The Shidler College of Business’ School of Accountancy held its annual Hawai’i Accounting Research Conference(HARC) from Jan. 3-5, 2022. For the first time ever, the 3-day conference was held in a hybrid format at Kuykendall Hall at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, with more than 150 participants attending in person and another 150 participants attending online.
HARC conference participants mingle on their lunch break.
Nine concurrent sessions were held over three days and 220 papers were presented and discussed. The authors of the presented papers represent faculty research from 287 universities around the world with participants from twenty countries.
“This year’s conference was unique in that it provided the opportunity for more attendees to join in around the globe for the first time in HARC’s 5-year history,” Shidler College Dean Vance Roley, said. “The presentations were stimulating and afforded attendees an arena to make valuable contributions by providing insightful feedback to their peers. I was delighted to see so many Shidler College students participate and make meaningful connections with those already established in the accounting field.”
HARC offered a unique opportunity for participants to present their papers in person and online and receive feedback from colleagues who attended their session. These interactions gave researchers the chance to identify issues with their work. This process is important because it allows the researchers to improve their work and enhance their chance of success for publication in respected journals. The conference also provided great networking opportunities during the meeting breaks. Online attendees were also provided networking opportunities with other participants via virtual breakout rooms.
The HARC conference allows for collobaration between colleagues in the accounting field.
Among those given the opportunity to attend HARC were 70 doctoral students. These students were allowed to participate through a generous registration fee subsidy, a part of HARC’s vision to support the next generation of researchers. As a result, the students received invaluable experience in the research process and made connections with future hopeful colleagues and co-authors.
The participants were provided meals for the duration of the conference, which included breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and coffee provided by the School of Accountancy. In addition, Kuykendall Hall’s courtyard was set up with tents, tables, and chairs for participants to meet, take a break and dine comfortably. A banquet dinner was also held at the Oahu Country Club on January 4. To facilitate transportation, the conference provided free shuttle buses between conference hotels, UH Mānoa’s Campus Center and Oahu Country Club.
Organizing this year’s conference for an in-person option during COVID was extremely challenging, but mitigation efforts were put into effect to ensure the safety of all who participated in person. Overall, HARC 2022 was successful in its mission of providing invaluable research experience for all who attended.
Event photo gallery.
View speeches and panel discussion videos.
