JCAE Annual Symposium and Doctoral Consortium 2027

CALL FOR PAPERS JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING & ECONOMICS Annual Symposium and Doctoral Consortium January 15th – 17th, 2027 The 2027 JCAE Annual Symposium, organized by the Journal, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and The Macau University of Science and Technology, will be held on the campus of The Macau University of Science and Technology during January 16-17, 2027. It will be preceded by the Doctoral Consortium on January 15, 2027.   The Theme The theme of the 2027 JCAE Annual Symposium will be The Future of Accounting and Economics Research: AI, Sustainability, and More. We invite submissions of original research papers using innovative methods to address relevant and practical issues. We particularly welcome timely research that can enhance our understanding of how AI, sustainability initiatives, and other emerging yet critical issues are transforming the future of accounting and economics research. These topics include, but are not limited to: AI, Fintech, Machine learning applications Sustainability reporting, disclosure, and regulation Corporate accountability, governance, stakeholder primacy Green and transition finance, macroeconomic impact   Keynote Speakers Professor Sudipto Dasgupta, Department of Finance, Business School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Professor Liandong Zhang, School of Accountancy, Singapore Management University   Details & Submission Guidelines Plenary session submissions Plenary paper submissions should be made directly to JCAE using Editorial Manager. The submission fee is US$100. The submission fee will be refunded for the papers accepted for plenary session presentation. Use the following link to submit papers: https://www.editorialmanager.com/cae/default1.aspx In the “Article Type,” choose Conference Papers. 1 Best Paper Award (USD 300) and 1 Best Discussant Award (USD 200) will be presented at the conference. Concurrent session submissions Concurrent manuscripts should be submitted in MS Word format (1 blind copy & 1 copy with authors’ details) to jcae2027.conf@polyu.edu.hk. Please state clearly that the manuscript is submitted for the Concurrent Session by including “Concurrent Session” in the subject line of the email. Please do not use Editorial Manager for the submission of Concurrent Session papers. There is no submission fee for Concurrent Sessions submissions.   Journal Publication Subject to satisfactory revision and acceptance by the Editors, papers accepted for Plenary Sessions will be published in the JCAE. Authors are required to sign a copyright release form as a condition of publication.   Authors who do not wish to commit their papers to the Journal should submit their papers for consideration at the Concurrent Sessions. Note that concurrent session submissions are not considered journal submissions and will not be automatically considered for the journal.   Plenary submissions not selected for Plenary Sessions will automatically be considered for the Concurrent Sessions. Authors who do not wish their papers to be considered for Concurrent Sessions should clearly state this in their submission (or notify us after submitting it to Editorial Manager). Doctoral consortium submissions The Doctoral Consortium allows students to present their proposals and interact with renowned professors of international standing. Research proposals should be submitted in MS-Word format with an abstract (maximum 800 words) to jcae2027.conf@polyu.edu.hk. Please state clearly that the proposal is submitted for the Doctoral Consortium by including “Doctoral Consortium” in the title of the email.   Important Dates Please make your submissions (i.e., papers for Plenary sessions through Editorial Manager and papers for Concurrent sessions or Doctoral Consortium via email) by August 31, 2026. Authors will be notified of their acceptance around September 30, 2026. Each paper will be peer-reviewed according to the policies of JCAE and the journal publisher Elsevier.   About the Journal of Contemporary Accounting & Economics The JCAE is a tri-annual publication published by Elsevier in April, August, and December. The Journal encourages submissions in all the major areas related to accounting and auditing issues. JCAE is widely recognized as a high-quality journal by researchers and journal evaluation institutes. For example, since 2010, JCAE has been ranked an “A” grade journal in the Journal Rating Listing of the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC). JCAE is included in the SCOPUS of Elsevier, the EconLit of the American Economic Association, and the SSCI listing. The Journal has an impact factor of 2.9 and a Citescore of 6.0. For all inquiries, please contact: jcae2027.conf@polyu.edu.hk   Conference Organising Committee   Prof. Lin Yongjia, The Macau University of Science and Technology Prof. Nancy Su, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Prof. Zhang Shuran, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University  

Result Announcement: Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU School of Accounting and Finance 2026

We are pleased to present the “Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU School of Accounting and Finance 2026” to two distinguished graduates in recognition of their outstanding achievement, active support to their alma mater as well as impactful contributions to the wider community. Congratulations to the following awardees!

AF Students Recognised at PolyU–CCB (Asia) Scholarship Presentation Ceremony

The School of Accounting and Finance (AF) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to share that its students have been recognised at the PolyU – China Construction Bank (Asia) (CCB (Asia)) Scholarship Presentation Ceremony, held on 29 May 2026. Organised under the theme “Financing the World, Building the Future,” the initiative reflects a shared commitment between PolyU and CCB (Asia) to nurture globally minded financial talent equipped to meet the evolving demands of the industry. This year, all 18 scholarship recipients are undergraduate students from AF, demonstrating the School’s strong dedication to developing future-ready professionals. The awardees were recognised for their outstanding potential in three key areas shaping the future of finance: artificial intelligence, sustainable finance and cross-border finance.  Among the recipients, three First Prize awardees delivered impressive presentations at the ceremony, showcasing their ability to integrate academic research with current industry developments. A highlight of the ceremony was a symbolic activity in which awardees wrote down their career aspirations and placed them into a globe. This meaningful gesture represents the joint commitment of PolyU and CCB (Asia) to support young talents and contribute to the development of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the global financial landscape. These students’ achievements underscore AF’s dedication to driving impact through talent development by nurturing professionals who are equipped to lead digital transformation, advance sustainability and create long-term value in the financial sector. The School extends its heartfelt congratulations to all scholarship recipients and looks forward to their continued success. Read the full PolyU press release: https://polyu.hk/EzrYq  

AF Student Project “LexDrive” Named Top Performer in Micro Fund 2025/26

We are pleased to share that Mr Lau Chun Yuen, a student of BBA in Accountancy, has been named a Top Performer under the Micro Fund 2025/26 Cohort 2 for his project “LexDrive”. Dr Lucas Chiang, Lecturer from the School of Accounting and Finance, developed the project concept and serves as its Supervisor and Legal Advisor with Mr Lau serving as Principal Applicant in the 2026 cycle. The project team is supported by Mr Theodor Yu as Technical Consultant. “LexDrive” is an AI-driven legal technology platform designed to enhance the handling of personal injury claims arising from traffic accidents in Hong Kong. By integrating intelligent automation, fraud detection and multilingual tools, the platform aims to improve efficiency, accessibility, and fairness in legal processes. Following this achievement, the team will proceed to the next stage of the Micro Fund journey, which includes participation in the Lean Launchpad Programme (LLP) — a mandatory training focused on business model development and market validation— and the Final Presentation, where they will compete for further funding and the opportunity for admission to the HKSTP Incubation Programme/Ideation Programme.  

Asia-Pacific Digital Economy Forum 2026 – PolyU Digital Economy Workshop (Hong Kong)

Hosted by the Research Centre for Digital Economy (RCDE) under the School of Accounting and Finance at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), we are pleased to announce that Asia-Pacific Digital Economy Forum 2026 – PolyU Digital Economy Workshop (Hong Kong) will be held on 6 - 7 July 2026.  Theme: Elevated Sovereign Debt and the Fiscal–Monetary Nexus Academic Workshop  Date: 6 July 2026 (Monday) Time: 9:30 am - 6:00 pm (Registration starts at 9:15 am) Venue: AG710, 7/F, Poly U Industry Forum on Digital Economy & FinTech Date: 7 July 2026 (Tuesday) Time: 9:30 am-1:00 pm (Registration starts at 9:15 am) Venue: AG710, 7/F, Poly U Background and motivation Elevated debt levels and constrained fiscal capacity have refocused attention on debt sustainability, sovereign risk pricing, and macro-financial outcomes. The fiscal–monetary interaction is therefore a core channel through which inflation expectations, policy credibility, and financial stability are determined. At the same time, digital transformation is reshaping economic and financial mechanisms that matter for sovereign risk and policy transmission. FinTech-enabled intermediation, platform finance, digital payments, data- and AI-driven credit allocation, and emerging monetary innovations can alter liquidity conditions, risk premia, capital-flow dynamics, and the sovereign–financial sector nexus. This workshop aims to foster frontier research that integrates these strands using rigorous theory, credible empirical identification, and disciplined quantitative modelling. We particularly encourage submissions exploring intersections across sovereign debt dynamics, fiscal–monetary interactions, and digital transformation. We also welcome research on innovation-led growth under high-debt regimes, including whether and how financial access and credit conditions can protect firms’ innovation activities when fiscal space is constrained.  Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: Sovereign debt & fiscal–monetary nexus • Debt sustainability, sovereign spreads, default/restructuring risk • Fiscal dominance, credibility, inflation dynamics, and policy coordination • Monetary policy under high-debt constraints; unconventional tools • Sovereign–bank nexus, financial stability, spillovers and capital flows Digital economics, FinTech & modelling • FinTech, platform finance, and digital payments: inclusion and risk • CBDCs, stablecoins, and crypto-assets: transmission and sovereign risk • Big data and AI: forecasting, evaluation, and risk monitoring • Digital finance and credit allocation: innovation under high public debt Keynote speakers • Professor Sushanta Mallick, Queen Mary University of London • Professor Kai Li, The PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University • Additional keynote and invited speakers will be announced in due course Journal support and submission invitations This workshop is supported by partner journals. Following the workshop, authors of selected and conference-presented papers will be invited/encouraged to submit their manuscripts to the following outlets (subject to each journal’s scope and editorial decision): • European Economic Review (EER) — Special Issue: “Elevated Sovereign Debt and the Fiscal–Monetary Nexus” (Guest Editor: Sushanta Mallick). • Economic Modelling (EM) — Special Issue: “Digital Economics & FinTech: Modelling” (Guest Editors: Xuan Zhang and Zilong Wang). • Oxford Economic Papers (OEP) — Selected high-quality papers will be recommended to Oxford Economic Papers (OEP) for consideration with a fast-track review process (subject to confirmation). Important note: Workshop presentation and/or invitation to submit does not guarantee publication. All submissions will undergo the journal’s standard independent peer-review process. Submission Submissions from researchers worldwide are welcome: • Full paper, or • Extended abstract (2–3 pages) Submission email: xuanzhang.nanking@gmail.com Timeline • Submission deadline (final): 1 June 2026 • Rolling review and notification: decisions will be communicated on a rolling basis; early submissions will receive earlier decisions • Registration deadline (to confirm attendance): 10 June 2026 • On-site check-in: 5 July 2026 • Academic workshop: 6 July 2026 • Industry forum (Digital Economy & FinTech): 7 July 2026 Registration Due to limited capacity, registration was accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration fee for AF faculty members and students are waived. For external participants, registration fee of HK$2,000 will be charged for this event. Participants are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements.  For PolyU AF Faculty members, please register (Here)  For PolyU AF PhD students, please register (Here)  For Guests, please register (Here) For enquiries, please contact Ms Mandy Chan at mlokchan@polyu.edu.hk or Dr. Paul Wang at paul.wang@polyu.edu.hk. Conference Chairs Professor Nancy Su, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Professor Pengcheng Song, Xi’an Jiaotong University Dr Xuan Zhang, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Organising Committee (alphabetical by surname) Professor Sushanta Mallick, Queen Mary University of London Professor Pengcheng Song, Xi’an Jiaotong University Professor Nancy Su, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr Paul Wang, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dr Zilong Wang, University of Cambridge Professor Xiuyun Yang, Xi’an Jiaotong University Professor Yong Yang, Shanghai Polytechnic University Dr Xuan Zhang, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics    

Inauguration Ceremony of the PolyU - Tech-Trans Cross-Border Data Flow Laboratory and PolyU - Zhong Sheng Credit Management Cross-Border Credit Technology Collaboration Lab

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) School of Accounting and Finance hosted the inauguration ceremony of the PolyU - Tech-Trans Cross-Border Data Flow Laboratory (CBDFL) and the PolyU - Zhong Sheng Credit Management Cross-Border Credit Technology Collaboration Lab (CBCTL) on 24 April 2026.   The ceremony was officiated by Prof. Nancy Su, Head of the School of Accounting and Finance, alongside distinguished industry leaders including Mr. Yiuching Chan, Executive Director of Tech-Trans Group, and Mr. Kuanhua Hu, Executive Director and CEO of Zhongsheng Credit Management.   In her opening remarks, Prof. Su highlighted the strategic importance of the two laboratories in strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for data and credit. She noted that the CBDFL will focus on secure and compliant cross-border data transmission, while the CBCTL will drive innovation in credit technology and FinTech solutions to support enterprises expanding globally.   The event featured unveiling ceremonies for both laboratories, followed by group photos with PolyU faculty members and industry representatives. Guests included leaders from China Telecom International, Qi An Xin Technology Group, PingAn OneConnect Credit Reference Services Agency, Hawley & Hazel Chemical Ltd., and other organisations.   PolyU expressed deep gratitude to its partners and donors, including Tech-Trans Telecom Group and Zhongsheng Credit Management Co., Ltd., whose generous contributions will support the laboratories’ research and foster collaboration across academia, industry, and government.  

AF Hosted Second PhD Consortium

The School of Accounting and Finance (AF) hosted its second PhD Consortium on 20 April 2026, continuing to provide a valuable platform for showcasing the research achievements and efforts of its PhD students. The event brought together research students and faculty members for a full day of stimulating presentations and constructive academic exchange. Throughout the consortium, 13 PhD students presented their research papers, each followed by interactive Q&A sessions. The presentations covered a broad spectrum of topics, highlighting the originality and rigour of the research conducted by AF’s PhD students. The event concluded with the announcement of the top six paper presentations, recognising students for their excellent research quality, effective presentation skills, and strong ability to respond to questions. Their accomplishments once again reflect the high calibre of research and academic excellence within AF.

AF Faculty Members Win the Second Prize in the 2025 Global Contest for the Best China-Focused Cases

Congratulations to our School of Accounting and Finance (AF) faculty members on winning the second prize in the 2025 Global Contest for the Best China-Focused Cases. The case, titled “Citychamp Watch and Jewellery Limited: The Corum Conundrum”, was selected as one of the 16 prize-winning cases out of 413 submissions. Co-authored by Prof. Nancy Su and Dr Justin Law of AF, together with three other scholars, the case has been accepted into the China Europe International Business School’s (CEIBS) Global Platform of China Cases (ChinaCases.org) — a leading academic and professional database of business case studies specifically focused on local Chinese management practices and global business scenarios. The Contest identifies and promotes business and management teaching cases with a focus on the Chinese context from a global perspective. It rewards cases presented with high-quality, in-depth teaching notes that incorporate theoretical analyses and best practices. For details about this Contest and the prize winners, please click here. 

Call for Nominations: Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU School of Accounting and Finance 2026

The School of Accounting and Finance (AF) is delighted to announce that the new round of nominations for the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU AF 2026 is now open. The Award aims to recognise distinguished graduates of AF for great distinction in their respective areas, dedicated support to their alma mater, as well as impactful contributions to the wider community.   Eligibility The nominated candidate must be a graduate who has successfully completed full-time or part-time programme offered by PolyU (or its forerunners: Hong Kong Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College, and Hong Kong Polytechnic) which led to academic award accredited by the respective Institution.   The proposer can be a PolyU graduate, Honorary Graduate, University Fellow, PolyU staff, PolyU Council and Court member and Advisory Committee member.  There is no limit to the number of nominations to be submitted by each proposer.  However, the proposer cannot be the candidate himself/herself. Selection Criteria The selection of the Award considers two criteria:   (1)      Support and Contributions to PolyU: This key criterion considers nominee’s support and contribution to PolyU, including his/her leadership and/or support in University event and/or alumni activities, support in advisory committee, teaching, research, or student development, as well as support rendered to PolyU initiatives including financial / in-kind donation, or sponsorship.   (2)      Achievement Areas: Three achievement areas serve as a framework for assessing nominee’s achievements in the concerned areas.  They include Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial Achievement, and Scholarly Achievement.   Award Category Description Professional Achievement This achievement area recognises alumni who have attained distinguished achievements, demonstrated exemplary leadership, and made a strong impact on their profession / industry / society. Entrepreneurial Achievement This achievement area recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as founded or advanced business or technology ventures with impact. Scholarly Achievement This achievement area recognises alumni scholars who have made notable scholarly or research contributions in their disciplines, with proven track record and excellent reputation in the field. Alumni who are aged at/under 40 in the award selection year would be eligible for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.   Nomination and Selection Schedule The nomination form could be downloaded here. Please return the completed form to af.mktg@polyu.edu.hk with all required supplementary documents (such as a current curriculum vitae of the nominee and two written references) on or before 8 May 2026 (Friday). Award Selection Committee The Selection Committee will examine the nominations and assess candidates’ qualifications and performance for the awards.   Confidentiality All information submitted on this nomination form will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used by the Award Selection Committee for the purpose of the selection process.    Enquiries School of Accounting and Finance The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Email: af.mktg@polyu.edu.hk

PolyU AF-HKMA IPMN Closing Ceremony and Student Presentations

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Industry Project Masters Network (IPMN) Scheme 2026 was successfully concluded on 10 April 2026, marking the programme’s third consecutive year of fruitful collaboration and professional development. The closing ceremony, held at the Royal Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui, celebrated months of dedicated work by 16 MSc in Accounting and Finance Analytics students of the School of Accounting and Finance (AF). To showcase their achievements, eight student groups with two persons for each, presented their projects to the audience of industry professionals and project owners. This was followed by speeches from Prof. Feng Tian and Dr Justin Law of AF. The ceremony concluded with a group photo, the presentation of souvenirs, and a celebratory dinner. We extend our sincere thanks to the HKMA and our industry partners for their support and collaboration, which have made the Scheme a success and strengthened the mentorship bonds between mentors and mentees. Through the IPMN Scheme, our students have gained invaluable practical experience and industry insights, particularly in fintech and sector-specific projects. We are proud of their accomplishments, which demonstrate the practical skills and knowledge they have acquired and their ability to collaborate effectively with industry professionals and project owners.   Event photo