On July 16, the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with DBS Bank (China) Limited (DBS China). The agreement establishes long-term collaboration in joint curriculum development, student internships and employment, applied research programs, academic exchange, and corporate training — a response both to the national strategy of building a strong financial system and to China's demand for senior financial talent. Drawing on SAIF's academic resources and DBS China's market experience, the two institutions aim to strengthen the talent pipeline and intellectual base supporting the high-quality development of China's financial industry.
DBS China was represented at the signing ceremony by Ginger Cheng, Chief Executive Officer; Benjamin Chow, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Personal Banking and Wealth Management; Xiaojun Gong, Chief Information Officer and Head of Technology and Operations; and Jing Zhang, Head of Human Resources. SAIF was represented by Professor Shijun Cheng, Executive Dean and Chair Professor of Accounting; Professor Fei Wu, Term Professor, Academic Director of the LLC Program and Faculty Co-Director of EED Programs; and Professor of Practice Jie Hu, formerly a Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve. Witnessed by guests from both sides, Professor Shijun Cheng and Ginger Cheng signed the memorandum on behalf of their respective institutions.
Professor Cheng observed that the financial industry is undergoing profound change. Artificial intelligence has become a central force reshaping business models, while demand in wealth management has shifted from simple asset appreciation to full-life-cycle financial planning — developments that place new requirements on the training of financial professionals. As an international finance institute established by the Shanghai Municipal Government in collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, SAIF has cultivated nearly 10,000 senior financial professionals over 17 years. He said he looked forward to the two sides working together to nurture interdisciplinary talent combining solid theoretical foundations, a global outlook, and practical acumen, and to contributing further to the high-quality development of China's financial industry.
Ginger Cheng said, "We are delighted to partner with SAIF to cultivate interdisciplinary talent with global competitiveness and innovative agility for the financial sector. Artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping the organizational structures and operating models of financial institutions, while China's expanding high-net-worth population is presenting increasingly diverse demands for global asset allocation. We look forward to combining DBS China's strengths as a leading Asian financial institution — our international expertise and our practical experience in AI and fintech — with SAIF's deep legacy in cutting-edge financial research and high-end talent cultivation. Together, we will develop industry-ready financial professionals and support the development of Shanghai as a global financial center."
Forum on FinTech and Global Wealth Trends
The signing was followed by the "Empowering Finance, Shaping the Future" FinTech and Global Wealth Trends Forum, which brought academic research and industry practice together in two thematic dialogues.
Professor Jie Hu and Xiaojun Gong co-hosted a dialogue on "AI-Driven Financial Innovation: Banking Practices and Frontier Trends." Examining both technology applications and the direction of industrial transformation, they discussed how artificial intelligence is reshaping the logic of financial business and offered practical insights for institutions pursuing intelligent upgrading.
Professor Fei Wu and Benjamin Chow led a second discussion, "Wealth Management Under the New Landscape: From Asset Allocation to Wealth Inheritance." Drawing on structural shifts in China's wealth market and the evolving expectations of a new generation of affluent investors, they analyzed the emerging logic and opportunities of the industry and the directions open to practitioners.
Zhijian Deng, Senior Investment Strategist at DBS China, then delivered a keynote address, "Coping Strategies Amid a Shifting Global Landscape," analyzing the latest global macroeconomic trends and the outlook for investment in the second half of the year.
New Courses in Global Asset Allocation and Wealth Management
SAIF also used the occasion to launch new courses in global asset allocation and wealth management. Designed around emerging industry trends — among them the shift from sales-driven to advisory-driven wealth management and the deeper integration of AI — the curriculum offers advanced modules in asset pricing, portfolio allocation, and full-life-cycle client planning, and incorporates tiered AI training alongside SAIF LIVE practical projects. Its aim is to develop a new generation of wealth architects capable of framework design, AI tool application, and compliance governance. The partnership with DBS China will further enrich the curriculum with frontline expertise in cross-border asset allocation and fintech implementation.
As a benchmark international finance institute, SAIF has steadily advanced industry-education integration in recent years and built regular cooperation mechanisms with dozens of the world's leading financial institutions. The partnership with DBS China narrows the distance further between academic research and industry practice, opening new approaches to high-quality financial talent cultivation and industrial innovation.
