At 8:00 AM on December 20, 2024, the Fourth Annual conference of the First International Advisory Board (IAB) of the International Business School was successfully held in conference Room 1329, Wenlan Building, Chang'an Campus, Shaanxi Normal University. The conference adopted a hybrid format, combining online and offline participation, under the theme "Talent Cultivation Goals for AIGC Application Scenarios." Members of the First International Advisory Board and leaders from various levels attended the conference.

The opening session was chaired by Mr. Si Peifeng, Party Secretary of IBS. He welcomed the attending board members and leaders. Mr. Yuan Yifang, Assistant to the University President and Director of the Party and Administrative Office, delivered the opening address. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the International Advisory Board members for their long-standing support and concern for the college's work, while emphasizing the necessity of building consensus on exploring new directions and pathways for business education and cultivating high-quality talent to meet the demands of the new era. Subsequently, Dean Lei Hongzhen introduced the new board members, reviewed discussions from previous conferences, and reported on the college's development, covering aspects such as organizational structure, faculty, student enrollment, academic achievements, and signature programs.

The discussion session was chaired by Professor LAI Kin Keung. Board members engaged in in-depth discussions centered on the theme, "Talent Cultivation Goals for AIGC Application Scenarios," emphasizing the need for business schools to adapt their talent cultivation mindset and focus on developing students' innovation abilities, critical thinking, and digital literacy to meet the challenges of the AI era. Participants suggested that curricula should increase student interaction with AI, such as evaluating AI-generated work and posing questions to AI tools, thereby enhancing students' critical thinking, information discernment, and ability to utilize AI tools in AI-driven scenarios, while avoiding information distortion caused by over-reliance on AI. Board members also highlighted the importance of cultivating students' capabilities in ethical reasoning, technology application, leadership, and industry collaboration. Furthermore, attendees underscored the necessity of academic integrity and lifelong learning, recommending that the college promote teaching innovation through interdisciplinary instruction, practical courses, and faculty training to ensure students possess core competitiveness in the AI era.

In conclusion, Dean Lei Hongzhen thanked all board members for their participation and valuable insights and outlined the future direction for the college. He stated that the college will adjust its curriculum structure and teaching models, strive to address current challenges, and jointly promote the application of AIGC in talent cultivation. The successful convening of this conference provided the college with valuable external perspectives and strategic advice, further advancing its sustainable development in cultivating innovative, practical, and internationally-minded high-quality talent.

Attending members included Professor LAI Kin Keung, Chair of the Board and Distinguished Professor of IBS; Professor Li Yuan, Vice Chair of the Board and Professor at Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Professor Stephen Kelly, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Business School and Head of the School of Management, Massey University, New Zealand; Professor M. Monica Hussein from California State University, East Bay, USA; Professor Yan Liang from Willamette University, USA; Professor Renee B. Kim, Associate Dean of the Business School, Hanyang University, South Korea; Professor Shi Shanshan, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business and Professor of Accounting, Lingnan University, Hong Kong; Professor Zhang Jinghua, Assistant Dean of the School of Business, Macau University of Science and Technology; Professor Zhang Wendong, Assistant Professor at the SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, USA; Associate Professor Bao Te, Economist in the School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Associate Professor Peng Xianghui from the Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University, USA; and Professor Tsun-Jui Hsieh, Dean of the College of Management, Providence University, Taiwan.