacks and workplace violence demand HRM systems that are resilient, agile, and future‑focused. These pressures are prompting a fundamental re‑evaluation of long‑held assumptions about work and the role of IHRM in a polycrisis era.

While some scholars view recent disruptions, including COVID‑19, as catalysts for innovation in HRM (Newman et al., 2023), others caution that emerging practices may reinforce neoliberal logics that risk undermining societal and environmental wellbeing (Boumans, 2022; Guest & Grote, 2022). This raises urgent questions about how IHRM can better support broader stakeholder value and sustainable employee outcomes. As a result, interest is growing in approaches such as high‑performance work systems, wellbeing HRM, agile and ethical HRM, and responsible, sustainable, and common‑good HRM.

The 18th Conference on IHRM will bring together scholars and stakeholders to explore how IHRM must evolve to remain relevant and impactful in this complex polycrisis landscape. Streams will span macro‑societal, meso‑organisational, and micro‑individual (employee) levels.

Highlights include:

• An exciting, diverse, and high-quality programme
• High-profile keynote speakers exploring the latest IHRM trends and debates
• Doctoral/ECR symposium offering paper development, publishing, and career advice
  
• Wide variety of sessions of broad appeal to delegates of all career stages and interests
• Full social programme featuring a Scottish-themed gala dinner including bagpipes and ceilidh dancing

Further details, including the call for papers and registration information, will be announced in due course.

We look forward to welcoming you to Edinburgh and hope you enjoy both the city and your time at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart Campus.