The University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) recently hosted a strategic planning seminar on business administration for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, organized by its School of Economics and Management (SEM) for the Department of Management Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
Nearly 40 scholars from institutions including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Renmin University of China and the Central University of Finance and Economics attended. Discussions focused on financial management, accounting and auditing, and corporate finance in relation to research frontiers and national priorities.
Wu Gang, deputy director of the NSFC Department of Management Sciences, and Zhang Dalin, deputy secretary of the USTB Party Committee, attended. Professor Xu Xin of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management chaired the seminar.
At the opening, Wu emphasized the importance of strategic planning to national development and scientific and technological innovation. He encouraged discussion of the opportunities and challenges presented by large AI models, embodied intelligence and other emerging technologies. Zhang welcomed participants, introduced USTB's academic profile and achievements in business administration, and invited continued support for the university's development.
Xu, who leads the strategic research project for business administration during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, reported on its guiding principles, objectives, key scientific questions, research scope, technical approach, feasibility, annual schedule and expected outcomes. Professors Jin Qinglu of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Xue Jian of Tsinghua University and Xu Nianxing of Renmin University of China presented priority funding areas and research questions in financial management, accounting and auditing, and corporate finance, respectively.
The presentations considered key scientific questions arising from global technological change and opportunities for theoretical and methodological innovation. They emphasized research aligned with national priorities and China's circumstances, a strategic approach to future funding priorities, and stronger international influence for Chinese scholarship.
Participants formed three groups to discuss the thematic areas, covering major project selection, research evaluation reform, changing research paradigms, educational innovation and the practical application of research findings.
At the final plenary, the three group leaders presented their findings. Participants reviewed implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan strategy and preparation of the new plan. Xu summarized the discussion and outlined subsequent drafting arrangements. NSFC Program Director He Yi thanked participants and responded to questions about interdisciplinary research and new research classification codes.
The seminar provided expert input for the NSFC's strategic planning and supported the development of business administration research in response to national needs and economic transformation.
