Building on the success and reputation of the 2024 CNAIS-UNNC Paper Development Workshop, 2025 CNAIS-UNNC Paper Development Workshop, which took place at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China on 13 July, was held under the continued guidance of the China Association for Information Systems (CNAIS) and Nottingham University Business School China.
As the second workshop in the event series, the 2025 CNAIS-UNNC Paper Development Workshop has been comprehensively upgraded in terms of agenda and expert lineup, aiming to provide participants with more opportunities to scientific research exchange and cooperation, and further expand the academic brand of the business school.
A total of 10 editors-in-chief, senior editors and associate editors of top international journals in the field of information systems were invited as tutors. The workshop attracted more than 90 participants from home and abroad. Over 30 high-quality papers were carefully selected from the submissions and matched with the expert mentors, who provided valuable guidance and suggestions.
At the opening session of the workshop, Executive Director and Secretary-General of the China Association for Information Systems (CNAIS), Professor Xunhua Guo of Tsinghua University, and Professor Kok Wei Khong, Dean of Nottingham University Business School (China), gave a speech and expressed his warm welcome to the participants.
Soon afterwards, Prof Suprateek Sarker of the University of Virginia, Editor-in-Chief of Information Systems Research, delivered a keynote speech. Drawing on his own academic experience, Prof Suprateek Sarker explained the three domains of academic life for early-career faculty and doctoral students in the field of information systems, while offering suggestions on overcoming academic challenges. His insights greatly benefited the attendees.
In-depth exchanges between tutors, participants, and young scholars during the tea break session.
After the tea break, two roundtable discussions were held. The first roundtable discussion was moderated by Prof Chee Wei (David) Phang, Professor in Marketing and Information Systems at Nottingham University Business School China. Prof Xiaosong (David) Peng from Lehigh University, Prof Zhenhui (Jack) Jiang from HKU Business School, Prof Jason Bennett Thatcher from the University of Colorado-Boulder, Prof Juan Feng from Tsinghua University, Prof Suprateek Sarker of the University of Virginia shared insights and advice on the challenges, choices, and possibilities facing mid-career faculty members.
The second roundtable discussion was moderated by Dr Jenny Pu, featured Prof Chee-Wee Tan from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Prof Jingjun (David) Xu from City University of Hong Kong, Prof Huigang Liang from the University of Memphis, Prof Qi (John) Dongfrom Nanyang Technological University, Prof Xin (Robert) Luo from The University of New Mexico (UNM). Together, they shared insights on the theme " Surviving and Thriving: Balancing Quality and Quantity for PhDs/ECRs ".
During parallel paper development sessions, each mentor and discussant provided guidance to paper author with closed-door discussion. The session was open to all registered participants, providing substantial academic value to both presenting authors and attending scholars.
The reception session after the parallel paper development sessions provided attendees with a relaxed and pleasant networking atmosphere. The deeper conversations and closer interactions transformed the ending into a promising starting point for future collaborations.
This workshop builds a bridge for young scholars and PhD students in the field of information systems to have an in-depth dialog. Through face-to-face discussions with editors of top journals, the participants were able to polish their papers precisely and improve their chances of being published in high-level journals. The successful conclusion of the event once again confirmed the unique position of Nottingham University Business School (China) in cross-border academic cooperation and its profound accumulation in the field of information systems research, and at the same time, it presented a rigorous and energetic academic style to domestic and international colleagues.
CNAIS is the China academic association for information systems, and a member chapter representing China at the International Association for Information Systems (AIS). The mission of CNAIS is to become a pivotal platform for academic exchanges and collaboration in the field of information systems in China, and to facilitate Chinese scholars to communicate and collaborate with other academic groups and scholars around the world.