Our first summer school of the Doctoral Academy "Business and Leadership Ethics" on Moral Judgments and (Un)Ethical Behavior is taking place from August 24–28, 2025, in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany.
Research on morality and business has flourished in recent years, offering both fascinating insights into how individuals and organizations behave and compelling arguments for how they should behave. The breadth of this field brings together diverse disciplines and methodologies — creating exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, but also posing challenges for young researchers who may be unfamiliar with certain empirical approaches.
What to expect
Our summer school is designed to provide young researchers with a strong foundation in experimental research within normative contexts. Our goal is to equip participants—especially those with little to no empirical training (e.g., ethicists or philosophers) — with practical tools to begin designing and conducting their own experiments. At the same time, we aim to raise awareness among empirically trained researchers (e.g., economists or psychologists) of the unique challenges and ethical considerations that arise when applying empirical methods to normative questions.
Participants will be guided through the process of developing their own research ideas and experimental designs, with an emphasis on how to ask—and answer—questions with ethical and societal relevance. Beyond study design, the course also emphasizes the importance of real-world application. We support students in identifying opportunities to translate their findings into practice through close collaboration with both academic researchers and practitioners.
Participants will benefit from
State-of-the art lectures from experts in the field | Workshops designed to equip participants with the tools to design their own studies | Theory-Praxis-Transfer Workshops and Industry Talks highlighting possible applications of research in industry | Opportunities for scholarly exchange with doctoral candidates and professional experts from various disciplines | The opportunity to earn 6 ECTS credits| Accommodation, (most) meals and program being covered | A serene and stimulating setting, fostering both intellectual growth and personal reflection | Be part of a supportive community and join our alumni network
Confirmed Speakers
Dr. Florian Artinger - Berlin International University of Applied Sciences & CEO of 'Simply Rational' | Dr. Agne Kajackaite - University of Milan and Marco Fanno Fellow | Dr. Fabio Galeotti - National Center for Scientific Research & University of Lyon | Dr. Andreas Ostermaier - Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen | Dr. Philipp Schreck - MLU Halle-Wittenberg | Dr. Gari Walkowitz - TU Freiberg
Who can apply?
The Summer School is open to doctoral students enrolled at European universities who are working on topics related to business or leadership ethics and / or behavioral research, broadly construed. Advanced Master’s students with an academic focus, as well as early-stage career researchers who have recently completed their PhD, are also very welcome to apply.
All academic disciplines and backgrounds are welcome. The WCGE has hosted a colourful mix of scholars before - from traditional ethicists, experimental economists, social psychologists to economic engineers and computer scientists. If your research even touches upon topics of ethics in business, leadership, or organizational behavior, or you are looking to work with experimental methods in behavioral research this is the place for you to contribute and grow.
We are explicitly recruiting an interdisciplinary group of participants. If you are interested in questions of experimental methods, applied business ethics, or ways to connect empiric research with normative arguments, please feel free to apply!
Costs
- Early Bird Fee: €100 (until May 15)
- Regular Fee: €150
- Accommodation, meals & program included | Travel costs not included
APPLY NOW for our 2025 Summer School – and don’t miss the Early Bird rate until May 15! You can get more information in our brochure and in the (preliminary) syllabus. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and will be open until filled.
Contact
Prof. Philipp Schreck, Cassandra Grützner & Tatjana Arnold