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On December 7th and 8th, the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) proudly hosted the 2024 International Youth Leadership Finance Summit (IYLFS), organized by its Master of Finance (MF) Program.

 

This year's Summit witnessed remarkable enthusiasm, attracting students from around the world. Prestigious domestic institutions such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Renmin University of China, Nankai University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University—alongside renowned international universities including the University of California, Berkeley; New York University; Emlyon Business School; Heidelberg University; Stockholm School of Economics; and the University of Liverpool—experienced a significant increase in registrations. Over 200 contestants participated, with international students comprising more than 20% of the attendees.

 

 

Professor David Li, Professor of Practice and Faculty Director of the MF Program at SAIF, warmly welcomed participants at the opening ceremony. He emphasized the Summit's role as an international exchange platform, allowing students from leading universities to engage with professors and industry experts on equal footing. The event, open to students from all academic backgrounds, fosters an interdisciplinary environment that enriches participants' understanding of finance and broadens their global perspectives. Professor Li encouraged students to build valuable connections that would lay a foundation for leadership in global financial reform and development.

 

 

Lin Yang, Director of the SAIF MF Program, outlined the Summit's evolution since its inception in 2013. As a flagship event of SAIF and one of China's premier university business competitions, the Summit addresses contemporary topics such as FinTech, Blockchain, Green Finance, and ESG. It seamlessly integrates a “global vision” with “local characteristics,” attracting outstanding teams from top universities worldwide. This year, the Summit underwent a comprehensive revamp, introducing four key features: immersive financial experiences, compatibility with diverse academic backgrounds, access to top-tier financial platforms, and unexpected benefits. It invites young scholars globally to explore primary markets, secondary markets, and quantitative finance through a blend of theory and practice.

 

 

The Summit offered three specialized workshops: “Primary Market,” “Secondary Market,” and “Quantitative Finance.” 

 

· The “Primary Market” workshop, led by Professor Zhan Jiang, an expert in M&A and Innovation Finance, introduced students to mergers and acquisitions. 

· The “Secondary Market” workshop featured Professor Wenjun Qiu, who brought his extensive experience from J.P. Morgan and Bank of America to guide students in selecting, investing in, and forecasting global equity assets.

· The “Quantitative Finance” workshop, conducted by Professor Zhihao Yin, covered data modeling and strategy backtesting using Python, drawing on his experience from leading financial institutions like J.P. Morgan and Citigroup.

 

 

The SAIF MF program assigned volunteers to assist participating teams, facilitating vibrant discussions among global students on WeChat before the event. Following the workshops, teams engaged in intensive research and discussions tailored to their respective tracks.

 

 

On December 8th, a panel of expert judges evaluated teams across the three tracks, offering professional feedback and scoring. The panel included esteemed professionals such as Jie Hu, Matthias Keschka, Roger Sole Camats, Nan Li, Kangkang Zhang, Lin Yang, Zhihao Yin, Zhetao Zhang, and Xunzhi Liu. Judges commended participants for their global vision, critical thinking, and deep understanding of finance, praising their clear structure, innovative perspectives, and strong communication skills.

 

 

After rigorous competition, 17 teams from universities including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, and others received first, second, and third prizes. Additionally, fifteen students from various universities were honored with Outstanding Individual Awards.

 

In his closing address, Professor Tan Wang, Deputy Dean and Chair Professor of Finance at SAIF, congratulated the winners and urged participants to view the Summit as a starting point for exploring financial issues. He encouraged them to embrace professionalism and social responsibility, contributing to societal development through their endeavors.