Welcome to the December 2023 edition of the FB Magazine!

The year 2023 has been a watershed moment for the rapid development of digital technologies, at a sometimes bewildering pace. As we approach the end of the year, AI has become an integral part of our everyday lives, opening up new avenues for learning, working, and creativity. Life today feels very different from what it was just 12 months ago. And yet, it is worth noting that the digital technologies available at our fingertips now are only the beginning of what is possible.

In our June edition, we highlighted our exploratory partnerships with leading Web 3.0 providers, aiming to equip our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the blockchain industry. In this edition’s feature article, we present a brand-new partnership with OSL, Hong Kong’s first SFC-licensed digital asset platform, to establish the ‘OSL-PolyU Faculty of Business Research Centre for Web 3.0 AI’. Through collaboration with the private sector, this research centre aims to foster innovation in the emerging digital technologies of blockchain, digital assets, and AI. Our goal is to enhance the accessibility and practicality of digital assets in everyday life, offering tangible solutions for real-world challenges.

In the Alumni section, we are delighted to feature an interview with Dr Michael Xu, a distinguished DBA alumnus and the CEO and CIO of United Great International Investment Ltd. Dr Xu’s diverse professional background, spanning engineering, IT, and finance, has positioned him as a pioneer in leveraging AI technologies to enhance business performance and create value for his clients. During the interview, he shared insights on the impact of AI on the financial services industry, the benefits and challenges of AI-driven investment analysis, and offered valuable advice for future DBA aspirants in the era of AI.

I am once again proud to report that PolyU Business School has achieved significant milestones since the last edition of this magazine. Most notably, we have successfully obtained a five-year re-accreditation from the EQUIS Accreditation Board, reaffirming our commitment to maintaining exceptionally high standards in education and research. You can find further details of this achievement, as well as other recent successes in the Achievements section.

The Research Perspectives section provides a summary of the significant studies conducted by our faculty members throughout the year. As usual, these studies delve into topics that reflect current and emerging trends in business, such as the correlation between a decline in local news coverage and an increase in insider trading, the impact of praise cashback strategies on consumer behaviour and market outcomes, and the development of a novel algorithm capable of predicting market reactions, earnings performance, and even identifying accounting fraud by analysing linguistic changes over time in financial documents. These studies, along with others, continue to present new perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that businesses encounter during this period of rapid and often disruptive change.

Finally, the Around the Faculty section presents our customary compilation of newsworthy stories from within the Faculty. This is where you will find news about award-winning staff, exceptional students, and other compelling updates.

I trust that you will find this edition of the FB Magazine as captivating and enlightening as I do. As we enter the festive season, I wish everyone a joyful and prosperous time. I eagerly anticipate introducing our next edition in the middle of next year.