Everything you need to know about ACEF

The sixth edition of the Annual Conference on Economics and Finance (ACEF) is being organized on 4th-6th February, 2025 at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Hyderabad by the Department of Economics and Finance. The Economics Association had the opportunity to sit down with Professor Archana Srivastava, Convenor of the conference.

Archana ma'am is an associate professor at the Department of Economics and Finance. Her research interests include International Trade and Development, Socio-Economic Issues, Efficiency and Productivity Analysis, Energy Economics and Policy. She teaches multiple courses, including International Economics and Principles of Economics.

In this exclusive interview, Economics Association's Joint-Editor Vidyesh Panyam, Events Coordinator Apoorv Tandon and Editorial Board member, Vaishnavi K Duggaraju sat down with Prof. Archana to give students a deeper insight into the conference and what it has in store. The conversation offers an insightful look into what the conference is about, its core theme and how it is beneficial for students.

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Q: For those who are unaware, or who haven’t attended the conference before, could you briefly explain what it is, its goals and objectives?

A: The Annual Conference in Economics and Finance is a conference where the Economics Department of BITS Hyderabad invites national and international speakers, to get exposure about what is happening in the current world and how they are tackling it, as well as what work is going on all over India. It is a very good platform for advancing knowledge. Our target is to highlight that BITS is not just renowned for engineering, but for subjects like Economics too. We are doing well and are one of the emerging departments. The purpose of the conference is to bring the community closer and advance knowledge and technology.

Q: What, in your opinion, distinguishes this year’s sixth ACEF from previous editions of the conference, is there anything you’re expanding upon or doing differently this time around? 

A: With every edition of the conference, we have made improvements and advanced it forward. This year we have incorporated pre-conference workshops, where we will be focusing on AI/ML techniques, Time-Series and Causal Inference Analysis. This has been done to bridge the gap between technology and the theoretical knowledge.

Secondly, we have collaborated with two journals in economics for publication opportunities. The first is Foreign Trade Review, and the other one is the South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance. These Journals will take up some of our good papers for publication. Further, we have added an editorial session to detail about publication opportunities. 

Thirdly, we have an editorial session as well with Foreign Trade Review where they will communicate how papers can be published, and what sort of papers they usually publish and do not publish.

To top it all off, we have invited keynote speakers from nationally and internationally reputed institutions who will help to deliver quality knowledge to our students. 

Q: Could you briefly tell us about the keynote speakers of the conference?

A: The best point of our conference is that we are inviting nationally and international renowned speakers . On Day 1, we have Professor Prachi Mishra. She is the Director and Head of Isaac Center for Public Policy at Ashoka University. She did her PhD from Columbia University. She has previously worked with the IMF, Ministry of Finance and Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council as well. 

On Day 2, we have two keynote speakers. In the morning, we invited Professor Sushanta Mallick. He is from Queen Mary's School of Business and Management of London. He is a professor of International Finance. He is a very well known figure in the field. In the evening, we have another speaker, Professor Srinivasan Rangan, who is from IIM, Bangalore. He is also from a finance background. Our keynote speakers this time are going to give a big boost to ACEF. 

Q: Is there any core theme for this year’s conference? I’ve noticed a lot of emphasis on technology and hands-on learning, especially in the pre-conference sessions.

A: We are focusing on the emerging issues in economics and finance. We have divided the conference schedule into different agendas to incorporate different areas like finance, macroeconomics, development, education, trade, health, energy, the environment. We have incorporated the papers from each and every field, so there is something for everyone's interests.

Q: Can you let our readers know, in what ways attending the ACEF can benefit a student pursuing a career in economics or finance?

A: Of course, this is a great opportunity for all students, because our students have a technology background. While they are familiar with various techniques, the sessions will show them how to apply them practically in the fields of economics and finance. Attending ACEF helps provide insights into real-world applications. Our keynote speakers and participants come from well-reputed institutes like IITs and IIMs, so there is a lot to learn for our students. Moreover, ACEF provides an excellent networking opportunity, enabling students to connect with experts and peers, who can help them flourish in the field.

Q: As you have mentioned, there are several talks scheduled by academicians, as well as hands-on sessions such as the ones on the applications of AI and ML, Time Series and Econometrics. How does the conference aim to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications in economics and finance?

A: So, this time, I would say there is a fantastic blend of theory and practice. We have incorporated real world case studies, there are academic talks, there is incorporation of techniques, and of course, networking opportunities, which will definitely help to bridge the gap between the two. 

Q: Following on from the last question, how does ACEF encourage interdisciplinary research, for example, in AI/ML and Economics?

A: That's what we are doing with our pre-conference workshops, because AI/ML is a purely technological technique. These workshops help in understanding how we can apply technology in the field of economics and finance. In fact, the causal inference, and the time series workshops which we are doing that are also associated with software usage: how to implement techniques in STATA and Python. So basically, it is bridging the gap between theory and practice.

This time, we have selected papers where people have used unique methodologies, or they have worked with the data and arrived at policy conclusions. So, this conference is a good opportunity for interdisciplinary research. 

Q: With several papers being presented at this year’s conference, I'm sure you must have gone through a lot of entries. What in your opinion, makes a research paper stand out for selection?

A: First of all, the topic should be interesting. Then, we consider the objective of the topic, the problem statement, and how it has been addressed. Lastly, we evaluate whether the right methodology has been chosen to solve the problem and if there is proper justification in the results. Academic writing style also plays a crucial role. Many students may not be fully aware of its importance, but we take it into account as it leaves an impression on others as well.

Q: One of the things I have noticed from last year's conference was that there seems to be a strong sense of bonding between the members of the department, especially during the lunch and dinner events. How do you think the conference helps strengthen this tight-knit community?

A: Definitely!  You have a very good opportunity to build your network. Get to know the people,  and people will get to know you. It’s a space where you can talk about what you’re working on, the challenges you see, and explore potential solutions. This platform allows you to engage with individuals from different communities, understand what they are doing, and discover opportunities for future collaboration.

Q: Another observation is that the professors and the research scholars seem to work together very closely. Is there anything from the conference that us undergraduates can focus upon to help contribute to the departments?

A: They definitely have a great learning opportunity. Our young scholars have talent. They have new ideas that are constantly emerging and are well-equipped with technology. This is a field where professors, PhD scholars, and undergrad students all come together. Undergrad students have significant exposure in terms of techniques and learning how to apply their knowledge. In fact, we academicians have a lot to learn from our economics students and our Economics students get to learn a lot as well. They are young minds full of ideas, they may not always know how to bring those ideas to life. That’s where this platform can help.

Q: Lastly, is there any message that you want to give to the students who are planning to attend the conference?

A: I would suggest that everyone attending the conference make the most of it by attending all the sessions. Be sure to listen to our keynote speakers, understand what they are working on, and look for opportunities to collaborate. Develop your collaboration skills, engage in discussions, and ask questions. Take this as a chance to gain knowledge and explore what you can learn from others. This is a valuable opportunity—so make sure to build connections, stay curious, and actively participate. A lot is happening at the conference, and being involved will help you make the most of it. Over the years, we have felt the need to go beyond just paper presentations. Many students, especially undergrad students and new scholars, are eager to learn various techniques. Platforms like this provide a valuable opportunity for learning—not just through research papers or websites, but also by attending these practical sessions. These conferences serve as an excellent source of knowledge, offering hands-on insights that can greatly benefit students and researchers alike.

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We hope you enjoyed this conversation and gained a deeper understanding of the exciting developments surrounding the conference. We look forward to seeing you at the 6th Annual Conference on Economics and Finance, where you can engage with leading academicians, learn through hands-on workshops, and be a part of the vibrant discussions shaping the future of economics and finance!