Research Center in Economics, Business Administration, and Hotel Management

Purpose of the Center

The Research Center is established to address the evolving challenges faced by businesses and society in a rapidly changing global landscape. It seeks to provide innovative interdisciplinary research that aligns with the missions of Université La Sagesse (ULS), the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), and the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management (FTHM).

Mission

The Research Center is committed to advancing applied and fundamental interdisciplinary research that addresses the evolving needs of businesses and society. Aligned with the missions of Université La Sagesse (ULS), the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), and the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management (FTHM), the Center promotes innovation, ethical leadership, social responsibility and sustainable development. Through research conducted from both business administration and economics perspectives, the Center seeks to produce scholarly publications and reports that illuminate the rapid transformation of the economic and business landscapes driven by the digital revolution.

Vision

Our vision is to establish the Research Center as a leading hub for innovation and knowledge, dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, shaping resilient and socially responsible organizations, advancing sustainable development and actively contributing to equity and the well-being of society. By building strategic partnerships with academic institutions, research centers, scholars, industry leaders and policymakers, the Center seeks to create a robust platform for research, dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Values

  • Innovation: Promoting cutting-edge and transformative research to drive progress.
  • Ethical Leadership: Upholding integrity and responsibility in leadership and decision-making.
  • Social Responsibility: Ensuring that our research and practices contribute to societal well-being.
  • Sustainability: Fostering long-term practices and models that balance economic, environmental and social dimensions.
  • Collaboration: Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and building strong partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, policymakers and scholars to ensure the relevance and impact of our work.

Research Focus

The Center’s activity will revolve around four strategic axes, under which each of many themes can be explored:

  • Axis 1: Digital Transformation, Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship
  • Axis 2: Crisis Management, Organizational Development and Leadership Ethics
  • Axis 3: Transformations in the Global Economy and Policy Responses
  • Axis 4: Sustainability, Economic Development and Inequalities

Axis 1 : Digital Transformation, Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

The digital revolution, driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), is transforming the way businesses operate, innovate and compete. In an era where automation, data analytics and intelligent systems are becoming the foundation of decision-making, organizations must rethink their management strategies and entrepreneurial approaches to stay relevant. All fields of business administration are affected by this digital transformation. Digital marketing leverages AI-powered algorithms for personalized customer engagement, Finance is shifting towards decentralized and blockchain-driven models and Accounting is becoming more efficient with automated compliance and real-time reporting. Additionally, Management Information Systems (MIS) are evolving to incorporate big data and open-access platforms, enabling more informed decision-making. The impact extends to organizational structures, where digital tools enhance agility, collaboration and efficiency. Human Resource Management is also undergoing a paradigm shift, focusing on optimizing human performance through AI-driven insights, while redefining work dynamics and the role of emotional intelligence in leadership.

The research center aims at exploring the impact of digital transformation on various managerial functions and entrepreneurial ventures. It also aims at addressing the several threats digital transformation presents at both managerial and entrepreneurial levels.

Axis 2: Crisis Management, Organizational Development and Leadership Ethics

The world is witnessing an increasing frequency and complexity of crises across various domains, including environmental, financial, economic, health and security. Rapid industrialization and population growth are amplifying these challenges, making crisis situations an inevitable part of business operations. In this volatile landscape, organizations must develop the necessary flexibility and resilience to navigate uncertainties and even transform crises into opportunities. Achieving this requires a fundamental rethinking of organizational structures, ensuring they are adaptable, responsive and equipped to sustain long-term growth despite disruptions. At the core of this transformation lies leadership ethics, as leaders play a crucial role in shaping resilient organizations. Ethical leadership fosters trust, transparency and accountability, key elements in crisis preparedness and response. Resilient management, therefore, becomes an integral aspect of ethical leadership, ensuring that decision-making prioritizes not only business continuity but also social responsibility and sustainable development.

The research center aims at focusing on investigating how organizations can build resilience, what leadership models best support crisis management and how ethical considerations influence decision-making in times of uncertainty.

Axis 3: Transformations in the Global Economy and Policy Responses

The global economy is undergoing significant transformation as patterns of trade, investment and production adapt to a rapidly evolving international landscape. Shifting geopolitical alliances, the acceleration of technological innovation and the growing urgency of climate-related solutions are reshaping the nature of cross-border economic flows. This axis investigates the reconfiguration of global economic interdependence, with particular attention to the dynamics of international trade, the restructuring of global value chains and the evolving geography of capital flows. It explores how governments, firms and multilateral actors respond to these shifts.

While traditional institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank continue to play important roles in shaping the rules and norms of the global economy, new bilateral and multilateral arrangements, financial instruments and industrial strategies are increasingly gaining prominence. The research center aims at focusing on investigating how trade, production networks and financial flows are adapting to geopolitical, technological and environmental shifts, the ways international institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, are responding to new challenges in economic governance, how countries can leverage policy tools to enhance economic resilience and competitiveness.

Axis 4: Sustainability, Economic Development and Inequalities

The rapidly changing economic environment raises distributional and ecological concerns. Understanding the risks and policy challenges regarding inequalities and sustainable development is of utmost importance. By examining the integration of sustainability into business models, the role of corporate social responsibility and the alignment of business practices with Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) principles, this axis of research would provide practical insights for businesses. It would also address how firms can balance profitability with long-term resilience by adopting innovative approaches, such as decarbonization, resource optimization and ethical supply chain management.

Also, the growth of the financial sector shapes economic trajectories and influences income inequality. By analyzing the interplay between financial development, macroeconomic outcomes and income distribution, this axis aims at investigating how access to finance facilitates productive investments, enhances corporate governance and supports innovation within firms. It would also address the risks posed by financial frictions, external shocks and systemic vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the theme would focus on how businesses can align their strategies with evolving financial dynamics such as leveraging credit growth, managing risks associated with inflation or nonperforming loans and incorporating sustainability goals into financial decision-making.

Contact

Research Center in Economics, Business Administration, and Hotel Management

Université La Sagesse
P.O. Box 50501, Furn El Chebbak, Lebanon

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Rethinking Leadership

20-11-2025

An academic event by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration marking the 150th Anniversary of Université La Sagesse exploring how El and Al shape sustainable leadership.
December 4, at 12pm

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