The Department of Artificial Intelligence traces its heritage to the Department of Systems Engineering, established in the late 1970s. Over more than 40 years of development, it has built a solid disciplinary foundation. From its inception, the Department of Systems Engineering has prioritised algorithm research and information management as core elements of its teaching and research. In 2000, the Bachelor’s program in Information Management and Information Systems was launched and the Department of Information Management and Information Systems was formed. After years of sustained growth, this program was approved in 2021 as a Shanghai first-tier undergraduate major. Leveraging interdisciplinary strengths in systems engineering, management science and engineering, and systems science, the department subsequently established distinctive research tracks in “Big Data and Intelligent Systems” and “Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications,” laying a robust foundation for the development of artificial intelligence as a discipline.

In 2020, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology became one of the second cohort of Chinese universities to offer a Bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, with the Department of Information Management and Information Systems responsible for its development. Guided by the New Engineering Education ideology, the program aims to cultivate interdisciplinary talent tailored to the national AI industry’s needs. Students undertake a systematic study of mathematics and computer science, as well as other fundamental disciplines. They will master the core theories and technologies of AI and develop the ability to research and develop AI systems, solve complex engineering problems and critically evaluate emerging AI theories and technologies.

To keep pace with the development trends of the AI era and meet national strategic needs, in 2025, the Information Management and Information Systems major will be integrated into the Artificial Intelligence major, and the former Department of Information Management and Information Systems will be officially renamed as the Department of Artificial Intelligence. This marks a comprehensive transformation and upgrade of both the major and the discipline.

Currently, the Department of Artificial Intelligence has a strong faculty of 27 full-time members, including 6 professors, 14 associate professors, and 7 lecturers, all holding doctoral degrees.

Notable professors include:

• Professor and doctoral supervisor Zhao Laijun, Dean of the Business School at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Executive Director of the Shanghai Institute of Systems Science, Vice Director of the Shanghai Institute of Public Diplomacy, “Hujang Leading Talent” Distinguished Professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Joint Professor at the China Institute for Urban Governance at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, recipient of the Ministry of Education’s New Century Excellent Talent Program, Vice Chair of the Water Resources Systems Professional Committee of the System Engineering Society of China, a member of the fourth Discipline Review Group of the Shanghai Academic Degrees Committee (Management Science and Engineering), and President of the Shanghai Association for Engineering Management. In recent years, he has published monographs, submitted decision-making consultation reports (over 10 of which received directives from national and provincial leaders), and completed projects that have won 15 national and provincial awards. He has led 7 national-level projects (including 2 supported by the National Social Science Foundation, of which 1 is a key project, and 5 under the National Natural Science Foundation), and, as first or corresponding author, he has published 78 SCI/SSCI papers. He has contributed to 15 publications (including three sole-authored books and three works as first author).

• Professor and doctoral supervisor Ma Liang, discipline leader for the doctoral program in Management Science and Engineering, Director of the Postdoctoral Research Station in Management Science and Engineering, and leader of the master’s program in Systems Engineering. He holds more than 10 honorary titles and awards, including Outstanding Scientific and Technological Youth of the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics, Outstanding Young Teacher of the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics, Excellent Young Teacher in Shanghai Universities, China Machinery Industry Youth Science and Technology Expert, Baosteel Excellent Teacher, Shanghai Morning Light Scholar, and the Shanghai Talent Award. He has undertaken more than 30 research projects (including those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation) and published over 300 papers in various journals and conferences, with several core papers receiving hundreds of citations. He has authored 5 monographs and edited 2 textbooks.

• Professor and doctoral supervisor Fan Zhongjun, Department Chair, head of the AI program, Director of the Electronic Commerce Development Research Institute, Director of the Smart Engineering Research Center, and Co-founder of the Global E-Commerce Conference. He previously or concurrently has served as a council member of the Chinese Society of Management Science and Engineering, standing council member of the Collaborative Innovation and Management Research Society, Chair of the Digital Economy and Intelligent Transformation Committee of the Shanghai Association of Engineering Management, member of the Education Working Committee of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence, member of the AI Committee of the Shanghai Computer Society, standing committee member of the Health Services and Technology Promotion Division of the China Health Information and Healthcare Big Data Society, editorial board member of Shanghai Management Science, expert member of the Expert Committee of the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association, vice president of the Digital Economy and Cross-Border E-Commerce Committee, member of the Shanghai Information Technology Proficiency Evaluation Committee, an inaugural expert of the Digital Economy Think Tank at the Huaqiao Economic Development Zone, expert of the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Technology Association, deputy chief engineer of Wonders Information Co., Ltd. (300168), deputy general manager of Shanghai Yanhua Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (002178), general manager of the Collaborative Business Division at Hamp Consulting (China) Co., Ltd., and director of Management Consulting at Hand Enterprise Solutions Co., Ltd. (300170).

In recent years, the department has made substantial strides in both teaching and research. In terms of teaching, it received the Second Prize of the Shanghai Municipal Teaching Achievement Award. “Operations Research A” and “Database Fundamentals A” were acknowledged as municipal first-class undergraduate courses, while “Intelligent Computing” and “Principles of Information Security” were designated as key municipal courses. “Data Mining” was recognized as a Demonstration English-Taught Course for international students. More than 300 textbooks focusing on AI, big data, and related fields have been published. In research, the department has led over 50 national and provincial projects, including those supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Social Science Foundation of China, and has published over 500 papers. It has won major awards such as the Second Prize of the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award, the Second Prize of the Ministry of Education’s Science and Technology Progress Award, the Second Prize of the China Machinery Science and Technology Award, and the First Prize of the China National Commercial Information Center’s Science and Technology Award. Under faculty guidance, students have earned a Silver Award in the National Finals of the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, a Second Prize in the China Graduate AI Innovation Competition, and a First Prize in the Shanghai Division of the China Robotics and AI Competition.

The Department of Artificial Intelligence maintains a comprehensive platform for teaching and research and has extensive collaborations with industry. It offers master’s programs in AI and Systems Engineering, and jointly with other departments provides doctoral and postdoctoral programs in Management Science and Engineering, forming a complete bachelor’s-master’s-doctorate training system. The department actively fosters academic exchange by organizing the Shanghai Municipal Universities Open Data Challenge and hosting regular AI Salons and the Digital Economy Lecture Series. It also collaborates with leading enterprises such as Huawei and Baidu to nurture top-tier talent.

Looking ahead, the Department of Artificial Intelligence will continue to harness its interdisciplinary advantages, focus on the “AI for All” strategic goal, and cultivate high-end talent capable of driving AI technology innovation and industrial advancement, thereby contributing to the national AI strategy and the development of the digital economy.

Current Faculty Directory:

Zhao Laijun, Ma Liang, Fan Chongjun, Liu Yong, Zhu Xiaodong, Guo Qiang, Huo Liangan, Qin Jiangtao, Zhang Baoming, Ni Jing, Zhang Huizhen, Liu Chen, Liu Yuxi, Zhao Jinghua, Yin Pei, Zhang Xinrui, Ma Shujiao, Xu Bo, Liu Yaya, Zhou Yiwei, Lu Zhi, Wang Ke, Yao Danli, Usharani Hareesh Govindarajan, Cui Menglin, Zhou Lixin.