International sales conference in Panama: enterprises and top sales researchers meet as a result of Finnish-American cooperation

Global Sales Science Institute’s annual international conference collects together sales professors and researchers. The conference aims at increasing higher education level sales education worldwide and creating top research possibilities for sales professionals to serve the future of sales.

“Panama City can be seen as a gateway to entrepreneurship in the whole South America, where many western enterprises have growth possibilities. South American higher education institutions do not offer much sales education but it is one of GSSI’s objectives this year to improve the situation. There is extensive global need for sales education,” Pia Hautamäki tells.

A lot to improve in sales competence

Higher education level sales education is rare in Europe. According to Hautamäki, even if the sales education situation is promising in Finland, there is a lot to do in enabling growth of SMEs through sales.

Tampere University of Applied Sciences offers sales education in its Degree Programme in Business Administration. At TAMK it is possible to complete a bachelor’s degree with specialisation in sales and a master’s degree with specialisation in international selling and sales management. Sales is also taught to a wider group at Y-kampus, which is a learning and innovation environment offering entrepreneurship and innovation services at TAMK and Tampere University.
 

Possibility to participate for enterprises and researchers

“It is worthwhile for enterprises to participate in the conference in Panama as they can learn there about the latest sales research at a practical level. Maybe it will boost finding of an international university to help in international expansion to a selected target market,” Hautamäki says.

The conference offers researchers the possibility to send their research paper for peer review. If approved, it will be included in the conference publication.

“In the conference it is also possible to meet editors of expert journals in a relaxed atmosphere, which is a great opportunity for every future researcher.”

The other conference organiser is Professor Lenita Davis from Little Rock University in the United States. The deadline for submitting research papers or special session proposals is 15 February 2019.

“If you want to participate in building a network of leading sales professors and researchers, join us,” Hautamäki encourages.

Further information on the conference

Further information: Pia Hautamäki, Principal Lecturer in Sales, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, pia.hautamaki [at] tuni.fi (pia[dot]hautamaki[at]tuni[dot]fi)

Photo: Riikka Kalmi