The EMOK PhD Forum was held on February 2, 2024, as a continuation and expansion of the similar event held in February of the previous year. The primary goal of the event was to support collaborations among young marketing researchers and strengthen networks between institutions. Additionally, it aimed to provide another regular meeting opportunity for EMOK community PhD students alongside the summer EMOK conference.

After brief introductions, the attending PhD students formed research teams, collaborating to develop research concepts. A total of 18 young researchers and their 3 mentors formed 4 research teams. The result of their collaborative work was 4 abstracts, which were submitted for the next EMOK PhD Forum on the following topics:

  • Acceptance and perception of AI-supported mental health services - Betti Bifkovics, Mariann Jászay, Nóra Kisfürjesi, Sándor Huszár, and their mentor, András Fehér.
  • Analysis of a potential plant-based dietary supplement product - Márk Antal, Henrietta Boros, Tamás Ulicsák, and their mentor, Szilvia Bíró-Szigeti.
  • Perception of Chinese automotive brands in Hungary in terms of sustainability - Andrea Béla-Csovcsics, Ottília Táskai, Kálmán Benics, Bence Vereckei-Poór, Tamás Ujházi.
  • On the road with data: AI-supported data processing in the study of Budapest GO application usage habits - Beáta Sikó, Fruzsina Nagy, Tamás Iványi, Bertold Pál, Máté Bence Bollók, Levente Kökény, and their mentor, Zsófia Kenesei.

We sought to strengthen the motivation of the participating young researchers through various supportive factors:

  • The winner of the Most Promising Research Group award will be selected from among the participants at the summer conference.
  • We provide a "fast track" for the publication of studies in the conference proceedings for research initiated here.
  • The highest-quality joint productions will be published in the Marketing & Management and Tourism Bulletin journals.
  • Furthermore, many opportunities for publication are available to the participants, one example being this news report, to help our domestic colleagues become better acquainted with them.

The event was successful and conducted in a particularly good atmosphere - accompanied by some champagne and mulled wine - so hopefully, it set an attractive example for PhD students who may join EMOK PhD Forum events in the future.

 

Prepared by: Szabolcs Prónay