To shape the future of Information Systems (IS) and accelerate the growth of its next generation of scholars, the HKBU School of Business and the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) held the HKBU-SUSTech Annual IS Workshop on 14th – 15th July, 2025. The event created a vital forum for rigorous intellectual exchange between doctoral students, early-career faculty, and renowned scholars in the field.
Prof. Christy CHEUNG, Chair Professor in Information Systems and Digital Innovation Management at HKBU School of Business, opened the event and introduced Prof. Han ZHANG, Dean of the School, who shared brief remarks. Both remained actively engaged throughout the two-day program, later joining a lively panel discussion where they exchanged insights on the future of IS research. The event also featured an opening address by Prof. Weiling KE from SUSTECH.
A central feature of the workshop was the impressive research presented by emerging scholars from both universities. The HKBU School of Business made a strong showing, with junior faculty members and PHD students sharing work on pressing contemporary issues. Their topics—ranging from understanding the nuances of digital transformation and online trolling in virtual meetings to exploring delegation in decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) and the application of neurofeedback-assisted mHealth for mental wellness—reflected the School’s strong emphasis on digital innovation, interdisciplinary inquiry, and real-world relevance.
The workshop’s unique format was designed to accelerate academic growth, providing research students with direct mentorship from leading scholars—senior and associate editors of top-tier IS journals—from institutions such as the National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, and the University of Hong Kong. Each paper presentation was followed by an intensive discussion aimed at sharpening research and preparing students for publication in top-tier journals.
Keeping pace with rapid technological advancements, the agenda also featured a forward-looking GenAI workshop on “AI Agents & Agentic Workflows” to ensure participants remained at the forefront of digital innovation. The annual workshop once again proved to be a crucial platform, not only for refining research but for building collaborative networks that will drive digital innovation for years to come.
