MBA Education Management Center, UCAS

Alliance of Chinese and European Business Network (ACE) recently made history. The first-ever International Research Symposium was hosted by ACE member Leeds University Business School on 25 - 27 September 2024. This landmark event brought over 40 doctoral students together from membership institutions.

ACE Network President Prof. Hong Zhao (Professor of School of Economics and Management, UCAS) and ACE Network Vice President Prof. Jean Charron attended the event and gave their support. The symposium was a vibrant showcase of cutting-edge research and collaborative spirit. Attendees were treated to a series of keynote addresses from distinguished scholars and industry experts from across the alliance, setting the tone for two days of intensive academic exchange.

Prof. Hong Zhao commented:

“The 2024 ACE Symposium marked a significant milestone as our first in-person gathering, providing an invaluable platform for scholars, especially early career researchers, to connect and share their research work. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Leeds University Business School for their unwavering support and excellent contribution, which was instrumental in the success of this academic event. Looking ahead, we are excited to foster more collaborations and expand more academic activities in the future.”

The breadth of research presented was truly impressive. Topics ranged from the value of tacit knowledge in supply chains and the impact of AI technology on tax services, to climate change’s effects on transport and the role of digital marketing in consumer behaviour. This diversity highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of modern business research and the global challenges it seeks to address.

In addition to presentations, the symposium featured hands-on workshops designed to enhance the professional skills of doctoral students. Sessions on developing funding proposals and conducting responsible research provided practical insights and fostered a collaborative learning environment.

The event also offered ample networking opportunities, with scheduled breaks and social events allowing attendees to connect with senior scholars, industry professionals, and peers from different institutions. These interactions are expected to pave the way for future research collaborations and academic partnerships.

Felipe Bedoya Maya was one of the participants from the Faculty of Economics and Management at the University of Antwerp. He, along with many other attendees, was impressed with the symposium and the quality of content it offered:

“This has been a great learning experience because we have had opportunity to discuss different methodologies and approaches at an international level. In terms of its organisation, this has been the best event I have been to!”

Professor Effie Kesidou, Head of the Graduate School at Leeds University Business School also commented:

“The ACE symposium held in person in Leeds, brought together Postgraduate Researchers and scholars from diverse backgrounds, fostering stimulating discussions that generated new knowledge and hopefully opened new collaborative opportunities. The vibrant exchange of ideas highlighted the strength of our academic community and underscored the importance of face-to-face interactions in driving research excellence with a global impact.”

The successful hosting of this symposium not only underscored the importance of global academic partnerships but also set the stage for future collaborative initiatives within the ACE community. This pioneering event has laid a strong foundation for ongoing international collaboration and academic excellence. It would like to thank Leeds University Business School at the forefront of this event and the ACE organising committee for the event's success.

In addition to the ACE Network President and Vice President who attended, the symposium was made possible by Professor Zhiqiang Wang from Xiamen University School of Management; Mina Licen, the Department Vice Chair of the Academic Unit for Accounting and Auditing at University of Ljubljana; Professor Xin Fu from Xiamen University School of Management; Nele Gernaey, the Doctoral Programme Coordinator from University of Antwerp; Professor Marc Deloof from University of Finance; and Darja Bogataj Saksida, the Head of International Office at University of Ljubljana.

ACE secretariat, School of Economics and Management, UCAS