Chen Yanni, female, holds a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science and a PhD in entrepreneurship . She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of E-commerce at the School of Economics and Finance.

In teaching, she focuses on practice-oriented entrepreneurship education. Since 2017, she has led a team to develop and deliver a general entrepreneurship course specifically designed for non-business students. The course integrates multidisciplinary business knowledge and teaches practice-oriented entrepreneurial methods in an accessible manner. It has been well received by students and has won multiple awards.

In research, prior to 2022, her work primarily focused on the action learning behaviors of entrepreneurs in micro and small enterprises. During this period, she led a NSFC Project and several provincial-level innovation projects, and published several  related papers. During the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, she shifted her focus to studying secondhand data and the entrepreneurial and innovative behaviors of publicly listed companies. 

Education and Professional Experience

• 2002 - 2006: Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Technology, Jimei University, School of Computer Science

• 2006 - 2009: Master of Engineering in Computer System Architecture, South China University of Technology, School of Computer Science, Advisor: Professor Deyu Qi 

• 2009 - 2013: PhD in Entrepreneurship Management, School of Management, Zhejiang University, Advisor: Professor Zhongming Wang 

• 2014 - present: Lecturer, then Associate Professor, Department of E-commerce, School of Economics and Finance, Huaqiao University

• 2022 - 2023: Visiting Scholar, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group, Warwick Business School, UK, Advisor: Professor James Hayton

Principal Research Projects and Key Participation

1. PI, Major Project of Undergraduate Education Research in Fujian Province: Innovation and Practice of Action-Oriented Entrepreneurship Courses—Introducing Real Challenges to Experience the Entrepreneurial Process and Foster an Entrepreneurial Spirit (2025).

2. PI, Strategic Innovation Research Project in Fujian Province: Research on the Learning Mechanisms of Student Entrepreneurs and Supportive Policies of Fujian Province in the Context of the COVID-19 Crisis (2020).

3. PI, NSFC Young Scientist Project: Research on the Structure, Influencing Factors, and Mechanisms of Entrepreneurial Action Learning in Emerging Industries (2015).

4. PI, Huaqiao University Research Start-up Fund for Talent Introduction: Study on the Evolution Mechanisms of Female Entrepreneurs' Motivation (2015).

5. Core member and entrepreneurship advisor in the “Women’s Dream” Project (Zhejiang University - University of Oxford collaboration), focused on developing women’s entrepreneurial abilities in China (2009-2013).

6. Embedded systems R&D and system operations for a major project on a large-scale integrated linkage-controlled network security inspection machine, Guangdong-Hong Kong Key Project (2006-2009).

Research Publications

Books

• Entrepreneurial Action Learning: Concept, Measurement, and Theory—A Perspective from Emerging Industries. Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press, November 2020.

Journal Articles

1. Chen Yanni. Mechanisms and Models of Learning through Entrepreneurial Action. Psychological Technology and Applications, 2022, 10(8): 502-512.

2. Chen Yanni. Design and Implementation of Action-Oriented General Entrepreneurship Courses: A Case Study of "Entrepreneurial Case Analysis and Practice Training". Huaqiao Higher Education Research, 2020: 96-106.

3. Chen Yanni, Pan Jianying. Learning through Interaction to Resolve Entrepreneurial Challenges. China Labor Security News, 2020 (003).

4. Chen, Y., & Pan, J. (2019). Do Entrepreneurs’ Developmental Job Challenges Enhance Venture Performance in Emerging Industries? A Mediated Moderation Model of Entrepreneurial Action Learning and Entrepreneurial Experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(1371): 1-11. [SSCI].

5. Chen Yanni. The Mediating Role of Challenging Work Experience in the Impact of Functional Experience on Entrepreneurial Action Learning. Soft Science, 2019, 33(3): 141-144. (CSSCI).

6. Chen Yanni, Wang Chongming. Research on the Entrepreneurial Action Learning Process—A Multi-Case Study in Emerging Industries. Studies in Science of Science, 2015, 33(3): 419-431. (CSSCI).

7. Chen Yanni, J. Jiraporn. An Integrative Perspective on Entrepreneurial Opportunity Recognition. Science & Technology Progress and Policy, 2013, 30(2): 4-8. (CSSCI).

8. Chen Yanni. A Review of International Research on Female Entrepreneurship over the Past Decade. Collection of Women’s Studies, 2012 (6): 100-106. (CSSCI).

Conference Papers

• Chen, Y., & Hayton, J. C. (2024). Collaboration or Divergence? Investigating TMT Responses to Economic Policy Uncertainty. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings, Chicago.

Teaching Achievements and Awards

1. Selected as one of the “10,000 Outstanding Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mentors Nationwide” (2017).

2. Entrepreneurship course selected as a “First-Class Undergraduate Course” in Fujian Province (2023).

3. Second Prize in the Fujian Province University Teacher Teaching Innovation Competition (2022).

4. Course included in the “Provincial Employment and Entrepreneurship Golden Course” in Fujian Province (2021).

5. Course included in the “Provincial High-Quality Resource Sharing Course” project in Fujian Province (2016).

6. Selected as one of Huaqiao University’s “Top 100 High-Quality Courses” (2022).

7. First Prize in Huaqiao University’s Teaching Innovation Competition (2021).

8. Course selected as a “General Education Golden Course” at Huaqiao University (2021).

9. E-commerce Security course selected as one of Huaqiao University’s “Top 100 High-Quality Courses” (2019).

10. First Prize in the School of Economics and Finance Micro-lecture Competition (2018).

11. Employment and Entrepreneurship Mentor at Huaqiao University (2018).

12. Excellent Entrepreneurship Mentor in the Zhejiang University – University of Oxford Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Project (2010).

13. Guided multiple student teams to awards in “Three Innovations” and “Challenge Cup” competitions, and advised several outstanding undergraduate theses.

Note: This CV was last updated in June 2025.