The POMS China Summer School was successfully held at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE) from August 18 to 22. The event was hosted by the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) and the Chinese Society of Optimization, Overall Planning and Economic Mathematics (CSOOPEM), and funded by the International Cooperation Department of the China Association for Science and Technology, and jointly organized by DUFE, the Higher Education Management Branch of CSOOPEM, the Liaoning Provincial Public Administration Graduate Innovation and Academic Exchange Center, and DUFE’s MOE-approved “Big Data-Driven Economic Policy and Operations” 111 Talent Program Base.

This year’s summer school, themed “Digital Technology-Driven Transformation in Operations Management and Social Governance”, upheld the tradition of fostering international academic exchange and sharing cutting-edge research outcomes. Responding to current industry and academic trends, the program explored frontier topics including behavioral data science, the digital economy, digital governance (including digital government), disaster risk management, and smart city management—drawing young scholars and graduate students from around the world. A total of 160 participants participated, including faculty and students from 51 prestigious domestic universities and research institutions (e.g., Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Nankai University, Renmin University of China, Tongji University, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)), as well as international universities such as the University of Western Australia (UWA) and University College London (UCL).

The summer school featured renowned scholars in operations management and social governance as guest lecturers, including:

◆ Subodha Kumar, Executive Editor of Production and Operations Management (POM) and Xinghai Chair Professor at DUFE;

◆ Nagesh Murthy, former President of POMS and Xinghai Chair Professor at DUFE;

◆ Wu Sihong, Senior Editor of Asia Pacific Journal of Management and Lecturer at the University of Auckland;

◆ Gong Yeming, Dean of the AI Management School at Emlyon Business School;

◆ Zhu Xufeng, Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University;

◆ Wei Jiuchang, Dean of the School of Public Affairs, University of Science and Technology of China;

◆ Cao Zhidong and Zheng Xiaolong, Research Professors at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences;

◆ Li Yongjian, Professor at the Business School of Nankai University;

◆ Lyu Xin, Professor at the National University of Defense Technology;

◆ Cao Zhigang, Professor at Beijing Jiaotong University;

◆ Dong Yucheng, Professor at the Business School of Sichuan University;

◆ Xu Jianjun, Executive Director of the Modern Supply Chain Institute at DUFE;

◆ Liu Ke, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Operations Research and Management Science;

◆ Zhang Jiahua, Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences;

◆ Wu Jiang, Director of Wuhan University Press;

◆ Fang Bihe, Managing Editor of Operations Research and Management Science;

◆ Ma Liang, Professor at the School of Government, Peking University.

The program combined thematic lectures, paper workshops, and interactive discussions among participants. The curriculum covered a wide range of topics, from POMS’s development and academic career planning, to writing and publishing guidance for top journals like POM and Operations Research and Management Science. It also delved into the latest advances in operations management, social governance, and cutting-edge research on digital governance and smart cities, all while exploring how to integrate advanced methodologies with practical needs.

As a long-standing public service initiative, the POMS China Summer School leverages global and domestic academic resources to promote the in-depth integration of theoretical frontiers in operations management and social governance with China’s managerial practices. It provides young scholars and graduate students with valuable opportunities to learn from world-leading academics, gain exposure to pioneering ideas, and master advanced research methods, steadily evolving into a prestigious platform for high-level dialogue between Chinese and international management scholars.

While building on this tradition, the 2025 summer school further emphasized its mission of “telling China’s stories and conveying China’s voice”. Through in-depth discussions on digital transformations, it broadened participants’ academic horizons, enhanced their innovative research capabilities, and laid a solid foundation for future interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaborations.

Written by:  Luo Na, Xia Wenxin

Source: School of Public Administration