The iConference 2021, also the 16^th annual conference of iSchool - an international alliance of top-level information schools, colleges and departments - was convened online from 29^th -31^st March 2021. The conference was hosted by the School of Information Resource Management of Renmin University of China, under the theme of “Diversity·Divergence·Dialogue”. It aimed to provide an international platform for experts, scholars, and participants around the world to discuss the latest research outcomes and current challenges in library and information science and archive management among other information-related fields from social, economic and technological perspectives, to push forward exchanges of academic viewpoints and educational experience.  

Dean Li Beiwei attended the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of iConference 2021 and the All Heads Meeting of the annual conference of iSchool on 29^th and 30^th March on invitation. Vice Dean Ma Jie, Deputy Director Deng Jun, Prof. Song Xueyan and Associate Prof. Huang Xinping were also present at the meetings. Even though the attendees were far apart from each other geographically in different time zones, new and old friends from all over the world gathered online with great enthusiasm, to contribute their wisdom to the development of disciplines of library and information science and archive management. The meetings have witnessed extensive and passionate exchange of ideas among s participants all from over the world.

This iConference 2021 has not only enhanced interactions and communications among scholars and experts around the world and encouraged them to brainstorm their academic thoughts and theoretical breakthroughs, but also brought more opportunities of international cooperation for our School in the disciplines of library and information science and archives management. Going forward, School of Management of JLU will continue its “human-centered, harmony-oriented, truth-seeking and innovation-driven” philosophy, bear its original aspiration for education in mind, firmly uphold its mission of talent development, and cement its fundamentals for future growth. While giving full play to its traditional and unique advantages in the disciplines of library, information and archive sciences, the School will shoulder its mission as “an inheritor” and assume its responsibility as a practitioner of information science to grasp opportunities brought by the construction of new liberal arts, focus on academic hot spots, broaden its global vision, consolidate international exchanges, and further promote disciplinary integration and innovation for a more brilliant future.