Catagories

01 College of Chinese Curricula - YANG XuejiaThe study takes the Wenzhou Qiaotou Button Market from 1983 to 1992 as a case to explore the governance practices of local governments in specialized markets during the early stages of China's reform and opening-up. By analyzing issues such as smuggling and counterfeit products in the initial phase of the market, it outlines the government's phased governance measures—from establishing regulatory bodies and rectifying market order to implementing innovative strategies in response to a sluggish market later on. The research reveals the government's resilient governance mechanism of "control and revitalization," summarizes the experience of multi-stakeholder collaborative governance, and provides historical insights for contemporary market governance. The final research report will serve to inform the formulation of local economic policies.02 College of Chinese Curricula - WANG YankunThe study systematically examines the mechanisms and pathways of nostalgia construction, cultural reproduction, and spatial production in the trade-oriented Overseas Chinese Hometown of Southern Zhejiang, exemplified by Wenzhou and Qingtian. Addressing the persistent gap in scholarly interpretation of the region's distinctive development model—driven by small commodity trade and dense transnational networks—along with practical challenges such as intergenerational disconnection and spatial hollowing-out, this study is situated within the national discourse on "nostalgia preservation" and rural revitalization. Grounded in theories of collective memory and spatial production, it investigates how these Overseas Chinese Hometown negotiate local and global identities through the reproduction of cultural landscapes. By analyzing intergenerational variations in the perception of nostalgia and identifying key symbolic representations, the research aims to offer theoretical insights and actionable strategies for fostering cultural identity among younger generations and advancing sustainable revitalization in Overseas Chinese Hometown communities.03 College of Education - Dr. Jahirul MullickThe study grounded in Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory of Triadic Reciprocal Determinism, this project addresses the gap between inclusion policy and classroom practice. It localizes and validates the Inclusive School Leadership Practice (ISLP) in Zhejiang and develops a dynamic model linking leadership, self-efficacy, knowledge, and inclusive behavior. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, the study combines a teacher survey analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with in-depth interviews applying reflexive thematic analysis. The research aims to offer context-responsive policy pathways and leadership-competency frameworks that advance Education Modernization 2035 and promote equitable integration across urban and rural regions.04 College of Liberal Arts - Dr. DENG LinglingThe study focuses on environmental and social support for neurodivergent populations such as autistic individuals. Through interdisciplinary collaboration across psychology, computer science, and architecture, it investigates neurodiverse sensory responses within built environments. The study aims to create improved learning and working environments for neurodivergent individuals, enhancing their comfort and sense of achievement, while informing urban regeneration and equitable urban development.

Dr. Shiyuan (Eric) Liu, Assistant Professor at the College of Business and Public Management, Wenzhou-Kean University (first author and corresponding author), together with Professor Ola Henfridsson from the Herbert Business School, University of Miami, and Associate Professor Jochem Hummel and Professor Joe Nandhakumar from Warwick Business School, accomplished a research project entitled “The Complementor’s Dilemma: Navigating Growth Ambitions and the Dependency on Focal Actors in Platform Ecosystems.” The study has been published online in MIS Quarterly (UTD24, FT50), a top-tier international journal in management, marking Wenzhou-Kean University’s first breakthrough in publishing in a UTD24 journal in the field of management. This achievement signifies the university’s continuous growth in disciplinary development, research capacity, and international academic influence in management science.刘博士在《MIS Quarterly》发表的论文Research HighlightsHow does an unknown complementor rise to fame in the shadow of platform giants? Hitting this growth ambition often triggers “the complementor’s dilemma” of (a) acting on the ambition but risk losing the platform support needed for that growth, or (b) relinquishing the growth ambition to ensure the platform support continues. This groundbreaking study dives deep into this dilemma by examining the meteoric rise of a Chinese short-form video platform, Douyin (known as TikTok outside of China), from 0.75M to 208M users in just two years. The Non-focal to Focal (NFTF) model reveals how the complementor’s dilemma evolves over time and provides a roadmap to navigate the dilemma, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on ecosystem momentum to make strategic moves at the right time.About the AuthorShiyuan Liu, Ph.D. in Management, University of Warwick (2022); Postdoctoral Fellow, Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden (2023); Assistant Professor at the College of Business and Public Management, Wenzhou-Kean University; Research Fellow at the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation; Selected into Wenzhou “Ouyue Talent Program”. Program committee member for the 44th (2023) and 45th (2024) International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS). He serves as an anonymous reviewer for leading academic journals including Information Systems Research, European Journal of Information Systems, Journal of Information Technology, and Journal of Strategic Information Systems. His research focuses on digital platforms, digital innovation, digital transformation, and digital entrepreneurship.Reference:Liu, S., Henfridsson, O., Hummel, J., & Nandhakumar, J. (2025). The complementor’s dilemma: Navigating growth ambitions and the dependency on focal actors in platform ecosystems. MIS Quarterly, 49 (3), 1123-1152.

On August 27, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) announced the results of its 2025 funding program. This year, Wenzhou-Kean University received three funded projects with a total grant amount of RMB 2.1 million. Among them, Dr. Donghoon Lee from the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology / International Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute secured one General Program project; Dr. Susan Rutherford from the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology / International Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute, together with Dr. Alexander English from the College of Liberal Arts, each obtained one Research Fund for International Excellent Young Scientists project. These achievements represent a historic breakthrough for the university.According to relevant statistics, the average funding rate for NSFC projects in 2025 was only 12.29%. In recent years, Wenzhou-Kean University has placed strong emphasis on building its research capacity and accelerating innovation. The number and quality of NSFC funded projects at the university have shown a steady upward trend. Through a series of reforms and initiatives, the university continues to attract and cultivate high-level talents, strengthen the development of advanced research teams, and foster scientific platforms to enhance research performance and capacity. Looking ahead, WKU will continue to implement national strategic directives on scientific and technological innovation. By prioritizing organized research and capacity building, the university aims to further advance scientific innovation and contribute to the high-quality development of the institution.Donghoon LeeDr. Lee’s research centers on the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and its regulation under physiological and pathological conditions such as starvation, inactivity, cancer, and aging. He has uncovered novel mechanisms that activate the 26S proteasome during catabolic and proteotoxic stress, identifying ZFAND5 as the first known proteasome activator that enhances enzymatic activity and promotes the clearance of ubiquitinated proteins. These discoveries have important implications for cellular health and diseases linked to muscle atrophy and proteotoxic stress, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. At WKU, Dr. Lee continues to investigate protein quality control, with a focus on the 26S proteasome and p97 as key regulators and drug targets.Susan RutherfordDr. Rutherford is dedicated to biodiversity conservation and deeply interested in the processes and patterns that drive plant evolution and speciation. Her research focuses on: (1) landscape genomics of closely related native species and species complexes to identify genetic diversity centers and hybridization hotspots, thereby advancing understanding of species evolution and distribution; (2) the responses of invasive weeds to new habitats in their introduced ranges, explored through interdisciplinary methods such as genomics, greenhouse experiments, field trait measurements, and environmental niche modeling; and (3) the evolutionary dynamics of rare and threatened species to generate insights that support effective conservation management.Alexander EnglishDr. English studies how culture affects the way humans behave. He also studies how people who move to new environments encounter subtle changes that lead to variations in psychological and cognitive processes. Recently, Dr. English had been interested in talent workplace management and development. Dr. English is the Director for the WKU Center for Behavioral Research Across Cultures (C-BRAC) and is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Intercultural Relations.