42 young researchers presented their work on sustainable and digital futures

The Department of Business Administration at Epoka University hosted the Young Researchers Conference 2026 on May 26, 2026. Organized under the theme Sustainable Futures: Building Regenerative and Competitive Economies, the event brought together 42 young researchers from the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences' undergraduate and graduate programs.

The conference ran in two blocks of parallel sessions with six thematic panels. Topics ranged from digital finance and fintech to artificial intelligence, sustainability and circular economy, cybersecurity and governance, consumer behavior, and business analytics.

The opening ceremony was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alba Kruja, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. Each session was evaluated by a dedicated three-member jury, and best paper awards were presented in all six panels at the closing ceremony.

The conference is organized annually by the Department of Business Administration as a platform for student-driven academic inquiry, providing young researchers the opportunity to present their work, receive expert feedback, and engage in scholarly dialogue.

Best Paper Award Winners

Panel I (a) — Digital Finance, Fintech & Economic Risk

Mei Zhuzhi — Drivers of Credit Card Default

Panel I (b) — Digital Business Transformation, Analytics & Organizational Performance

Stela Gabeta — Remote Work and Employee Productivity

Panel I (c) — AI, Machine Learning & Intelligent Systems

Serena Korbi — Dynamic Airline Pricing Optimization Using Reinforcement Learning

Panel II (a) — Consumer Behavior, Digital Experience & Service Innovation

Ema Sadiku — Algorithmic Influence on Consumer Decision-Making

Panel II (b) — Digital Governance, Education, Cybersecurity & Society

Klea Mersinllari — Cybersecurity and Digital Payment Adoption

Panel II (c) — Sustainability, Circular Economy & Institutional Transformation

Stiv Karabeci — Digital Capacity Gap and Sustainable Investment

All 42 Presenters

Panel I (a) — Digital Finance, Fintech & Economic Risk

Jury: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nargiza Alymkulova, MSc Egla Mansi, MSc Mikaela Süslü

• Ami Hoxha — Literacy-Weighted Expectations and Policy Transmission: Evidence from Albania
• Stin Arifi — Federated Credit Scoring with Differential Privacy
• Vikena Mera — The Impact of Fintech on Financial Inclusion in Developing Countries
• Mei Zhuzhi — Drivers of Credit Card Default ★ Best Paper
• Ridlei Liçi — Cashless Albania 2030
• Bediana Rrika — Determinants of Housing Prices Across U.S. States

Panel I (b) — Digital Business Transformation, Analytics & Organizational Performance

Jury: Dr. Vilma Çekani, MSc Anisa Isufi, MSc Sidorela Meta

• Klea Doci — Business Intelligence Tools and Decision-Making
• Melina Myrtollari — Digital Technology Adoption in Tourism SMEs
• Vanessa Konjari — Data Visualization and Business Decision Quality
• Dea Laci — Data Analytics in Albanian SMEs
• Ester Tollozhina — Organizational Readiness in SME Digital Transformation
• Stela Gabeta — Remote Work and Employee Productivity ★ Best Paper
• Kejdi Bega — Machine Learning for Customer Churn Prediction in Telecommunications Markets

Panel I (c) — AI, Machine Learning & Intelligent Systems

Jury: Prof.Dr. Osman Köroğlu, MSc Ardita Dorti, MSc Dafina Muda

• Serena Korbi — Dynamic Airline Pricing Optimization Using Reinforcement Learning  ★ Best Paper
• Flavja Llukaj — Deep Learning Techniques for Video-Based Security Systems
• Ajlin Hoxha — Weakly Supervised Image Classification Using Multiple Instance Learning
• Izabela Lako — AI Adoption in Global Supply Chains
• Kejtlin Bushi — AI Chatbot for Epoka University
• Endri Hysaj — DeFi Money Laundering Detection Using Graph Neural Networks
• Kejdi Sheqeri — Co-Designing a Multi-Layered RESTful Parking Management API with a Machine Learning-Based Occupancy Prediction Service

Panel II (a) — Consumer Behavior, Digital Experience & Service Innovation

Jury: Prof.Dr. Osman Nuri Aras, MSc Anisa Isufi, MSc Sidorela Meta

• Ema Sadiku — Algorithmic Influence on Consumer Decision-Making  ★ Best Paper
• Elsa Beqiri — AI Chatbots in Travel Customer Service
• Eldrina Çela — AI Chatbots in Albanian E-Commerce
• Roena Vrana — Innovation, Security and Trust in E-Commerce in Albania
• Inis Roboci — Mobile Telecommunications Applications and Consumer Behavior
• Kateryna Tarabanovska — Analyzing How Country-of-Origin Influences Brand Perceptions and Consumer Preferences

Panel II (b) — Digital Governance, Education, Cybersecurity & Society

Jury: Prof.Dr. Osman Köroğlu, MSc Ardita Dorti, MSc Dafina Muda

• Inva Hasani — Institutional Trust, EU Accession Optimism and Digital Inclusion
• Samuel Osmani — Cybersecurity Governance in Albanian Public Institutions
• Altea Janopullo — Mobile Learning Adoption in Albania
• Briana Vathi — AI, Task Exposure and Wage Polarization
• Fabjola Gjata — Technology and Inclusion in Education
• Klea Mersinllari — Cybersecurity and Digital Payment Adoption  ★ Best Paper
• Olgesa Profka — Smart Campus Resource Allocation

Panel II (c) — Sustainability, Circular Economy & Institutional Transformation

Jury: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nargiza Alymkulova, MSc Egla Mansi, MSc Mikaela Süslü

• Erma Nasufi — Circular Economy in SMEs
• Nerilda Hamza — ESG Strategies in Higher Education Quality Management
• Amanda Markeci — Information Systems and Sustainable Business Performance
• Deni Huqi — Postharvest Loss Management in Supply Chains
• Xhoana Braçi — Customer Experience as Competitive Advantage
• Majda Mali — Growth Mindset and Innovation in SMEs
• Kloe Sinaj — Smart Cities and Sustainable Urban Development
• Stiv Karabeci — Digital Capacity Gap and Sustainable Investment  ★ Best Paper

We congratulate all 42 participants and the jury members for their commitment to rigorous, student-driven academic research.