On May 24, 2024, experts from the international academic and library communities convened at Fudan University, to explore the role of digital tools and open-access resources in global knowledge sharing. This seminar, Seminar of Coherent Digital Database Electronic Resource, co-hosted by the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University (IIS Fudan), the Department of History at Fudan University, and Coherent Digital, aimed to foster collaboration among researchers, publishers, and libraries to enhance content discovery and resource utilization.
(Group photo of the Seminar participants)
Prof. QI Huaigao, Vice Dean of the IIS Fudan, delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the significance of the seminar. He underscored that digital tools and open-access resources are essential for promoting global academic exchange and knowledge sharing. Prof. Qi expressed his hope that this seminar would strengthen the collaboration between the IIS Fudan and Coherent Digital, further advancing academic research. Prof. Qi mentioned that the IIS Fudan maintains good relationships with widely acknowledged publishers. The IIS Fudan and Taylor & Francis arranged roundtable conference twice in 2021.
(Opening remarks by Prof. QI Huaigao)
Following the opening remarks, Mrs. Julie Stevens, Director of APAC at Coherent Digital, provided a comprehensive introduction to Coherent Digital’s key databases and future publishing plans. She emphasized Coherent Digital’s commitment to leveraging advanced digital tools and international partnerships to drive resource discovery and utilization. Mrs. Stevens highlighted the team's work in digitizing and indexing historical documents, policy papers, and grey literature.
(Presentation by Mrs. Julie Stevens）
During the discussion session, participants engaged in in-depth discussions with the Coherent Digital team on several key issues. Prof. TANG Li of the School of International Relations and Public Affairs discussed with Mrs. Stevens how Coherent Digital identifies and mines high-quality resources and promotes open sharing. Assoc. Prof. ZHU Lianbi from the Department of History delved into the collection of historical documents, the resource co-construction mechanism with Coherent Digital, and the full-text search technology for handwritten historical materials. Assoc. Prof. CAO Ting of the IIS Fudan introduced the ROLAS Library collection and consulted with Mrs. Stevens on the technical aspects of digitizing and storing old books and periodicals.
(Prof. TANG Li at the Seminar)
(Prof. ZHU Lianbi at the Seminar)
(Assoc. Prof. CAO Ting at the Seminar)
(Assoc. Prof. XIE Chao, Dr. ZHU Qin and Mr. LI Peng at the Seminar)
Additionally, Assoc. Prof. TU Yichao, ZHANG Jiegan and XIE Chao at the IIS Fudan, and Dr. ZHU Qin at the IIS Fudan, engaged with Mrs. Stevens, Mr. GUO Yiqun at CINFO, and Mr. LI Peng at CINFO on database updates, the accessibility of data resources, and the methods for acquiring grey resources.
