On October 22nd, a delegation from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, led by Dean Erika James (Director of SAIF Board), visited the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The delegation included Vice Dean of AI and Analytics Eric Bradlow, Chief of Staff and Associate Dean Adam Michaels, and Senior Associate Director of Public Engagement Alyssa Pope. The SAIF attendees at the meeting included Executive Dean Shijun Cheng, Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs and Faculty Hong Yan, Deputy Dean Feng Li, Deputy Dean Tan Wang, and Associate Dean Xuan Luo.
During the meeting, Executive Dean Cheng reviewed the cooperation between SAIF and Wharton and introduced SAIF's achievements with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Government and SJTU. He highlighted SAIF's specialization in Innovation Finance, Digital Finance, and Sustainable Finance, and proposed exploring further cooperation in research and education programs. Professor Yan presented the latest progress of SAIF's Sustainable Investment Research Center to the Wharton delegation.
Dean Erika James expressed Wharton's appreciation for its long-standing partnership with SAIF. She introduced Wharton's latest initiatives in Artificial Intelligence and Analytics and shared Wharton's ESG Initiative.
The two institutions engaged in an in-depth discussion on the application and development of AI in talent cultivation, faculty support, research innovation, and industry cooperation. They also discussed the policy environment, market demand, and challenges faced by business schools in ESG education.
In May 2018, SAIF and Wharton formally signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership, aimed at advancing mutual goals across strategic development, global presence, academic research, and talent development. This collaboration built on SAIF's globally leading position in specialized financial education programs.
In 2019, SAIF and Wharton co-developed the SAIF-Wharton Advanced Finance Program (AFP), the first of its kind in China. The AFP program is committed to cultivating financial talent and business leaders with a strong sense of responsibility who will drive global economic development. The program is highly recognized for its comprehensive financial knowledge system, solid research that considers both international perspectives and the Chinese market, and global faculty and alumni resource sharing.
About Wharton School
The Wharton School, founded as the world's first collegiate business school at the University of Pennsylvania in 1881, has far-reaching impact on all aspects of business practice, including: global economic policy, financial markets and institutions, risk control and insurance operations, corporate organization and management, marketing, business regulations and ethics, real estate, and public policy.
About SAIF
Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) was established by the Shanghai Municipal Government to serve the national strategy of building Shanghai into an international financial center, in alignment with the mission of becoming a "world-class financial institute within China". With the full support of the Shanghai Municipal Government and SJTU, and with reference to advanced top-class institutions, SAIF operates under the leadership of its Board. SAIF is committed to developing a first-rate faculty, exceptional finance talent, an open research platform, and a preeminent think tank. Since its inception in 2009, SAIF has cultivated a world-class faculty that not only leads in Asia but also stands at the forefront in China. The team comprises more than 70 experienced professors from different disciplines such as finance, accounting, and management—all of whom have rich international research, teaching, and practical experience—serving as the core force to promote the construction of SAIF as a world-class finance institute.
