The NCIC International Conference on Business Education Case Innovation, hosted by the Nottingham Global Case Centre (NGCC), formerly known as NCIC, and organised by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), was a dynamic three-day event that took place from December 10th to 12th, 2025, in Ningbo, China. The conference aimed to serve as a premier international platform for educators, researchers, and industry experts from around the world to explore and advance the latest trends, innovative approaches, and best practices in case teaching and writing methodology and applied research. By convening diverse perspectives and cutting-edge research, the conference sought to deepen understanding of case development, pedagogical applications, and scholarly research, foster the integration of theory and practice, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and ultimately raise global standards in case-based teaching and research to address the complex and evolving challenges faced in practice.
The event commenced with leaders from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, distinguished entrepreneurs, and scholars who shared insights and delivered case teaching demonstrations. Subsequently, participants had the opportunity to relax on an evening cruise along Ningbo’s three rivers, enjoying the city’s picturesque night-time scenery while engaging in academic communication. On the second day, the conference delved further into case writing and teaching methodologies, featuring leaders from leading global case publication institutions who introduced their publication criteria, channels, and procedures. The event concluded on the third day with an internal meeting for members from the University of Nottingham’s three campuses.
Departing from traditional academic conferences, this international conference uniquely bridged scholarship and business practice. It fostered a dynamic exchange where learning stemmed from real-world experience, and practice was elevated through theoretical insight. Featuring distinguished professors and case authors from top institutions like Ivey Business School (IBS), CEIBS, Hong Kong PolyU, and the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), the event offered inspiring keynotes, interactive teaching and writing demonstrations, and insights from leading case publications. More importantly, the event emphasised the integration and interaction between industry and academia, inviting entrepreneurs to engage in in-depth dialogues that bridged business experience and academic theory. This conference served as the premier platform for educators, researchers, practitioners, and the Nottingham community to exchange ideas, gain invaluable perspectives, and explore innovative ways to use case studies in empowering the next generation of business leaders. Participation was fundamental, adding unique value and significance to this collaborative endeavor.
Conference Information
Time: 10-12 December 2025
Venue: Shangri-La Ningbo, Junior Ballroom (10-11 December)
University of Nottingham Ningbo China (12 December)
Agenda
|
Day 1 Views Sharing of UNNC Leaders, Well-known Entrepreneurs and Scholars
|
| Time |
Content |
Speaker |
| Morning |
| 9:00-9:15 AM |
Welcome Speech |
Prof Jon Garibaldi |
| 9:15-9:35 AM |
Introduction of NUBS China |
Prof Kok Wei Khong |
| 9:35-9:55 AM |
Introduction of NCIC |
Dr Huimin Song |
| 9:55-10:15 AM |
Keynote Speech (1) |
Mr Punan Xu |
| 10:15-10:30 AM |
Tea Breaking & Group Photo |
|
| 10:30-11:30 AM |
Keynote Speech (2) |
Prof Paul Beamish |
| Afternoon |
| 1:30-3:00 PM |
Case-based Teaching Demonstration |
Prof Shimin Chen |
| 3:00-3:30 PM |
Tea Breaking |
|
| 3:30-5:00 PM |
Live Case Mastery Demonstration |
Dr Huimin Song |
| Evening |
| 8:00-9:00 PM |
Night cruising on the three-river conjunction |
Extra Fee Required (Optional) |
| Day 2 Case Writing & Teaching Methodologies and World-Famous Case Publication Sharing |
| Morning |
| 9:00-10:10 AM |
Case Writing Method Sharing |
Dr Justin Law |
| 10:10-10:20 AM |
Tea Breaking |
|
| 10:20-11:30 AM |
Case Teaching Method Sharing |
Prof Kamel Mellahi |
| Afternoon |
| 1:30-2:00 PM |
IVEY Case Publication Sharing |
Ms Candis McInnes |
| 2:00-2:30 PM |
The CASE Centre Sharing |
Ms Vicky Lester |
| 2:30-3:00 PM |
CEIBS Case Publication Sharing |
Prof Shimin Chen |
| 3:00-3:30 PM |
Q&A Session |
|
| 3:30-3:45 PM |
Tea Breaking |
|
| 3:45-4:15 PM |
Roundtable: Case Writing |
Chair: Dr Judy Tang |
| 4:15-4:30 PM |
Tea Breaking |
|
| 4:30-5:00 PM |
Roundtable: Case Teaching |
Chair: Dr Fui-Theng Leow |
| Day 3 Cross-Campus Case-Based Teaching and Research Exchange (Internal Meeting) |
Guest Speakers
Professor Jon Garibaldi
Professor Jon Garibaldi is the Provost of University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Professor Garibaldi initially completed a BSc in Physics at the University of Bristol UK, before becoming a software engineer in industry for approximately six years. He returned to academia to complete an MSc and PhD in 'Artificial Intelligence' at the University of Plymouth UK and then, after research fellow posts, joined De Montfort University UK as a lecturer. He joined the School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham UK in 2002, becoming full Professor in 2012. He became the Head of School of Computer Science in Jan 2016, leading the School through both a doubling in size and through the covid pandemic.
Professor Paul Beamish
Prof Paul Beamish is the Faculty member and Chair reviewer of the IVEY Case Publication. He is the founder of the 39 Country Initiative and author of 170 case studies, which have appeared in journals and 160 books. Over 40 of his cases have won awards, including 20 Best Sellers at Harvard. 4.5 million copies of his cases have been studied worldwide.
Professor Shimin Chen
Prof Shimin Chen is the Zhu Xiaoming Chair Professor in Accounting, Associate Dean (Case Centre) at CEIBS and Director of CEIBS Publication. Prof. Chen is an award-winning case author, with his cases published at ChinaCases.Org, Harvard Business Publishing, Ivey Publishing, and the Case Centre.
Mr Punan Xu
Mr Punan Xu is the Chairman of the Board of Safewell Group Holdings Ltd. In response to the call for Zhejiang entrepreneurs to return in 2014, Mr Xu invested USD 110 million and USD 60 million successively to establish the Safewell Global Headquarters Operation Center in Jiashan and the Safewell Asia Pacific Headquarters Park in Ningbo, respectively. The company's Safewell brand, established in 1873, is now an internationally renowned safe brand and has become a leader in the global safe industry. Mr Xu is also a member of Nottingham University Business School China Advisory Board.
Professor Kok Wei Khong
Professor Khong is the Dean of Nottingham University Business School China and a Professor of Marketing Analytics. Before joining the Business School, Khong was the Executive Dean of one of the top private universities in Southeast Asia. During his four years tenure, he led an unranked business school to the top 100 in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject in Business and Management Studies.
Dr Huimin Song
Dr Huimin Song is the Director of Nottingham Case Innovation Centre and Professor of Practice in Accounting at Nottingham University Business School China. Dr. Huimin Song is the chief editor of UNGC’s “20 Case Examples of Private Sector’s Sustainable Development in China for 20 Years”.
Dr Huiming Song joined UNNC to work in accounting and Finance department in March 2016. Before joining UNNC, she have accumulated more than 14 years’ work experience in accounting and finance sector.
Professor Kamel Mellahi
Prof Kamel Mellahi is a professor of business administration at UNNC. He is a Fellow of the prestigious Academy of Social Sciences. His cases had been accepted by well-known case libraries like IVEY and Harvard and are winners of IVEY’s case centre awards and competitions in 2016.
Dr Justin Law
Dr Justin Law is the Director of Faculty of Business Case Consortium and Senior Lecturer at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Dr. Justin Law’s cases have won first and second prize in the CEIBS Global Contest for the Best China-focused Cases in 2022 and 2021.
Ms Candis McInnes
Ms Candis McInnes is the Executive Director at Ivey Publishing within the Ivey School of Business, leveraging over twenty-five years of experience in sales, customer experience, market research, and brand management.
Ms Vicky Lester
Ms Vicky Lester is the Chief Executive Officer of The Case Centre
Dr Judy Tang
Dr Judy Tang is an assistant professor in finance and accounting at the Nottingham University Business School, China. She holds a PhD in Finance and has also attained accounting certification of Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Her teaching experience covers a range of topics in both finance and accounting, including financial accounting, management accounting, financial analysis, business finance, accounting information system, etc. She also possesses extensive experience in coaching student competitions, such as case competition and simulation competition. Besides coaching students, currently she is focusing on identifying and organising competitions for business students. Her research interests focus on the inter-discipline of corporate finance and accounting, as well as the pedagogy of business education and the effectiveness of student competition and incubation projects.
Dr Fui-Theng Leow
Dr Fui-Theng Leow (FT) is an Associate Professor in Information Systems at Nottingham University Business School China. FT holds a PhD in educational technologies and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, with over 17 years of teaching experience at international universities. Her teaching focuses on information systems, technology applications, and digital transformation. FT's research interests span pedagogy, educational technology, health informatics, learning analytics, and virtual environments. She has extensive experience supervising postgraduate dissertations and PhD projects, mentoring Advance HE fellowship applicants, conducting professional dialogues and teaching observations, leading e-learning training sessions, organizing seminars, and reviewing academic journals.