Diana Bociga, CSPSW, University of Manchester (2021 Cohort)

In July 2023, we had the privilege of hosting an interdisciplinary workshop at The University of Manchester, focusing on the field of white-collar crime, corporate crime, and organizational crime. This workshop provided early career researchers with an invaluable opportunity to present their research, receive targeted feedback, and establish professional connections.

The idea for this workshop originated during one of our regular meetings at the Manchester Organizational Non-compliance Initiative (MONI), a research group based at The University of Manchester. During that meeting, we brainstormed the concept of organizing a workshop specifically dedicated to early career researchers who utilize empirical and interdisciplinary methodologies to explore various forms of organizational, corporate, white-collar, and financial crimes. Following our discussion, we applied for funding from the NWSSDTP and collaborated with colleagues at Lancaster University who were engaged in similar research. With their support, we secured the necessary resources to host the workshop in Manchester.

To promote the workshop, we utilized platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and various mailing lists. Interested participants were required to submit an abstract, which was reviewed by the organising committee. Upon acceptance, they were asked to submit a 4,000-word essay or draft. These submissions were then assigned to a junior researcher and a senior discussant. The discussants had sufficient time to review the material before the workshop.

The day of the workshop finally arrived, and we were delighted to welcome attendees from universities across the UK, as well as from countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Canada. The workshop format encouraged active participation from all attendees, with four panels on day 1 and three panels on day 2. We incorporated coffee breaks between panels, as well as a longer lunch break, providing ample opportunities for networking and informal discussions. After each presentation, the junior and senior discussants offered 5-minutes of feedback on both the presentation and the essay. Following their comments, the floor was opened to the general audience for further questions and comments. I’m pleased to say that all the participants had done their homework really well, leading to productive and in-depth discussions on each piece of research presented.

Thanks to our sponsors, we were able to offer more than just coffee, lunches and travel bursaries to some participants. We also organised a wine reception on the first day,  allowing participants to socialize and get to know each other. We all know that networking is always better with a glass of wine!  On the second day, surprisingly, Manchester treated us to sunny weather and, after the workshop, we had the opportunity to show our invitees around our local pub and other nice places, which perhaps gave them the wrong impression that Manchester is always sunny. This informal social event provided an opportunity for bonding and laid the foundations for what could become lasting friendships.  We have now formed a group and hope to stay connected for years to come.

Following the workshop, we facilitated communication between presenters and discussants to provide feedback on the manuscripts. We look forward to receiving the revised essays, as our plan is to publish them in an edited book. Our work is not yet finished!

Undoubtedly, this workshop has been beneficial for all involved. We have received nothing but positive feedback. Presenters highly valued the opportunity to receive specific feedback, and the discussants gained valuable experience in providing feedback on others’ work. Senior academics recognized the networking opportunities offered by the event and emphasized the importance of such gatherings in establishing strong research relationships for the future. It is certainly worth considering organising similar (if not the same) events in the future.

I would like to thank my friends on the organising committee: Pete Duncan, Borja Alvarez and Yongyu Zeng, with special thanks to Pete for taking the lead in organising the event. I would also like to thank Nick Lord for his advice and guidance throughout the organisation of the workshop. Finally, thanks to NWSSDTP and Lancaster University for their financial support, without which this workshop would not have been possible.