The Participation of Master’s Online Academic Conferences in Universities in Western China and Its Impact on Their Innovation Ability—Based on the Heterogeneity Analysis of Different Disciplines

The rise of online academic conferences in the epidemic era will be an academic opportunity for postgraduates in western China. Based on the statistical analysis of 463 random questionnaires for postgraduates in western universities, it is found that almost all postgraduates in western universities have the experience of participating in online academic conferences, of which 52.92 % have participated in three or more times. Through multiple regression analysis, it is concluded that the participation of postgraduates in online academic conferences in western universities will promote their innovation ability by positively affecting innovative knowledge, innovative motivation and innovative thinking. For postgraduate students of different disciplines, the participation has a significant positive impact on their innovative knowledge and innovative motivation. Among them, the innovative thinking of medical science, humanities and social sciences and engineering and technical sciences has improved, and the innovative personality of postgraduates in natural sciences has improved.