Financial muscle

In the 21st century, integration of multiple disciplines is required to conduct research and solve problems. That's why the university has launched interdisciplinary majors, such as financial English, psychological economics, economic sociology and economic information management. Increasingly specialized academic division is being carried out in fields like finance and applied economics.

"We are cultivating talent for the future," says Wang. "And I hope that what our students are learning at the university today will help them lead the way a decade from now."

To build a forward-looking university, Wang keeps a close eye on social development trends and adds that the university should give priority to collecting data into its curriculum.

"Last year, the university welcomed a group of freshmen born in and after 2000, a generation that has grown up with the internet.

"So, how do we prepare these web-savvy young people for their careers?" she asks. "I think we should combine advanced technologies with traditional economic theories."

For now, more than 20 data-related courses have been introduced to teach students to analyze, use and optimize data. Additionally, a joint research data center was set up by CUFE and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in April 2018 to make full use of the strengths of both sides, and to better support the country's economic decision-making by pulling together and studying financial and economic data.

"For example, the center uses news and charts from Shen Bao (an influential newspaper published from April 1872 to May 1949 in Shanghai) to analyze the development of the Chinese economy," Wang says. "If our teachers are involved in such research, they can share their findings in class, which can then spark students' interest in further research."