ISFB Insight
Call for Papers
April 13, 2026
The ISFB Observatory on Banking and Financial Skills aims to contribute to a better understanding of the changes taking place in roles, organizations, and skills within the banking and financial sector in Switzerland, with a particular focus on future skills.
To this end, the Observatory conducts its own analyses and surveys, in partnership with academic institutions, to shed light on developments in the sector.
In addition to this mission, the ISFB Observatory is hereby launching a call for contributions to the ISFB ecosystem. Under its editorial and scientific guidance, the aim is to enrich the perspectives brought to bear through specialized, analytical, and field-based contributions.
This call is directed at professionals currently working in the Swiss financial sector who are able to submit high-quality, scientifically and analytically rigorous contributions on developments in the sector, grounded in real-world experiences and observations of the transformations currently underway.
The goal is to produce well-researched, well-structured articles that contribute to advancing the discussion on ongoing transformations, while remaining closely aligned with professional, organizational, and sector-specific realities. Selected contributions will be published, following approval, on the ISFB Skills Observatory’s public platform.
Editorial Policy
The goal is to publish highly analytical articles grounded in a clear scientific framework and directly focused on understanding the transformations of roles, functions, practices, organizations, and future skills in the banking and financial sector, based on issues observed within institutions, functions, and professional practices.
Relevant profiles
The following are eligible to submit a proposal:
- individuals holding a doctorate (PhD) who are employed by a financial institution in Switzerland , whether or not that institution is a member of the ISFB
The relevant doctoral programs may include the following fields:
- economic and social sciences
- psychology
- organizational sociology
- law
- mathematics
The Observatory’s committee may also consider proposals from professionals working in the financial sector in French-speaking Switzerland who do not hold a Ph.D., provided they hold positions of responsibility or possess particularly recognized expertise, and hold a Master of Science degree or a degree deemed equivalent by the committee.
Subject areas
Submissions must address issues related to professions, skills, and transformations in the banking and financial sector in French-speaking Switzerland, in one of the following categories:
- Private Banking & Asset Management
- Retail & Corporate Banking
- Legal, Risk, and Compliance
- Support and transversal functions
- Management and Human Resources
The expected contributions are part of an in-depth examination of current trends in professions, roles, and professional practices.
Contributions may address the following topics, among others:
- Changes in Occupations and Roles
Analysis of concrete changes in professional activities: what is actually changing in terms of practices, work organization, and areas of responsibility. - Redefining Professional Roles
An examination of the redefinition of job functions, the boundaries between professions, and the dynamics of hybridization and specialization. - Skills Trends
Identifying emerging, declining, or evolving skills, as well as new requirements for training and expertise. - Effects of Standards and Institutional Frameworks
Analysis of the impact of new standards and regulatory frameworks on professional practices. - Technology, Data, and Artificial Intelligence
A study of the effects of digital tools and artificial intelligence on business activities, decision-making, and organizational structures. - Changing Expectations of Customers and Users
An analysis of new demands regarding speed, simplicity, personalization, and accessibility of services, as well as their impact on work organization, production methods, and professional relationships. - Changes in Professional Practices
Observing changes in the ways people work, collaborate, make decisions, and fulfill their responsibilities. - Tensions, Dilemmas, and Restructuring
Analysis of new tensions (ethical, organizational, professional) that arise in the performance of duties, particularly as a result of technological and legal changes and the heightened expectations of clients or users.
Formats
Contributions must be grounded in relevant scientific literature and address a clearly defined research question, with the aim of shedding light on an issue that is critical to understanding the sector’s transformations, including when such issues arise from field observations or tensions identified in professional practice.
These are texts that are capable of:
- to identify a significant issue or challenge facing the industry;
- to synthesize theoretical, conceptual, or empirical insights derived from scientific research;
- to link these contributions to observable changes in professions, roles, organizations, or skills;
- to produce a structured, informative, and well-reasoned analysis aimed at a professional audience interested in these issues, by clarifying developments that are often perceived in a vague manner in the field.
Scientific rigor and professional relevance
The ISFB Observatory thus aims to support a specific type of publication: texts written by recognized experts who are active in the sector or specialize in these issues, and who are capable of leveraging research resources while contributing to a better understanding of the actual changes taking place on the ground, the early warning signs emerging there, and the concrete issues that arise.
What is expected
Submitted manuscripts must, in particular:
- be part of a rigorous process;
- be based on relevant scientific evidence;
- clearly explain the issue being addressed;
- contribute to a better understanding of changes in professions, organizations, and skills;
- contribute meaningfully to the Observatory’s discussions on future skills;
- maintain a standard of writing and analysis consistent with a high-quality institutional publication;
- draw, where appropriate, on observable professional realities and trends identified in the field regarding the development and adaptability of skills.
Review of proposals and texts
Proposals should be sent to the ISFB Observatory at info [AT] isfb.ch.
They will be reviewed by the ISFB Observatory Committee, which will assess their appropriateness, relevance, and alignment with the Observatory’s editorial and scientific guidelines.
Prior to publication, selected manuscripts will be reviewed by this committee. Authors may be asked to make revisions, provide clarifications, expand on certain points, or correct errors in order to ensure the quality, consistency, and high standards expected for the Observatory’s publications.
Information to be provided
Proposals must include:
- a working title;
- a summary of the proposed contribution;
- the current position of the applicant;
- the institution where he or she works, if applicable;
- the relevant doctoral field, if applicable;
- for applications submitted on an exceptional basis, information that allows for an assessment of the applicant’s expertise;
- a resume.
Purpose and Additional Provisions
Through this call for papers, the ISFB Observatory aims to foster high-quality scholarly output that combines scientific rigor, specialized expertise, and practical knowledge.
The aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the changes taking place in Switzerland’s banking and financial sector by supporting publications that advance the analysis of shifts in job roles, organizational structures, and future skills, based on real-world challenges encountered in practice, across various functions, and within institutions.
Submitting a proposal or text to the ISFB Observatory requires that the author ensure, where applicable, that they are permitted to do so in light of their professional, contractual, or confidentiality obligations. When the contribution is related to an activity carried out within an institution, it is the author’s responsibility to verify that their employer does not object to its potential publication.
The ISFB Observatory Committee reviews submitted proposals and texts at its discretion. It may reject a proposal, request revisions, postpone publication, or decline to publish a text—even after an initial round of discussion or review—if it does not meet the expected scientific, analytical, methodological, or editorial standards, or if it is not consistent with the Observatory’s editorial policy.
Acceptance of a submission proposal does not therefore constitute a commitment to publication.
© Institut Supérieur de Formation Bancaire (ISFB). All rights reserved.
The analyses and content published by the ISFB may be quoted or reproduced in part, provided that the source is clearly mentioned. Any full or substantial reproduction of this article in another medium or format is subject to the prior written authorization of the ISFB. In order to facilitate reading and without any intention of discrimination, the masculine gender is generally used, in accordance with the grammatical rule that allows it to be used as a neutral value to refer to a group of people comprising both men and women. This publication is intended for ISFB members and their employees in Switzerland, as well as anyone interested in finance in Switzerland. It is not intended to be read or distributed in any jurisdiction where its distribution would be prohibited.
