The Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) held its 2024 Opening Ceremony on September 20th at Wenzhi Hall, Xuhui Campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). The event welcomed 707 new students from the MF, MBA, EMBA, and Ph.D. programs.
The ceremony was presided over by Xinan Zhang, Secretary of the CPC SAIF Committee, and attended by SJTU and SAIF leaders, professors, and faculty representatives, including Xinghao Jiang (Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC SJTU Committee, Vice President of SJTU), Shijun Chen (Executive Dean of SAIF), Eric Chang (Senior Advisor to the Executive Dean of SAIF), Muzhi Wang (Deputy Secretary of the CPC SAIF Committee, Associate Dean of SAIF), and Professors William Li, Xianglin Li, Zhipeng Yan, and Li Wei.
On behalf of SJTU, Xinghao Jiang warmly welcomed the students and shared three expectations for their postgraduate journey. He encouraged them to develop a sense of nationalism and promote the construction of a financial powerhouse, to acquire professional knowledge through SJTU's rich resources and SAIF's comprehensive curriculum, and to embrace change while continuing to learn and innovate.
Professor William Li, Chair Professor of Management, spoke on behalf of SAIF professors, emphasizing the importance of finance in the national economy and its interdisciplinary nature. He encouraged students to study with focus, diligence, and persistence, and expressed his hope that they would gain a solid theoretical foundation, rich practical experience, and superior thinking skills through their interactions with professors and classmates.
Sichen Nian, a student from the MF Program, Class 2026; and Yuanyuan Lv, an EMBA student, shared their determination and learning experiences at SAIF.
During the "First Lesson of SAIF," Executive Dean Shijun Cheng discussed the crucial role of finance in serving the real economy, promoting scientific and technological innovation, and driving social progress. He analyzed the characteristics of scientific and technological innovation and the opportunities and challenges they present to the capital market. Professor Cheng expressed gratitude to the students for choosing SAIF and hoped that they would succeed in their studies and future endeavors.
SAIF remains committed to establishing a world-class institution within China, contributing to the construction of China as a financial powerhouse, the development of Shanghai as an International Financial Center, and the growth of SJTU as a world-class university. Over the past fifteen years, with the support of SJTU and the Shanghai city government, SAIF has affirmed its leading position in financial research and high-end financial management education in China, earning a strong reputation both domestically and abroad. SJTU students continue to be an indispensable force in promoting economic development, industry innovation, and social progress.
