On January 9, 2020, the Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Exchange and Mobilization Meeting sponsored by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Artistic Creation of the Innovation Management Department of Shanghai University was held at Lehua Building of Shanghai University. Wu Minghong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai University Committee and vice president of Shanghai University, Li Anfang, director of the Shanghai Philosophy and Social Sciences Office, and Zhao Kebin, deputy director of the Research Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and executive deputy director of the Shanghai Academy, attended the meeting. Nearly 100 leaders of various liberal arts colleges and departments, professional teachers and scientific research secretaries participated. Shanghai MICEE Institute won the Shanghai University Scientific Research Contribution Award for its second prize of Shanghai Government Decision Consulting Research, and represented the award-winning teachers to give a speech.

In the mobilization session, Director Li Anfang had an in-depth exchange with the participants on the application for national social science foundation projects. Executive Deputy Director Zhao Kebin gave an important speech on "Shanghai Academy Assisting Shanghai University in Liberal Arts Discipline Construction".

In the experience sharing session, Zhang Yong'an, dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Zhang Min, executive dean of Shanghai MICEE Institute, and Ding Zhongmin, professor of the School of Liberal Arts, shared their experiences in institute application organization, decision consulting, application for major projects, etc. with the participants.

Professor Zhang Min thanked the university leaders and the Department of Liberal Arts for recognizing the academic strength, research achievements and teamwork of Shanghai MICEE Institute. Decision consulting research is not easy. Tricks don't lead to success. To conduct decision consulting research, first of all, one needs to have firm beliefs and perseverance. Over the past decade or so, Shanghai MICEE Institute has started from the basics, turned beliefs into motivations, and participated in the overall planning and theme forum research of the World Expo, presided over feasibility studies and 13th Five-Year Plan of the National Exhibition Center, evaluation of the three-year promotion action of Shanghai International Arts Festival, implementation plan and related research for China International Import Expo, key consulting projects on CIIE spillover effects and Shanghai's construction of an international exhibition city, legislative research on deepening exhibition industry by Shanghai People's Congress, and done a series of research on exhibition industry development in Pudong, Tianjin, Zhuhai, Yiwu, Huajiao, Anqing, Wuxi, Xi'an, Ningxia, etc. for the Belt and Road Initiative, integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and Western Development Strategy, published over 150 papers, and published the Blue Book series Research Report on Domestic and Foreign Exhibition Industry Dynamic Evaluation with independent intellectual property rights of Shanghai University at the Social Sciences Academic Press.

Secondly, one needs a solid foundation and academic support for steady and far-reaching development. This is the key for Shanghai MICEE Institute to stand out beyond conventions. At present, among over 300 exhibition-related majors in Chinese universities, only Shanghai University has a research institute, blue book, major projects, doctoral program, and interdisciplinary theories, and it has successfully applied to establish China's first undergraduate major in exhibition studies beyond the catalogue. Over the years, academic research and dissertations have effectively consolidated the discipline foundation and improved the academic quality and social utility of decision consulting research. For example, Yu Hui Tu Shan and the Tributary System clarified the formation mechanism and governance tradition of the multi-ethnic Chinese nation, Communication Mechanism of the Covenants in Spring and Autumn Period affirmed that international anarchy and covenant maintenance costs were the fundamental impetus and restricting boundaries of the covenants among feudal states, International Exhibition Strategies of the United States during Its Rise to Power demonstrated national discourse subject's communication, cooperation and game through international exhibition platforms determined the construction and reconstruction of international relations and world order, From Economic Dependence to Strategic Mutual Trust affirmed the fundamental goal of future development of China-ASEAN Expo. Others such as Greek Drama Festivals - Cultivating Citizens, Greek Olympics - Achieving Heroes, Visual Display of National Image, Event Communication of Olympic Culture, Communication Mechanism of UN Climate Change Conferences - From Copenhagen to Paris, Collective Writing of Ethnic Memories, Carnival Revelry From Humanistic Perspective, Communication Model of Cosplay, Threshold Study of MIDI Music Festival, Oscars Ceremony From the Perspective of Coronation Ceremony, Dialogue Mechanism of APEC Meetings From the Perspective of China-US New Type of Great Power Relations, Cooperation Mechanism of China-Arab Expo, have provided a solid theoretical basis and empirical case support to broaden the horizon and improve the level of decision consulting research.

Thirdly, an ecological environment of understanding, supporting, encouraging exploration and embracing diversity is needed. Decision consulting needs to address specific practical problems under the constraints of complex social factors, different from ideal conditions of division of labor and single factor determinism in traditional research disciplines. It features interdisciplinary comprehensiveness oriented to new situations, solving new problems and promoting new situations. Shanghai University is one of the fastest growing universities in China, thanks to its innovative convergence concept, innovative support system, and open and inclusive atmosphere conducive to the emergence, growth and development of emerging interdisciplinary subjects. To seriously summarize the experience, Shanghai's open, innovative and inclusive urban culture and Shanghai University's encouragement of exploration, support for innovation, and tolerance for diversity have become the decisive external environmental conditions that motivate decision consulting research.

Nearing the end of the meeting, Vice President Wu Minghong made concluding remarks. She thanked the teachers and institutions who made tremendous contributions to Shanghai University's liberal arts research. She hoped that Shanghai University's liberal arts would achieve leapfrog development in 2020 and make even more striking achievements on the journey to "pursuing excellence and becoming first-class".

This year, Shanghai University has set up Scientific Research Contribution Award, Institute Application and Organization Award, and Scientific Research Management and Service Award for liberal arts, aiming to motivate the enthusiasm of teachers to engage in scientific research activities, and encourage and commend teachers with outstanding achievements in academic research. As a specialized exhibition research institution jointly established by the Ministry of Commerce and Shanghai Municipal Government, Shanghai Exhibition Industry Association and Shanghai University, Shanghai MICEE Institute will continue to actively contribute wisdom and strength in connecting national strategies and Shanghai's needs.