The University of Venda’s Department of Human Resource Management and Labour Relations in the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law proudly co-hosted the historic 1st Human Resource Management International Conference (HRMIC) in partnership with the Department of Management Sciences and Entrepreneurship, School of Business and Economics, Moi University, Kenya. The conference that was held from 02-05 June 2025 in Eldoret, Kenya, attracted over 100 scholars from 14 countries and 21 Institutions of Higher Learning. This conference not only served as a platform for knowledge exchange but also as a catalyst for future collaborations, inspiring hope for sustained academic partnerships.
The hybrid-format conference, themed “Innovative Human Resource Strategies for Workforce Resilience and Sustainable Development,” served as a transformative platform to address critical challenges in global workforce development, organisational resilience, work-life balance and HR innovation.
Prof Barwa Kanyane, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law at the University of Venda, emphasised the significance of this collaboration during the official opening ceremony. He highlighted signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Moi Univer-sity as a significant step towards sustained academic partnerships and internationalisation. This MoU includes joint research projects and student exchange programmes, which will foster a deep-er understanding of global HR practices and promote cultural exchange. A new MoU with Moi University marks the beginning of a historic chapter for both institutions in the region,” he said.
Prof. Kiplagat Kotut, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Moi University, echoed the same sentiments and emphasised the relevance of Human Resource Management in shaping the stability and func-tionality of organisations worldwide, adding that the effort to bring this conference togeth-er has laid solid foundation for the ever-lasting conference that has brought scholars from all over the world together to shape the work environment and to bring stability in the workplace.
The conference comprised three breakaway sessions with eighty presenta-tions delivered. These sessions covered a diverse range of topics, from stra-tegic HR practices and leadership development to employee engagement, tal-ent retention, and digital transformation, providing a comprehensive overview of the current trends and challenges in the field of Human Resource Management.
Among the participating institutions were: University of Venda, Moi University, Uni-versity of the Free State, University of Rwanda, Taita Taveta University, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Durban University of Technology, American Uni-versity in Dubai, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Makerere University Business School, Uni-versity of South Africa, Ansbach University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Open Uni-versity of Kenya, Kyambogo University, Masai Mara University, Mountains of the Moon University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kisii University, Koi-taleel Samoei University, Uganda Management Institute and Midlands State University.
Some of the scholars attending the conference
A group photo of attendees of the conference’s official opening ceremony
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Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
