Nottingham University Business School hosts its fifth Tri-Campus Research Conference

Nottingham University Business School recently held its fifth annual Tri-Campus Conference, providing a valuable platform for research collaboration and knowledge exchange across its three campuses in the UK, China, and Malaysia.

The event brought together senior academics, early career researchers (ECRs), and doctoral students to share and discuss current research, receive constructive feedback, and explore new directions to advance their work.

The conference opened with a plenary session, including a welcome address by Professor Laura Bishop, Vice Provost for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China  (UNNC) followed by opening remarks from Professor David Park, Dean of Nottingham University Business School in the UK.

A central component of the conference was a series of Professional Development Workshops (PDWs) designed to strengthen connections across campuses and support researchers’ professional growth. Topics included board diversity and corporate performance, and the design and effectiveness of business support policy. The Festival of Rejections workshop provided a reflective space for ECRs to explore the realities of academic publishing, share experiences, and gain practical strategies for success. Other sessions focused on building stronger networks among doctoral students across the tri-campus structure. Other workshop topics included:

• AI-assisted academic literature review
• Business support for entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs: access, design, and impacts
• Board diversity: measurement, determinants, and impacts
• Data-driven research in logistics and healthcare operations management

Reflecting on one of the sessions, Haibo Zhou, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UNNC, said:

 “Colleagues from the China, Malaysia, and UK campuses came together to explore business support for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and SMEs. Discussions focused on access to support, how it is designed, and how its effectiveness is assessed.

 “We examined different types of support, governmental vs non-governmental, supply vs demand side, and how support varies across the industrial lifecycle. These conversations highlighted the importance of context in shaping the design and impact of business support.

 “We hope this session inspires future collaborations across campuses to deepen our understanding of how best to help businesses grow and thrive.”

The Tri-Campus Conference continues to demonstrate Nottingham University Business School’s commitment to global academic integration, supporting research excellence and the development of scholars at all stages of their careers.

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