The Forum on Case-based and Qualitative Research in Business Administration in China (2025) is held from November 7 to 9 in Beijing.

The Forum on Case-based and Qualitative Research in Business Administration in China (2025), hosted by the School of Business at Renmin University of China (RUC) and supported by Management World magazine, was held from November 7 to 9 in Beijing. 

Centered on the theme "Advancing High-Level Opening-Up", the forum featured keynote speeches, parallel sessions, roundtable discussions and workshops. More than 400 scholars from leading universities across the country participated to contribute insights to the development of China's management theories and practices.

The opening ceremony took place on November 8. Wang Yi, deputy secretary of the CPC RUC Committee and vice-president of the university, highlighted in her remarks that case studies serve as decoders of China's corporate practices, converters that transform empirical experience into theoretical innovation and seeders for sharing Chinese wisdom with the world. She emphasized that RUC will continue working with academic partners to promote knowledge, theory, and methodological innovation, and to contribute answers to the major questions posed by China, the world, the people and the times.

Keynote speeches offered in-depth reflections on qualitative research methodology, case research paradigms and enterprise innovation. Topics ranged from the philosophical foundations of qualitative inquiry to systematic approaches for developing data structures and theoretical dimensions, as well as the role of case-based studies in shaping a distinctive body of Chinese management knowledge.

The forum's 13 parallel sessions and seven roundtable discussions covered a wide array of fields, including strategic management, innovation and entrepreneurship, international business, accounting, corporate governance, information systems and marketing. Using a model of presentation, expert commentary and open discussion, the sessions fostered dynamic exchanges and academic dialogue.

Continuing a long-standing tradition, a pre-forum paper workshop provided in-depth feedback on selected submissions. Experts offered detailed guidance on research design, data collection and theory building, helping participants enhance their qualitative research capabilities.

Winners of the eight outstanding papers, together with the award presenters, take a group photo on stage.

This year, the forum received 249 submissions, with 137 papers included in the proceedings. After multiple rounds of review, eight outstanding papers and three distinguished reviewers were selected for recognition.

Founded in 2007, the forum has grown into the world's largest and China's most influential platform dedicated to case-based and qualitative research in business administration. Looking ahead, it will continue to support scholars in telling China's stories through rigorous case studies, advancing theoretical innovation and contributing to the development of an autonomous Chinese management knowledge system and to China's ongoing modernization.