Events
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Global Conference on IHRM
More information to come
Past Conferences
6th Global Conference
Hosted by the Centre for Global Human Resource Management in collaboration with the Center for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS) at Penn State
Continuing the tradition of convening leading IHRM scholars from around the world, the conference provided a timely forum for discussing how the global workforce and workplace are evolving in response to multiple, overlapping global crises.
Under the theme “Expanding the Global Workforce and Workplace,” the conference examined how organizations are navigating global issues. Scholars were invited to explore pressing questions about global mobility, talent shortages, hybrid and virtual work, and the broader implications of managing a diverse and dispersed workforce. Presentations covered a wide range of IHRM topics, including the role of crises in shaping HRM practices, migration and global labor flows, AI and automation, diversity and social justice, and global leadership in uncertain environments.
The keynote address was delivered by Wayne F. Cascio, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Denver. An internationally renowned scholar and prolific author, Dr. Cascio has published more than 200 articles and 33 books on human resource management and organizational behavior. Drawing on decades of impactful research and practice, his keynote offered a powerful reflection on how IHRM scholars and practitioners can rise to meet the unprecedented challenges facing the global workforce today. His address emphasized the importance of theoretical rigor paired with practical application, particularly in areas such as virtual work environments.
The conference brought together a diverse group of international scholars and practitioners to share research, exchange ideas, and foster collaborations. Attendees engaged in rich discussions through paper sessions, plenaries, and networking events aimed at pushing the boundaries of the IHRM field and responding to the demands of an increasingly complex global context.
The event was supported by the Centre for Global Human Resource Management, the School of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State, and the broader CIHRS network.
5th Global Conference
Hosted by St. John’s University and supported by the Center for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS) at Penn State and the School of Labor and Employment Relations.
Marking a decade of scholarly exchange in the field of International Human Resource Management (IHRM). This milestone event brought together researchers and practitioners to reflect on the evolution of IHRM and explore emerging directions for the future.
Organized under the theme “Looking Back Over a Decade of IHRM: Who Knew the World Could Change So Much?”, the conference provided a platform for critical reflection and forward-looking discussion. The IHRM field continues to grow in complexity, encompassing cross-cultural management, comparative HRM, strategic international HRM, and global leadership. More than forty papers were presented, offering conceptual, theoretical, and empirical insights across a broad range of topics. These included HRM models from emerging markets, institutional and cultural perspectives on IHRM, HRM in multinational enterprises, expatriate management and global careers, informal networks and social ties, global talent and knowledge management, diversity and generational challenges, and corporate social responsibility in the global workplace.
Participants had the opportunity to hear from two distinguished keynote speakers. Professor Nancy Adler, from the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University, delivered an inspiring address that blended academic insight with global vision. Professor Sheila Puffer, from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University, offered a thought-provoking keynote drawing on her extensive research in international business and management, including institutional development and leadership in transitional economies.
The conference continued its tradition of fostering lively academic debate and valuable networking, supporting both established and emerging scholars in the IHRM field.
4th Global Conference
Organized by the Center for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS), an initiative from the School of Labor and Employment Relations, conference attendees included more than sixty scholars from eighteen countries whose research focuses on the field of international human resource management (IHRM).
A conference encouraging broadening the knowledge of international human resource management, the 4th Global Conference on International Human Resources Management. This continues the now biennial tradition of running this conference since 2013.
More than forty papers were presented covering various human resource management (HRM) topics including HRM in Asia, regional HRM, leadership and coaching across cultures, gender diversity across nations, HRM in Multinational Enterprises (MNE), talent management in MNEs, global talent management, global corporate social responsibility Participants were treated to two keynote speeches centered on the theme “Expatriation Experiences: Where Do We Go from Here (Past, Present, and Future)?”
Riki Takeuchi, the Jindal School of Management Advisory Council Distinguished Professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, delivered a compelling talk on methodological challenges in quantitative research and how they shape the nature of inquiry in cross-cultural and strategic HRM studies.
Jaime Bonache, Professor of Management at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and Visiting Professor at ESADE Business School in Barcelona, presented an inspiring keynote exploring the future of qualitative research methodologies in IHRM, drawing on his extensive expertise in global mobility and international compensation.
In addition to the academic sessions, the conference featured a practitioner panel addressing the real-world challenges of talent management in an evolving global landscape, as well as a publishing workshop designed to support scholars seeking to share their work in top-tier academic journals.
In addition to support from the School of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State, the conference was sponsored by the Human Resource Management Journal, a leading HRM academic journal; Penn State College of the Liberal Arts; and the Center for Global Studies at Penn State. The organizing committee included Elaine Farndale, associate professor of human resource management and director of the Center for International Human Resource Studies at Penn State, and Bora Kwon, a postdoctoral teaching and research scholar in the Center for International Human Resource Studies at Penn State.
3rd Global Conference
The School of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State co-sponsored the conference with St. Johns University. Sponsorships from a leading HRM academic journal, the International Journal of Human Resource Management, a prominent publisher Taylor & Francis, as well as Rutgers University, helped make the conference possible.
This conference built on the success of the 1stand 2nd Global Conferences. The 2017 conference attracted over 85 scholars in the field of international human resource management (IHRM) from 25 countries. Sixty-five papers were presented covering a broad range of IHRM topics, including: cross-cultural values; global careers; HRM in multinational corporations; knowledge management; global diversity challenges; HRM in emerging economies; millennials across cultures; global talent management; global leadership; expatriate management; cross-national perspectives on IHRM; and high performance work systems in different country contexts.
Delegates were delighted to hear keynote speeches from two leading scholars in the field. Professor Mary Yoko Brannen (Jarislowsky East Asia Chair at the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives and Professor of International Business at the University of Victoria, Canada) drew on her research on biculturals to gave a highly engaging presentation on “Learning from the Other: IHRM and the New Demographic.” David Collings (Professor of Human Resource Management and co-director of the Leadership & Talent Institute at Dublin City University, Ireland) was equally inspiring, helping us move our thinking forward in the field of global talent management, with his presentation entitled “Global Talent Management: Progress and Prospects.” In addition, delegates were able to engage with HR practitioners in a seminar focused on “Addressing Multinational Challenges of Talent Management in Emerging Economies,” as well as enjoying a lively publishing workshop for IHRM academics.
LER faculty Elaine Farndale and Maria Beamond organized the conference, with assistance from School staff. Professor Sven Horak from St. John’s University served as a co-organizer.
2nd Global Conference
The conference was supported by the School of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State, as well as a leading HRM academic journal, the International Journal of Human Resource Management. Additional sponsorship was also provided by the Center for Global Studies at Penn State. The Organizing Committee included LER faculty Elaine Farndale, Maja Vidović, Sumita Raghuram, and Helen Liu.
Following the success of the 1st Global Conference held in May 2013. The conference attracted over seventy scholars from seventeen countries carrying out research in the field of international human resource management (IHRM). Some forty papers were presented covering a broad range of IHRM topics, including: global talent management; global leadership development; expatriate management and global careers; corporate social responsibility and the globalization of work; diversity and aging in different national settings; HRM in emerging markets; cross-national perspectives on IHRM; and high performance work systems in different country contexts.
Participants heard keynote speeches from two leading scholars in the IHRM field. Xiao-Ping Chen (Philip M. Condit Endowed Chair Professor and Chair of Department of Management and Organization at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington) gave a highly engaging presentation on “Beyond Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation: Empowerment, Passion, Creativity, and Innovation”, drawing from her research with the well-known Alibaba corporation in China. Michael Morley (Professor of Management at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Ireland) presented a thought-provoking presentation on “Root Trajectories in International Human Resource Management Research and the Consequences for our Lines of Inquiry”.
The conference was supported by the School of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State, as well as a leading HRM academic journal, the International Journal of Human Resource Management. Additional sponsorship was also provided by the Center for Global Studies at Penn State. The Organizing Committee included LER faculty Elaine Farndale, Maja Vidović, Sumita Raghuram, and Helen Liu.
1st Global Conference
The conference was supported by the Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Penn State. The Organizing Committee included faculty from the School of Labor and Employment Relations, setting the foundation for what would become a recurring global gathering of IHRM scholars.
The conference was held in May 2013 at the Penn State University Park, marking a significant moment in the growing scholarly focus on International Human Resource Management (IHRM). The two-day event brought together researchers from around the world to engage in critical dialogue on emerging themes in the IHRM field.
The conference was organized around the theme “International Human Resource Management through a Regional Lens,” encouraging participants to explore the often-overlooked regional level of analysis in IHRM research. While previous work has largely focused on either the country or firm level, this conference emphasized how multinational enterprises (MNEs) often operate according to regional strategies, offering new insights into global HRM practices. The program included a range of parallel and plenary sessions designed to foster in-depth discussion, academic exchange, and networking opportunities.
Keynote addresses were delivered by two renowned scholars in the field. Professor Paula Caligiuri presented research on the predictors of individual-level success in international activities and how global leadership competencies can be developed through high-quality international experiences, including corporate volunteerism. Professor Chris Brewster offered a critical reflection on dominant approaches to International and Comparative HRM, advocating for a shift from best practice models to approaches that emphasize contextual understanding and best fit, drawing on extensive research and recent empirical findings.
CIHRS Speaker Series
This series brings experts and thought leaders from around the globe to the Penn State campus, where they visit CIHRS to present their latest research in the field of HRM.
Past Events
