Academic Excellence
Dr Weize Huang, Research Director and Associate Professor at Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), together with his collaborators from Chongqing University, Renmin University of China, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Lingnan University, published a research paper entitled “Team Dual Formation Strategy, Team Ambidexterity Trajectory, and Entrepreneurial Effectiveness” in Personnel Psychology, a premier international journal in the fields of organizational behavior and human resource management. The study reveals how entrepreneurial teams’ dual formation strategy sustains the balance between exploration and exploitation, thereby enhancing entrepreneurial effectiveness. This journal is an ABS 4* journal and an ABDC-A* journal. In the JCR category of “PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED”, it ranks 2nd out of 115 journals; in the “MANAGEMENT” category, it ranks 16th out of 426 journals, placing it in the Q1 tier. Its latest impact factor is 10.8. According to the journal’s database, this marks the first-ever publication by XJTLU-affiliated scholars in this journal.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/peps.70030
Dr Fawad Ahmed, Associate Professor at EEH, published an action research study in the SSCI Q1 journal International Journal of Management Education (ranked #9 in Management). The study demonstrates how problem-based pedagogy, experiential learning, and aligned curriculum design enhance students’ entrepreneurial mindset, operationalising industry-engaged learning. This work provides empirical evidence for theory-practice integration in higher education, reinforcing EEH’s academic leadership in Syntegrative Education innovation.
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1nH985EuEplzH1
Dr Fawad Ahmed, Associate Professor at EEH, published a paper in the SSCI Q1 journal Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies. The study identifies public service motivation and leader-follower value congruence as key mechanisms linking servant leadership to workplace citizenship, advancing understanding of ethical leadership. This achievement highlights EEH’s academic contribution to organisational behaviour and leadership research.
https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/DWT2ABYBE8BMKBUGNEKA/full
Dr Bo Zhang, Assistant Professor at EEH, and Senior Associate Professor Dr Teck Chai Lau supervised PhD student Kexin Chen, who published a first-author paper titled “How AI Shapes Entrepreneurial Learning: A Systematic Review of Inputs, Mechanisms, and Outcomes” at a Scopus-indexed international conference. Using a systematic literature review method, the paper identified three pathways through which AI influences entrepreneurial learning: direct AI tool use (explained through Human Capital Theory, fostering opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial knowledge), AI-integrated courses (explained through Experiential Learning Theory, enabling competence-building through scenario simulation and feedback loops), and perceived AI-related capabilities (explained through the Theory of Planned Behavior, shaping entrepreneurial intention via students’ subjective evaluations of AI usefulness and ease of use). The study provides a systematic theoretical framework for designing and implementing AI-enhanced entrepreneurship education.
Dr Bo Zhang, Assistant Professor at EEH, and PhD student Kexin Chen have co-authored “Chapter 7: Real-World Case Studies: AI-Enhanced HyFlex Implementation in Diverse Cultural and Institutional Settings,” published by IGI Global Scientific Publishing in the academic volume AI-Powered HyFlex Learning for Student Engagement (Editors: Professor Chee Leong Lim, Taylor’s University; Professor Kwok Shing Cheng, The Education University of Hong Kong; ISBN: 9798337361826, 2026). This chapter examines real-world AI-enhanced HyFlex implementations across diverse cultural and institutional contexts, reflecting EEH’s scholarly output in AI-powered education and cross-cultural pedagogical innovation.
Dr Bo Zhang, Assistant Professor at EEH, has published as first and corresponding author a paper titled “Beyond Traditional Methods: Augmented Reality Enhances Working Memory and Emotion Recognition in Chinese Children with Autism—A CANTAB-Controlled Trial” in the SSCI Q1 top journal Educational Technology & Society. This paper is a one of the core outputs of the National Social Science Fund “14th Five-Year Plan” 2021 Youth Project in Education led by Dr Zhang, titled “Intervention Study of Markerless Augmented Reality Cognitive Training Game on Working Memory of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in China” (Approval No. CCA210256). Through a randomized controlled trial (N = 80) using CANTAB standardized assessments, the study found that AR-based cognitive training produced significantly greater working memory transfer effects in children with ASD than traditional 2D training, providing important empirical evidence for AR-based cognitive intervention in special education and reflecting EEH’s sustained contribution to AI in education and inclusive technology innovation.
Dr Bo Zhang, Assistant Professor at EEH, has obtained a second Software Copyright Registration from the National Copyright Administration of the People’s Republic of China for the Markerless AR N-back Cognitive Training System Software (V2.0) (Registration No. 2026SR0556614, Certificate No. 17770895, April 2026). This work forms part of the series of outputs from a National Social Science Fund Youth Project, “Intervention Study of Markerless Augmented Reality Cognitive Training Game on Working Memory of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in China” (Approval No. CCA210256). The software is purpose-built for cognitive intervention research with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, elevating the classical N-back working memory training task from a traditional two-dimensional format to an immersive augmented reality experience with adaptive difficulty levels spanning 1-back, 2-back, and 3-back. It serves as the experimental tool for investigating whether the AR version demonstrates greater transfer effects than its 2D counterpart in training spatial working memory in children with ASD, reflecting EEH’s continued contribution to AI in education and inclusive technology innovation.
Dr Fawad Ahmed, Associate Professor at EEH, published a study as corresponding author in “Frontiers in Psychology” (SSCI Q1), titled “Leadership Avoidance as a Rational Choice Among Women Instructors in Higher Education: Cross-Cultural Parallels“. It reframes women academics’ leadership avoidance not as a deficit in ambition, but as a rational response to role stress, personal strain, and identity threat within gendered institutional contexts. Drawing on matched samples from the UK and Pakistan, it offers a cross-cultural and theoretically grounded contribution to higher education leadership research. This work demonstrates the academic influence of EEH in fields of organisational behaviour and sustainable development.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1767636/abstract
Dr Fawad Ahmed, Associate Professor at EEH, published a study as first author in SAGE Open (SSCI Q1), titled “From Executive Sponsorship to Sustainable Impact of ERPs in Small and Medium Enterprises”, the study advances “Information Systems Success theory” by unpacking why ERP investments often underdeliver in resource-constrained SMEs. It demonstrates that system value hinges not on executive support alone, but on socio-technical alignment of compatibility and user self-efficacy, which convert compliance into effective system use and measurable organisational benefits. This work highlights EEH’s research contributions in digital innovation and sustainable enterprise development.
Dr Fawad Ahmed, Associate Professor at EEH, is serving as Guest Editor for special issue in the Journal of Nursing Management (SSCI Q2 in Management, Q1 in Nursing); titled “Leadership Style Orchestration in Nursing Management: Multi-Level, Multi-Style Leadership for Safe, Engaged and Sustainable Healthcare Practices.” Submission deadline is 25 September 2026. Share this call here with colleagues and networks who may be interested in contributing.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1155/JONM.SI-2026-000274
Dr Bo Zhang, Assistant Professor at EEH, has obtained a Software Copyright Registration from the National Copyright Administration of the People’s Republic of China for the Markerless Augmented Reality Stroop Cognitive Training Software (V1.0) (Registration No. 2026SR0478488, March 2026). This work forms part of the series of outputs from a National Social Science Fund Youth Project (Approval No. CCA210256). The software is purpose-built for cognitive intervention research with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, elevating the classical Stroop cognitive training task from a traditional two-dimensional format to an immersive augmented reality experience. It serves as the experimental tool for investigating whether the AR version demonstrates greater effectiveness than its 2D counterpart in training working memory and inhibitory control in children with ASD, reflecting EEH’s contribution to AI in education and inclusive technology innovation.
Dr Bo Zhang, Assistant Professor at EEH, has published a solo-authored paper titled “Special Education Teachers’ Intention to Support the Use of Computerized Cognitive Training for Children With NDDs in China: A Theory of Planned Behavior Perspective” in the top-tier international journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (CAS Tier 2, JCR Q1, Springer Nature). This work forms part of the series of outputs from a National Social Science Fund Youth Project (NSFC-Education, Approval No. CCA210256). The study investigates the psychosocial mechanisms shaping special education teachers’ (SETs) intentions to support the use of Computerised Cognitive Training (CCT) for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in China, drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Based on a survey of 310 SETs nationwide, the research finds that subjective norms are the strongest predictor of behavioral intention, with perceived behavioral control exerting its influence fully through social endorsement rather than direct agency. The findings highlight that in China’s special education digital transformation, fostering institutional support environments and professional training systems is as critical as the technology itself, reflecting EEH’s scholarly contribution to AI in education and inclusive technology innovation.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07293-5
Dr Shuo Yan, Assistant Professor at EEH, has published a paper in the top journal IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, developing and validating a “Data Management Stage Model”. The model translates global data regulations into actionable managerial practices across the data lifecycle, helping organisations identify compliance gaps and support sustainable digital transformation. This research reflects the department’s academic contribution to data governance and regulatory technology innovation.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11347553
The study develops an evaluation framework for intelligent educational software and analyzes feedback from both teachers and educational technology experts. Findings reveal clear differences in software performance across educational scenarios, with strong technical quality but room for improvement in requirement alignment and innovation. In addition, teachers and experts show different priorities regarding software design, offering useful insights for future product development and practical adoption. This publication highlights EEH’s ongoing contribution to the intersecting fields of educational technology innovation, AI-enhanced learning, and digital assessment research.
https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251387420
An SSCI paper by Dr Fawad Ahmed, Associate Professor at EEH, has been recognised as a Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in the Economics & Business field by Clarivate’s ESI database. This distinction highlights the research’s significant academic impact and contribution, reflecting its innovative and leading role in the discipline while further elevating EEH’s international visibility and reputation in related research.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/csr.2115
Dr Weize Huang, Associate Professor at the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub (EEH), has published a paper in the Journal of Product Innovation Management (ABS4-star) marking XJTLU’s first publication in this prestigious journal. The achievement highlights EEH’s growing research strength and reinforces its academic impact in innovation and entrepreneurship.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpim.12803
Dr Weize Huang, Associate Professor at the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub (EEH), has published research as the first author in the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal (FT50, ABS4-star), marking XJTLU’s first first-author publication in this prestigious journal. The achievement demonstrates cutting-edge exploration in entrepreneurship research and further strengthens the academic impact of EEH and XJTLU.
https://doi.org/10.1002/sej.1527
Dr Shuo Yan, Assistant Professor at the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub (EEH), has had her preprint “Bridging the Gaps: A Comprehensive Review of Data Management Capability Maturity Models in the Digital Era” published in IEEE Transactions on Big Data (SCI Q1), an international journal of high repute. This achievement highlights the interdisciplinary strength of EEH in digital innovation and research, contributing to the advancement of the field.
https://doi.org/10.1109/TBDATA.2025.3621149
Dr Fawad Ahmed, Associate Professor at the Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Hub (EEH), has published a paper in the SSCI Q1 journal Current Psychology, introducing the innovative concept of “Green Harmonious Human Resource Management”. This work underscores EEH’s research contributions at the intersection of sustainable development and management innovation, further strengthening the academic impact in promoting responsible business practices.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-025-08488-2