From August 28 to 31, the 15th China International Digital Publishing Expo (CDPE), themed Bridging Digital and Physical, Shaping AI Future, was held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. The NKU Publishing Research Institute participated in multiple sessions of the expo, showcasing its achievements and co-hosting a roundtable seminar with Peking University and Central South University. A total of 12 faculty members and students, including Chen Peng, Vice Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Qi Dexiang, Executive Vice Dean, Ma Ruijie and Liu Zhongbo, Vice Deans of the NKU Publishing Research Institute, and Liu Yunfeng, Director of the Modern Publishing Research Center, took part in various activities.
Group photo of faculty and students of the NKU Publishing Research Institute at the booth of the Joint Exhibition of Universities Collaborating on Publishing Discipline Construction
At the Joint Exhibition of Universities Collaborating on Publishing Discipline Construction, the NKU Publishing Research Institute presented its achievements under the theme Rising Tides of the Haihe, Aspiration for a Publishing Power. The exhibition highlighted major outcomes in publishing discipline joint construction, think tank research, integration between industry and education, and talent cultivation, showcasing the strengths and distinctive features of Nankai's publishing discipline. During the event, Li Tianshun, Director of the Publishing Office of the Publicity Department of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee, accompanied by official Zhang Wenting, visited the NKU booth. On behalf of the NKU Publishing Research Institute, Professor Qi Dexiang expressed gratitude for the Publicity Department of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee's strong support in Nankai's publishing discipline construction and reported on the achievements of joint construction.
Professor Qi Dexiang presents the achievements of joint construction to Director Li Tianshun
At the Empowering Talent through Digital Intelligence: The First Seminar on Digital Publishing Talent Development held on the morning of August 29, Professor Liu Zhongbo shared the achievements and experiences of NKU's publishing discipline development. Since being selected for the National Construction Program of Publishing Think Tanks in 2023, the NKU Publishing Research Institute has followed the approach of integrated development of publishing think tank construction and the publishing discipline. It has been committed to the deep integration of research innovation, industry services, and talent cultivation, achieving remarkable results in university-enterprise cooperation, project implementation, and results commercialization, particularly in explorations related to digital publishing and artificial intelligence applications. NKU has established a doctoral authorization point in publishing, forming a comprehensive talent cultivation system that spans undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. It has also jointly established, with Tianjin Publishing and Media Group, the Industry-Education Integration Postgraduate Workstation and the Intelligent Publishing Technology and Standards Laboratory. These initiatives provide students with extensive industry practice opportunities, facilitate research breakthroughs and results commercialization, and promote the sustained development and innovation of the publishing discipline.
Professor Liu Zhongbo speaks at the seminar
On the afternoon of August 29, NKU, together with Peking University and Central South University, co-hosted the roundtable seminar titled Smart-Chain Publishing: AI-Driven Content Generation and Technological Transformation. The event brought together experts from academia and industry to engage in in-depth discussions on AI-driven innovations for industry-education integration in publishing. In his speech, Professor Liu Yunfeng noted that in recent years, the sharp decline in both national readership and sales of printed books has not only affected the sustainable operation of publishing enterprises but also led to a loss of professional talents. He attributed this phenomenon to the shift of knowledge acquisition toward mobile internet platforms. Against this backdrop, on-demand publishing empowered by AI and digital technologies may become a key solution. Real-time interaction allows publishers to tailor publications to individual needs, offering printed books in various formats while integrating e-books, audio, and video to reduce waste and improve efficiency. With AI-driven precision supply and content services, the publishing industry is expected to overcome inventory and sales challenges, shifting from the passive high pricing-deep discounting model to an innovative, AI-driven model focused on intelligence and personalization.
Professor Liu Yunfeng speaks at the roundtable seminar
Professor Qi Dexiang provided an in-depth analysis of how the publishing industry should adapt to the AI-driven transformation. He emphasized that, on one hand, the publishing industry is shifting towards intelligence and digitization, requiring future publishing professionals to have skills in AI collaboration, data analysis, and interdisciplinary thinking. On the other hand, there is a growing trend in the industry moving from content generation to knowledge services, which demands that publishing professionals possess diverse backgrounds and interdisciplinary insights. In response to the trends of the times and the industry, the NKU Publishing Research Institute has collaborated with Tianjin Publishing and Media Group to establish the Industry-Education Integration Postgraduate Workstation and the Intelligent Publishing Technology and Standards Laboratory. These initiatives aim to integrate publishing with AI and cultivate versatile talents to meet the demands of the new era.
Professor Qi Dexiang attends the roundtable seminar
At the National Conference on the Doctoral Program in Publishing, Chen Peng gave a comprehensive overview of the recruitment and training situation of NKU's Publishing Doctoral Program from various perspectives, including the number of enrolled students, the faculty, academic specializations, and curriculum design. In 2024, the Publishing Doctoral Program admitted its first cohort of doctoral students. An analysis of their backgrounds showed that most students come from core institutions in the publishing industry. To ensure strong mentorship, the School has assigned nine on-campus advisors and six industry mentors from key positions in the field. The program offers three main academic specializations: international publishing, converged publishing, and publishing operations and management, with a corresponding curriculum designed to develop high-quality talent for the publishing industry.
Vice Dean Chen Peng gives a speech at the National Conference on the Doctoral Program in Publishing
On August 30, Professor Qi Dexiang, Executive Vice Dean of the NKU Publishing Research Institute, attended the University-Enterprise Collaboration for Talent Development: The First Seminar on Publishing Talent Employment hosted by Henan University. He delivered a speech titled Training and Employment of Publishing Professionals in the AI Era.
Professor Qi Dexiang delivers a speech at the University-Enterprise Collaboration for Talent Development: The First Seminar on Publishing Talent Employment
In response to the transformation of the publishing industry, Professor Qi emphasized that professionals must develop data-driven resource integration skills, a multidisciplinary knowledge base, and a global vision to better adapt to new developmental trends. Based on NKU's practical experience in the publishing discipline, he offered suggestions for training publishing professionals in the AI era. NKU's publishing program, guided by the philosophy of Fostering Both Integrity and Competence, Leading Through Multidisciplinary Approaches, closely follows the standards set by the National Publishing Education Steering Committee. It has developed a four-pronged talent cultivation system, combining theoretical foundation + professional skills + cutting-edge development + practical innovation, aiming to nurture versatile professionals with a solid theoretical foundation, refined professional skills, keen insights into industry trends, and strong practical and innovative abilities. This system is designed to inject new momentum and vitality into the high-quality development of the industry. Furthermore, Professor Qi proposed four suggestions for graduates to enhance the employment competitiveness: First, strengthen professional fundamentals for steady and sustained growth; second, improve writing, communication, and coordination skills; third, actively participate in academic activities and collaborative projects to broaden perspective; fourth, enhance resilience and adaptability to better respond to challenges.
