March 19, 2026, the CUFE Business School successfully hosted the 5th session of its 2026 Academic Lecture Series. Professor Justin Tan from York University in Canada was invited as the keynote speaker. Over 20 faculty members, doctoral students, and master’s students from the School of Business attended the event.
The lecture was chaired by Professor Lin Song, Dean of the School of Business at Central University of Finance and Economics, who provided a detailed introduction to Professor Tan’s academic background. Professor Justin Tan currently serves as the Newmont Chair in Corporate Strategy at the Schulich School of Business, York University, and holds a tenured professorship in Management. He previously spent a year teaching in China as the sole recipient of the U.S. Fulbright Distinguished Professor Award in Economics and Management. His primary teaching and research areas include entrepreneurship and innovation, strategic management, and corporate social responsibility. He has published dozens of academic papers in top-tier international journals, including the《Strategic Management Journal》, 《Organization Science》, and the《Journal of International Business Studies》, as well as over ten articles in 《Management World》and the《Journal of Management Science》. He has led five key and general projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, as well as nine research projects funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Professor Justin Tan has served as editor-in-chief, associate editor, editorial board member, or reviewer for more than ten major international academic journals. Eight of his case studies have been included in the Harvard/Ivey Case Library.
The theme of Professor Tan’s lecture is “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): Origins, Practices, and Future Directions.” In this academic lecture, Professor Tan first briefly reviewed the development of his research interests and career path, then focused on how, over the past two decades, the ESG framework has gradually evolved from a marginal corporate social responsibility practice into a significant organizational logic that has garnered widespread attention from investors, policymakers, corporate managers, and the academic community. By tracing the origins of ESG, he explored the institutional logic driving its global diffusion. Building on this foundation, the lecture drew on case studies at both the macroeconomic and industry levels to assess the potential contributions and practical constraints of ESG on economic growth and social welfare, and offered prospects for the future development paths of ESG practices and research.
Following the lecture, faculty and students engaged in a lively discussion centered on Professor Tan’s presentation, covering topics such as the future development of ESG and potential research topics, further fostering the exchange and collision of academic ideas.
The “Forum for Academic Excellence” is an academic exchange platform established by the CUFE Business School to fulfill its mission of “contributing new knowledge in management.” It aims to address cutting-edge theoretical issues and organizational development challenges in the field of business administration and Chinese corporate management practices by bringing together leading ideas and innovative perspectives from both domestic and international sources, thereby exploring Chinese solutions for the country’s social and economic development.
