On April 18, the Seminar on the Independent Knowledge System of Human Resource Management Discipline (2026) was successfully held at the International Academic Exchange Center, Jingshi Building, Beijing Normal University. Co-hosted by the Alliance for the Independent Knowledge System of Human Resource Management Discipline, undertaken by BNUBS, and co-organized by the School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China and the Human Resource Special Committee of the Labor Economics Society, the event received academic support from Renmin University of China Press and media support by Workers' Daily. Nearly 90 deans, associate deans, department directors and academic leaders from over 40 universities nationwide, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, South China University of Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nankai University, Shandong University, Sichuan University, Tianjin University and Wuhan University of Technology, gathered at Beijing Normal University. They conducted in-depth discussions on major topics, including the construction of an independent knowledge system for the human resource management discipline, serving national strategies, interdisciplinary integration, collaborative innovation of industry, education and research, and disciplinary transformation against the backdrop of digital and intelligent development.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Sun Zhijun, Party Secretary of BNUBS. Professor Wang Shoujun, Executive Vice President of Beijing Normal University, and Qinggeletu, Associate Party Secretary of Renmin University of China, delivered speeches respectively. The two leaders extended a warm welcome to all participating experts and scholars. They pointed out that against the backdrop of accelerating the development of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics and advancing the construction of a powerful country in education, the human resource management discipline is embracing new historical opportunities and shouldering important missions of the new era. It is hoped that taking this seminar as an opportunity, the academic community will further pool collective wisdom, enable the human resource management discipline to root in Chinese practice, address domestic issues and serve national strategies, and steadily enhance disciplinary development quality and social contribution.

 Leaders Delivering Speeches

At the main forum, Professor Zhao Shuming from Nanjing University, Professor Zhang Zhixue from Peking University, Professor Xie Xiaoyun from Zhejiang University, Professor Liu Shanshi from South China University of Technology, and Professor Sun Jianmin from Renmin University of China delivered keynote reports. The five scholars systematically elaborated on the opportunities and challenges for human resource management in the AI era, disciplinary system restructuring, the construction of independent knowledge systems, national strategy-oriented development and interdisciplinary integration.

 Keynote Speeches

Starting from the evolutionary course of the discipline and technological changes driven by artificial intelligence, Professor Zhao Shuming analyzed the far-reaching impacts of AI on the teaching, research and practical application of human resource management. Focusing on the restructuring and upgrading of the human resource management discipline, Professor Zhang Zhixue stressed that the development of an independent knowledge system should be deeply embedded in the Chinese context, adhere to a problem-oriented approach and consolidate theoretical foundations. Based on the new development landscape of the discipline, Professor Xie Xiaoyun proposed to fully summarize the management practices of Chinese enterprises and develop original concepts and theories with distinct Chinese features. Combining the transformation and upgrading of enterprises, Professor Liu Shanshi explored key directions for the human resource management discipline to serve national strategies and meet the practical demands of organizations. From the perspective of interdisciplinary attributes, Professor Sun Jianmin comprehensively reviewed the development context, knowledge sources and construction paths of human resource management. Rooted in academic frontiers and focused on contemporary strategic issues, these keynote reports integrate theoretical depth with practical significance, offering valuable references for advancing the construction of the disciplinary, academic and discourse systems of human resource management with Chinese characteristics.

In the afternoon, five parallel sub-forums were held simultaneously with the following themes: Paths to Independent Knowledge System Construction — Rooting in Chinese Context, Breaking Western Theoretical Frameworks and Building a Distinctive Chinese HRM Theoretical Discourse System; Disciplinary Mission for National Strategy Implementation — How HRM Empowers the Development of an Educated Nation, Talent-driven Nation and New Quality Productive Forces; Interdisciplinary Development and Paradigm Innovation — In-depth Integration of HRM with Psychology, Data Science, Cognitive Neuroscience and Other Disciplines in the AI Era; Integration of Industry, Education and Research — Innovative Collaborative Modes for HRM Majors in the Context of New Liberal Arts; Digital-Intelligent Integration and Disciplinary Reshaping — Restructuring and Innovative Development of Human Resource Management. Conveners, speakers and participating experts engaged in extensive and in-depth exchanges at each sub-forum.

 Parallel Sub-forums

In the sub-forum report and free discussion session, participating experts summarized the key outcomes of group discussions. It was widely recognized that the construction of an independent knowledge system for human resource management must firmly take root in the Chinese context, strengthen problem awareness and practical orientation. The discipline should continuously expand research boundaries and enhance innovation capacity by serving national strategies, responding to organizational changes, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and deepening industry-education-research integration. Meanwhile, closer exchanges and cooperation among all alliance members should be strengthened to foster coordinated progress between organized academic research and systematic knowledge system development.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Xu Zhixing, Director of the Human Resource Department of BNUBS, delivered a concluding speech. He noted that the seminar featured focused themes, substantial content and fruitful achievements, fully demonstrating the alliance’s sense of responsibility and academic vitality in promoting the independent knowledge system construction of human resource management. Looking ahead, the human resource management discipline shall continue to base itself on Chinese practice, seize new opportunities brought by artificial intelligence, and sustain innovative development of its disciplinary, academic and discourse systems.

The successful holding of this seminar has further consolidated the consensus among human resource management scholars on independent knowledge system development, deepened understanding of the discipline’s development orientation, historical mission and practical paths, and laid a solid foundation for the alliance to deepen cooperation and advance the high-quality development of China’s human resource management discipline.

Contributed by Department of Human Resource Management

Edited by Xu Zhixing

Reviewed by Hu Conghui