AIT School of Management Hosts Doctoral Colloquium 2025

By: Dr. Nabeel Bokhari

The School of Management (SOM) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) successfully hosted its annual flagship event, the Doctoral Colloquium 2025, under the theme “From Insight to Impact: Reimagining Management Research in the Digital Age”. Held on 11 October 2025 at AIT’s main campus in Bangkok, the colloquium brought together faculty, doctoral students, and research mentors for a full day of academic exchange, research presentation, and collaborative discussions.

The event was graciously inaugurated by Professor Siddharth Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development (VPAD) along with Professor Yuosre Badir, Dean of SOM, highlighting the institutional commitment to fostering a vibrant and research-driven academic environment. A welcoming address and alumni insight by Dr. Lakkana Hengboriboon, graduated in 2024 and currently working as a Lecturer at the International College of Khon Kaen University, set the tone for a stimulating day of intellectual engagement.

A total of 13 current doctoral students, both PhD and DBA candidates, presented their ongoing research across four specialized tracks: Digital Transformation, Marketing, Finance, and Operations. Each track was chaired by SOM faculty members, including Dr. Muhammad Junaid, Dr. Joseph French, Dr. Tobias Endress, and Dr. Vatcharapol Sukhotu, who provided expert feedback and facilitated peer learning through interactive discussions.

The colloquium included a poster presentation session, reinforcing the value of collaborative learning and community-building among doctoral peers, faculty, and researchers. As AI reshapes the future of academic inquiry, the 2025 colloquium underscored SOM’s proactive role in preparing the next generation of scholars to engage with emerging technologies critically and creatively.

The highlight of the day was a workshop on “AI in Academic Research: Crutch or Magic Wand?” delivered by Dr. Steven White. The session offered a critical yet forward-thinking perspective on the integration of AI tools in the academic research process. Dr. White introduced a wide array of AI-powered platforms that assist in literature review, conceptual development, survey design, data analysis, and academic writing. Through engaging case studies, he urged doctoral researchers to treat AI not as a substitute, but as a “thought partner” – a tool for enhancing creativity, rigor, and originality in scholarly work.

With strong participation and academic rigor, the Doctoral Colloquium 2025 once again demonstrated SOM’s commitment to advancing impactful research and fostering innovation in higher education across Asia.