The School of Economics and Management traces its roots back to 1956, when the Department of Industrial Economics was established at the Beijing Petroleum Institute. Over nearly seven decades of development, the School has evolved into a high-level institution distinguished by its specialization in petroleum and energy economics and management. Its development can be divided into five key stages:

(1)Founding Stage (1954–1969): Exploring Talent Cultivation Models for Industry Management

In March 1956, the Department of Industrial Economics was officially established at the Beijing Petroleum Institute, offering a major in Petroleum Industrial Economics. It was among the first engineering institutions in China to launch an industrial economics program. To address the shortage of management professionals in the petroleum sector during the early years of the People’s Republic of China, the School significantly expanded its talent cultivation efforts during this period, nurturing over 500 management professionals to support the petroleum industry.

(2) Disciplinary Formation Stage (1969–1995): Systematic Development of Management Disciplines

In 1981, the university established the Teaching and Research Section of Management Engineering, marking the beginning of systematic development in economics and management disciplines. In 1983, it was upgraded to the Department of Management Engineering, which began offering a bachelor’s program in Industrial Management Engineering, laying the foundation for future growth. In 1986, the department was approved to offer a master's degree in Management Engineering, becoming one of the first in China to do so. This stage saw the development of a management discipline system centered on the petroleum industry.

(3) Independence and Rapid Development Stage (1995-2011): Building a Multidisciplinary Collaborative Innovation System

In 1995, the School of Business Administration was established at the University of Petroleum, and the School entered a stage of rapid development. It offered three undergraduate programs in Management Engineering, Accounting, and International Business Management, further expanding its disciplinary coverage. In 2001, the East China branch of the School of Business Administration was officially renamed the School of Economics and Management. In 2003, leveraging the university’s first-level doctoral program in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, the School added a second-level doctoral program in Petroleum Engineering Management and received approval for academic master’s programs in Accounting and Industrial Economics, further strengthening its academic system. The Engineering Management program was designated a key discipline at the university level. In 2005, the School was officially renamed the School of Economics and Management at China University of Petroleum (East China).

In 2009, the School received approval from the Ministry of Education to pilot a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, marking its official entry into professional degree education. In 2011, the School was granted the right to confer a first-level doctoral degree in Management Science and Engineering—the first such program in the management field among petrochemical universities in China. This achievement established its academic leadership in the industry and completed the talent cultivation system encompassing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.

(4) Stage of Academic Enrichment (2012–2017): Implementing a Differentiation Strategy

Starting in 2012, the School shifted its development focus to Qingdao and adopted the overall strategy of “strengthening specialization, integrating into the mainstream, and striving for excellence.” Significant progress was achieved in talent cultivation, scientific research, and faculty development. In 2015, the MBA program passed the Ministry of Education’s qualification assessment. In 2017, the discipline of Management Science and Engineering was selected for Shandong Province’s First-Class Discipline Development Plan. The School gained a strong reputation in petroleum economics, energy policy, and related fields, and its level of internationalization improved significantly.

(5) Stage of Innovation and Breakthrough (2018 to Present): International Accreditation Driving High-Quality Development

In 2018, Professor Zhou Peng, recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, assumed the deanship of the School. Focusing on academic programs, curriculum systems, and international accreditation, the School launched three major development initiatives to promote high-quality, connotation-driven growth.

In 2022, three undergraduate programs—Engineering Management, Information Management and Information Systems, and Accounting—were selected as National First-Class Programs. Additionally, Economics and Marketing were recognized as Shandong Provincial First-Class Programs, significantly elevating the overall quality of undergraduate education. The School has developed several national-level first-class course clusters, with numerous courses awarded as provincial-level first-class courses.

To further advance its internationalization and high-quality development, the School has strategically leveraged international accreditations as a key driver. This commitment laid the foundation for a series of major breakthroughs in global quality assurance.

In 2019, the School initiated the BGA (Business Graduates Association) accreditation process, actively benchmarking itself against international standards in management education. After four years of continuous reform and innovation, the School was awarded the BGA Gold Accreditation in 2023, becoming the first institution in Shandong Province to receive this honor. In 2023, the School officially launched the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation process and, in November of the same year, successfully passed the Eligibility Application (EA), marking a crucial step toward AACSB accreditation. In April 2025, the School’s Initial Self-Evaluation Report (iSER) was officially approved by AACSB, representing a significant milestone in its accreditation journey.

Together, the BGA and AACSB accreditation efforts signify the School’s steady progress in aligning with international standards of business education. Guided by these accreditations, the School continues to enhance teaching quality, scientific research, social service, and global engagement. These developments are also contributing to the overall strengthening of its disciplinary system and expanding its influence both nationally and internationally.

The School remains steadfast in its commitment to serving the national energy strategy and regional economic development. It continuously promotes interdisciplinary integration and, guided by the strategic vision of “consolidating foundations in economics and management, enhancing energy-oriented strengths, and advancing distinction in digital intelligence,” has grown into a high-level institution with a comprehensive academic structure and distinctive disciplinary features.