On the evening of December 27, the Department of Business Administration at the School of Economics and Management (SEM), China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) hosted a themed New Year Gala titled “Soaring into the New Year, Advancing with New Aspirations.” The event was held at Taoxi Restaurant and brought together faculty members and students to celebrate the upcoming year and strengthen the sense of community within the department.
The evening began with energetic song and dance performances that immediately energized the audience. Lively music and dynamic choreography set a festive tone, while applause and cheers from faculty and students filled the venue. Following the opening performances, Vice Dean Jiang Hongyan delivered a New Year address, extending warm greetings to all faculty and students in the department. She also reviewed the department’s major achievements over the past year in teaching, research, and student development, expressing appreciation for the collective efforts and accomplishments of the faculty and students.
The gala program was structured into three thematic segments—“Opening Notes,” “Rising Rhythm,” and “Grand Finale.” Each segment featured a variety of performances, including musical acts, creative presentations, and interactive games. These activities not only entertained the audience but also encouraged participation and collaboration among students. Multiple raffle rounds added excitement throughout the evening, with prizes ranging from festive souvenirs and practical gifts to cash red envelopes, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
The year 2025 marked significant progress for the Department of Business Administration across several areas. In program development, the course Marketing was recognized as a National First-Class Undergraduate Course, while several provincial-level first-class courses, including Organizational Behavior, continued to advance in quality development. The course Brand Management was selected as a provincial model case of curriculum-based ideological and political education and was featured at the 2025 National Digital Literacy Enhancement Practice Activity for Teachers and Students. The course Customer Relationship Management received the First Prize for a Curriculum Ideological and Political Education Case at CUMT. In addition, the department’s “Looking Up to the Stars” labor education initiative won the Second Prize in the Outstanding Labor Education Practice Project of Jiangsu Universities in 2025.
In terms of academic programs, the Marketing program has explored a new “Marketing + Artificial Intelligence” dual-degree initiative, which has passed the university’s degree committee review and is expected to be submitted to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, with enrollment planned for 2026. The Human Resource Management program has also been advancing the development of a curriculum system focused on big data and intelligent decision-making, while actively preparing an application for a “Human Resource Management + Artificial Intelligence” dual bachelor’s degree program.
Faculty development and research achievements also reached new milestones in 2025. The department recruited eight outstanding young faculty members, further strengthening its teaching and research capacity. Several faculty members received national and provincial research grants, and collaborative research by faculty member Jiang Luyuan was published in the Journal of Management. In addition, the department played an active role in academic exchange by organizing the 13th China Marketing International Conference (CMIC) in 2025 and will host the 10th Marketing Science and Innovation International Conference (MSI) in 2026.
Students from the department also achieved outstanding results in national competitions, including the “Challenge Cup,” the Business Elite Challenge Series, the Zhengda Cup, and the National Academic Creativity Competition in Energy Economics. More than 100 student awards were earned at various levels. Notably, a team led by Zhang Tieyan won the Second Prize in the national finals of the 19th “Challenge Cup” Competition, marking the first major breakthrough for SEM undergraduate students in this prestigious event.
This New Year Gala marked the third consecutive year that the Department of Business Administration has organized the celebration. The event received strong support from alumni, particularly Peng Gang (Marketing, Class of 2002) and Zou Shiquan (Human Resource Management, Class of 2003), who generously sponsored the event.
More than just a celebration, the gala served as a warm gathering for faculty and students, highlighting creativity, collaboration, and shared joy. From program preparation to on-site coordination, students demonstrated remarkable initiative and teamwork. The evening not only celebrated the achievements of the past year but also reflected the department’s strong sense of community. Inspired by the spirit of the event, faculty and students look forward to embracing the new year with renewed enthusiasm and ambition.
Author & Photo: Ma Yihan
First Review: Jiang Hongyan
Second Review: Li Xinchun
