The Department of Information Systems (IS) ranks fifth in the world and first outside of North America in an evaluation of information systems research publication productivity 1999-2003 by the Communications of the Association for Information Systems (CAIS) announced in May 2005. The ranking demonstrates international recognition of the Department’s contribution to the advancement of the IT industry and training of IT talents to serve Hong Kong and the region through knowledge creation and sharing.

 

The Communications of the Association for Information Systems is a journal published by the Association for Information Systems (AIS), the leading organization of IS academics worldwide. The CAIS study reports publication productivity of information systems researchers from 1999-2003, considering articles published in the 12 highest ranking IS journals during the period and identifying the most productive individuals and institutions.

 

“The achievement is creditable to the contributions from the faculty members in our Department who publish research results regularly in major refereed international journals,” said Chair Professor Wei Kwok-kee, Head of the Department. “The CAIS ranking exemplifies that our faculty members, in addition to nurturing a new breed of Information Systems talents for society, also excel in generating new ideas and knowledge conducive to the advancement of the IT industry.”

 

The Department of Information Systems, one of the six departments in CityU’s Faculty of Business, aims to produce highly qualified information systems professionals to meet Hong Kong’s growing Information Systems needs, and focuses on the innovative and effective design, use and management of information technology systems in organizations and society. In addition to a BBA degree with a major in Information Systems or Electronic Commerce, the Department offers advanced degree programmes at Masters and Doctorate levels.

 

“Staff in the Department are committed to initiating innovative pedagogies, giving caring advice and cultivating strong links with industry to create an environment conducive to motivate students to participate and reap the most from the learning process,” said Professor Wei. “For nine years, academics in the Department have won the University’s Teaching Excellence Awards established to uphold professional education through recognition of outstanding teachers. One of them has won this award twice.”

 

“In order to realize our goals in contributing to the prosperity of Hong Kong, we’ve always placed great emphasis on making our teaching and research relevant to the business community,” said Professor Wei. Since 2000, the Department has established Club-ebiz.com, an electronic meeting place for academic researchers, e-business students and industry practitioners to share knowledge and the latest developments in the IT sector. “Our close ties with the industry also provide students opportunities to expose themselves to real-world challenges and experiences,” said Professor Wei. Each year, the final-year students of the undergraduate programmes will take a systems development project with a commercial or internal sponsor, so as to apply what they’ve learned in class and showcase their all-round business and applied-technology skills.

 

“The CAIS ranking proves that the Department of Information Systems has been successful in enhancing the quality of education, the advancement of Information Systems and prosperity of Hong Kong and the region via a commitment to leading-edge scholarship,” said Professor Wei.

 

“The sustainable achievements of the Department are a consequence of the Department’s recruitment policy, which aims at selecting the best candidates in both teaching and research from local and international universities as well as policies and initiatives that promote quality applied research and professional education. Of the current 31 teaching staff, 16 originate from outside Hong Kong, including the mainland, US, UK, Singapore, Tunisia, India and Germany,” he added.