News

January 03, 2022

SAIF-ICBC 2021 Entrepreneur Financial Well-being Index Released

On December 22nd, the Entrepreneur Financial Well-being Index Report (Report) was released online by SAIF and ICBC Private Banking. Professor Guangshao Tu (Adjunct Professor at SJTU, Executive Director at SAIF) served as the academic director and delivered a speech at the report release ceremony. Combining the efforts of the top think tank and the "national team"of financial institutions, both sides were able to use their academic and practical advantages together to propose a management model to assess the financial well-being of entrepreneurs. This is of great significance to the field of wealth management. An energetic group of enterprises and entrepreneurs are key elements in building a new development pattern in China today. This Report comprehensively reviews the financial well-being status of the entrepreneur group. It makes practical suggestions to help entrepreneurs effectively manage their business through a financial well-being management system. At the same time, the Report provides data support and market feedback for regulators'policy formulations. It helps to promote the transformation of residents'wealth into social-friendly capital and to ensure the healthy development of the wealth management industry. The Report interviewed 1,223 entrepreneurs who were private banking clients, of which 39% were from the manufacturing industry, 12% were from the real estate industry, and 10% were from the wholesale and retail industries. The majority of the clients (70% ) had assets of more than 50 million RMB, and 65% were between the ages of 40-59, with a geographical coverage of 30 provincial administrative regions and subordinate cities. Drawing upon advanced foreign models, the Report simplified a large number of theoretical studies and divided the wealth management system of Chinese private entrepreneurs into four dimensions. By weighting adjustment simulations, it formed a quantifiable assessment system to help entrepreneurs effectively manage their companies, finances, and family assets through a financial well-being management system. According to the Report, the overall 2021 ICBC Entrepreneurial Financial Well-Being Index scored 75, reflecting the good overall financial well-being of Chinese entrepreneurs. Among the other indices, Confidence in Family Business Development scored 82, which was the highest among the four sub-indices. Family Business Well-Being scored 62, which was the lowest, indicating that private enterprises face greater challenges in transformation, upgrading, and inheritance arrangements. Financial Assets Well-Being scored 77, indicating that entrepreneurs'family wealth is healthier than corporate wealth. And lastly, Family Governance Well-Being scored 68, indicating that there is still space for improvement in family internal governance. In the future, SAIF will continue to pay attention to the wealth management of entrepreneurs, to their family businesses, and to their enterprise development. It will provide more research and education support for the wealth management industry — thus helping entrepreneurs to improve their financial well-being.

December 15, 2021

New Finance Advanced 2021 Workshop Held in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area

From November 15th to November 19th, the Jiangbei New Area New Finance Advanced Workshop was held in Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. The workshop was jointly launched by the SAIF Fintech Innovation Base (Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Campus), the Party-Masses Department, and the CBD Construction and Management Office at Jiangbei New Area. It was aimed at strengthening fintech talent in the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area and helping build a new, first-class finance center in China. On November 15th, the opening ceremony was held and was presided over by Professor Jie Hu (Professor of Practice, Director of Fintech Innovation Base at SAIF Jiangbei New Area Campus). Qun Luo (Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Jiangbei New Area), Zhong Wang (Deputy Dean at SAIF), Guanghui Chen (Director of the Comprehensive Management of Administration Committee at Jiangbei New Area), Xiaorong Wang (Director of the Party-Masses Department at Jiangbei New Area), and Jianpeng Chen (Secretary of Jiangbei CBD Party Working Committee) were also present. Qun Luo delivered a speech at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Jiangbei New Area. He said that new finance in the Jiangbei New Area had been groundbreaking in the past few years, forming a new finance system with fintech, digital finance, free trade finance, green finance, and inclusive finance as its core. This workshop aimed to develop the finance acumen of officials in the Jiangbei New Area, in order to improve their capabilities for enterprises in the chip, gene, and new finance industries. He hoped it would help create a beneficial development environment — with active innovation and entrepreneurship favored by capital markets. Zhong Wang pointed out in his speech that since the establishment of the SAIF Financial Technology Innovation Base (at the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Campus) in the CBD in 2020 by SAIF and the Jiangbei New Area Administration Committee, the two sides had achieved a series of remarkable achievements through the deep cooperation. SAIF has top-class faculty in China, Asia, and worldwide which provide innovative ideas, solutions, products, and technologies to aid in the development of China's modern finance market. He also mentioned that SAIF was willing to expand its cooperation with the Jiangbei New Area to support and participate in the economic development of the Jiangbei New Area, in all aspects. During the opening ceremony, Professor Jie Hu introduced the course system and learning methods to all the participants and encouraged them to study hard. He hoped that participants would use their earned knowledge in their future work. The 5-day workshop was held in a combined online and on-site format, and the participants were excellent front-line representatives from various organs, units, and enterprises recommended by the Party-Masses Department of the Jiangbei New Area, with a total of 45 participants. The course given by SAIF professors and industry experts combined theoretical and practical lectures together. It introduced leading international financial research concepts and models from the most pioneering perspectives, and analyzed relevant policies and applied theories on China's financial reform and development. The courses of this workshop effectively integrate international and local, historical and modern issues, showing profundity, thoughtfulness, and cultural sensitivity. The courses include: "Principles of Finance and Financial Systems in China and Beyond", "Fintech and Innovation", and "Blockchain Principles and Applications"by Professor Jie Hu; "Green Finance"by Professor Tzu-Kuan CHIU; "Multi-level Capital Market Construction"by Professor Hong Yan; "Fintech: Development Trends and Shanghai Practices"by Professor Feng Li; "Global Economic and Financial Changes and China's Countermeasures under the Great Change"by Professor Chun Chang; and "Financial Regulations and Supervision in China"by Professor Duoqi Xu. Through masterful teaching in different styles, their conveyed professional knowledge and colorful experiences had a strong impact upon every participant. To deepen understanding, and better interact with professors and peers, a discussion session was set into each course. Participants conveyed that they had benefited from this workshop and would apply financial knowledge gained to further promote financial development for the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area. On November 19th, the closing ceremony was held. Professor Zhong Wang delivered an online speech. He expressed his sincere respect to the leaders of the Jiangbei New Area who have been supporting SAIF, congratulated the participants, and expressed his gratitude to all the staff. He emphasized that this workshop was an expansion of the cooperation between SAIF and the Jiangbei New Area in order to build a new series of brand activities for "Yangtze River New Finance". SAIF would cooperate closely with the Jiangbei New Area in multiple dimensions to cultivate talent in the finance field. In the future, with the development of regional construction and industrial development reforms, SAIF would also use its resource channels to support economic and social development for the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area.

December 10, 2021

Salary of SAIF FMBA 2021 Graduates Hits High

Recently, SAIF released the Employment Report of the Full-time Financial MBA (FMBA) Graduates in 2021. The report showed that, the "Finance +"multidisciplinary FMBA graduates have been recognized and favored by the market. Nearly 80% of the graduates chose to work in the finance industry, and another 20% chose to join real enterprises or government/regulatory institutions. Their salaries and positions have significantly increased compared against those before enrollment. About 64% of the graduates have an annual starting salary of RMB 300,000 or more. As China's first financial MBA program, the SAIF FMBA Program has been highly recognized by the industry for its world-leading financial education system and outstanding teaching. Graduates have continued to gain great favor from financial institutions and enterprises. This year, 36 FMBA graduates had an average starting salary of RMB 362,000 (up 25.8% and 49.9% over figures from 2020, and before enrollment, respectively), with the median being RMB 300,000 (an increase of 7.1% and 50% over figures from 2020, and before enrollment, respectively). Aimed at fostering industry leaders with modern financial expertise, the SAIF FMBA Program is committed to training a community of financial talent with local influence and international competitiveness. Entrepreneurs and professional managers with an industry background, a financial mindset, and an innovative spirit are also welcomed to join. Statistics show that in this intake, before joining SAIF, 67.6% of the FMBA graduates came from the financial sector and 32.4% came from non-financial industries. After two years of systematic education and training through the SAIF FMBA Program and guidance from the Career Development Center (CDC), their professionalism, skills, and global outlook have been strengthened. They have a clearer understanding of their ability and have the wherewithal to combine their interests and personal characteristics to find a more suitable career path for themselves. According to the recent statistics, 79.4% of this year’s FMBA graduates preferred the finance industry and 14.7% were engaged in the technology and medical industries. Compared to past years, this year's graduates chose to enter more diversified industries, with asset management and securities being the two main industries that attracted them — 38.2% of the students entered asset management institutions and 29.4% were engaged in brokerage firms. The employers included leading brokerage firms and well-known institutions in China, such as: China International Capital Corporation, Huatai United Securities, Guotai Junan Securities, China Renaissance, Yunqi Partners, and China Asset Management. Many graduates joined government-guided funds, industrial funds, and emerging technology enterprises, such as: Shanghai Pudong Technology Investment, Shanghai Semiconductor Equipment & Material Investment Management, Beijing Yuanxin Technology Group, and Kingstar. The Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Securities Association of China, and other regulatory bodies have also attracted MBA graduates. In terms of functions, investment and research positions are the most popular categories among this year's SAIF FMBA graduates, accounting for 32.4% and 20.6% respectively. In addition, strategic investment/planning and sales/trading both represent 11.8%. Another 5.9% of graduates chose to be management trainees. In 2008, SAIF launched the first FMBA Program (Finance Track). The program integrates top educational resources globally, comparable to the finance curriculum of the MIT Sloan Business School, the Wharton Business School, and other top international business schools. It also focuses on Chinese economic and financial development, covering basic finance, professional finance, and management courses.

December 08, 2021

SAIF Professor Jun Pan Made Editor at the Review of Finance

Recently, Professor Jun Pan (Chair Professor at SAIF) joined the Review of Finance (a leading international journal in the field of finance) as the journal editor for a three-year term starting in January 2022. The Review of Finance (RF), founded by the European Finance Association (EFA), is a renowned global journal that publishes the most cutting-edge and influential academic financial research. It is also the only top international journal that places China's finance at the same level of significance as world finance. As China's influence on the world economy and finance grows, the RF made an important strategic decision — to enhance its research focus on China's financial markets. This coincided with Professor Jun Pan's main research after she resigned from MIT and returned to China in 2019. RF provided a great avenue for the frontier academic financial research in China to spread around the world and it also creates a window for the world to better understand China's economy and finance. After returning to China, Professor Jun Pan focused her research upon finance in China, including Fintech, and China's debenture market. She finished many papers, in collaboration with her Ph.D. students and young professors at SAIF. It was because of Professor Pan's strong academic research reputation and her continuous voice for China's finance on the world stage that she stood out in this global selection of journal editors. Professor Pan has always attached great importance to the research on China's economy and finance. She hoped to take this opportunity to increase the voice of Chinese scholars on the international stage — enabling more overseas scholars to gain access to research on China's economy and finance. Prior to joining SAIF in 2019, Professor Jun Pan was the School of Management Distinguished Professor of Finance and Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and she was also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Her work has appeared in Econometrica, Journal of Finance，Review of Financial Studies,Journal of Financial Economics, among other leading academic journals and she once worked as the subeditor at the Review of Finance. She has also won many honors and achievements, including: Best Paper at the China International Conference in Finance (2021), The Stephen A. Ross Prize in Financial Economics (2015), First Prize in the Chicago Quantitative Alliance Annual Academic Competition (2003), the Distinguished Alumni Award at Western Illinois University (2001), the Lieberman Fellowship at Stanford University (1998-99), the Jaedicke Award Scholar at Stanford University (1996-97), and the Luise Meyer-Schutzmeister Award for American Women in Science (1995).

December 06, 2021

SAIF and BOC FINTECH Signed 2021 Strategic Cooperation Agreement

On November 18th, the signing ceremony for the strategic cooperation agreement between SAIF and the Bank of China Financial Technology Company Limited (BOC FINTECH) was held at SAIF. Professor Jiang Wang (Chair of the Academic Council at SAIF; Mizuho Financial Group Professor at Sloan School of Management, MIT), Professor Chun Chang (Executive Dean, Professor of Finance, Huifu Chair Professor at SAIF), Professor Xianglin Li (Professor of Practice, MF Program Academic Co-Director, Associate Director of CAFR), Xiaochun Liu（Associate Director of CAFR), Guiwei Xing (Chairman of BOC FINTECH), Puyu Shi (Vice President of BOC FINTECH), Chaoyang Guo (General Manager of Financial Business Department and Innovation Research Center at BOC Fintech), and representatives from BOC FINTECH attended the ceremony. Both sides discussed details and future cooperation points during the ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Xiaochun Liu. Professor Chun Chang delivered a welcome speech and expressed thanks to all the guests present from BOC FINTECH. He believed that with the rapid development of cutting-edge technology, fintech and digital transformation are both opportunities and challenges for the finance industry. An in-depth discussion on how to integrate academic research and practice is therefore necessary. He emphasized that the strategic cooperation between SAIF and BOC FINTECH would provide leading business management experience for the digital transformation of financial institutions and the development of the fintech industry, and also contribute to the reform and development of China’s finance industry. GuiWei Xing delivered a speech on behalf of BOC FINTECH, saying that as a pioneer of domestic banking financial technology development, BOC FINTECH had always adhered to the precept of "Take technology as the core, use innovation as the engine". BOC FINTECH has also improved the quality and efficiency of financial services by constructing radiating capacity for financial technology services in major regions. He believed that, as the top domestic finance school, SAIF had a world-class faculty team. Although established for only 13 years, SAIF was already a leader in Asia and was world-renowned in academic research and talent cultivation. Xing expressed that, in the future, both sides would cooperate comprehensively with both macro policy and applied practice. Afterwards, Professor Chun Chang and Puyu Shi signed the strategic cooperation agreement on behalf of both sides, as witnessed by Professor Jiang Wang and Guiwei Xing. During the discussion session, the two sides focused on future cooperation opportunities, including: research platform co-construction, study base projects, and joint talent cultivation.

December 02, 2021

PBC (Shanghai) and SJTU Promote Shanghai as an International Finance Center

On October 25th, 2021, the People's Bank of China Shanghai Head Office (PBC Shanghai) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) renewed the strategic cooperation agreement to provide strong intellectual support for the construction of Shanghai as an International Finance Center. Hui Sun (Member of the CPC PBC Shanghai Committee, Deputy Director at PBC Shanghai), Weiming Wang (Deputy Secretary of the CPC SJTU Committee, Vice President at SJTU) and other leaders and experts from SJTU and PBC Shanghai attended the signing ceremony. Hui Sun delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the PBC Shanghai head office. He pointed out that PBC Shanghai had attached great importance to research over the years, and had achieved fruitful results through cooperation with SJTU. He hoped that both sides would make joint efforts on building Shanghai as an International Finance Center, promote green finance reform and innovation, and enhance the monitoring of international economic and financial risks. Professor Weiming Wang delivered a speech on behalf of SJTU. He pointed out that SJTU has been developing steadily towards becoming a comprehensive, innovative, and international university with the advantages of multiple disciplines. Moreover, the rapid development of SJTU SAIF couldn't have been achieved without the strong support from PBC Shanghai. In 2010, SAIF took the lead in launching a strategic cooperation between SJTU and PBC Shanghai. The renewal of the agreement was not only a recognition of productive partnership over the years, but also a milestone for the deepening and upgrading of the cooperation between the two sides. Afterwards, Hui Sun and Weiming Wang signed the strategic cooperation agreement on behalf of PBC Shanghai and SJTU respectively. Both sides will continue to jointly carry out various model development and subject research, release and publish the International Finance Center Development Report every year, and cultivate talent. After the signing ceremony, scholars and experts discussed the topic of "2035 Shanghai International Finance Center Construction"and shared their suggestions. The discussion session was chaired by Professor Qigui Zhu (Secretary of the CPC SAIF Committee). Other participants included: Professor Chun Chang (Executive Dean, Professor of Finance at SAIF), Professor Xiaochun Liu (Associate Director of CAFR), Professor Jie Hu (Professor of practice at SAIF, Director of Financial Technology Innovation Basement at SAIF Nanjing Jiangbei New District), Professor Yingli Pan (Professor at Antai College of Economics and Management, Director of Center for Modern Financial Research at SJTU), and Yu Shao (Chief Economist at Orient Securities).

December 02, 2021

Yangtze River Delta REITs Seminar Held in Shanghai

Between October 18th and October 20th, 2021, as publicly traded REITs have started again for a second time, the Yangtze River Delta Publicly Traded REITs Seminar was held at SAIF with the help of SAIFR and the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE). The purpose of the seminar is to promote the development and implementation of publicly traded REITs projects in the Yangtze River Delta. More than 70 participants from 40 institutions attended the conference, including companies, brokerages, funds and investors who intend to participate in publicly traded REITs. The conference was academically guided by SAIF and was co-organized by the China Securitization Forum, China Merchants Securities, and King & Wood Mallesons. The two-day seminar was presided over by Fangwei Wu (Deputy Director of SAIFR, Secretary General of China Securitization Forum) and Yun Zhu (Executive Secretary of China Securitization Forum). Professor Hong Yan (Deputy Dean for Faculty and Research at SAIF, Vice Chairman of the China Securitization Forum Board) and Professor Feng Li (Co-Director of SAIFR) attended the opening ceremony. During the seminar, participants from different areas shared their views on publicly traded REITs. Wenxuan Xiao (Regional Head of the Bond Department at SSE), Yaping Wu (Expert of Investment Research Institute at National Development and Reform Commission, and Guilian Luo (Chief Expert of Investment and Financing Center at Shanghai State-owned Capital Operation Research Institute) gave speeches on "the general situation and project review of the first pilots", "key points and operational suggestions on the asset side", and "transformation of the investment and financing model of the original equity holders", respectively. Others shared their experiences and suggestions on participating in the first pilots for publicly traded REITs. They included: Li Min (Deputy General Manager of the Finance Management Center of Capital Group), Minsi Wang (Deputy Director/Head of Asset Securitization of GLP), Cheng Wang (Head of REITs Business of CICC), Shi Qiu (Head of REITs Group of CITIC Securities), Yue Cao (General Manager of Fullgoal Asset), Zhiguo Feng (Tax Partner of KPMG China), Fushen Chen (Partner of King & Wood Mallesons), Yang Zhi ( Director/Head of Asset Securitization Business of Valuation Department of DTZ), and Kangjia Ni (Head of REITs Business of Investment Banking Committee of China Merchants Securities). On the morning of the 20th, the closed seminar was held. Professor Hong Yan (Deputy Dean for Faculty and Research at SAIF), Dongxing Duan (Deputy General Manager of the Bond Department of SSE), Qi Zhao (Senior Manager and Head of REITs Business of SSE), Cen Chang (Deputy Director of the Finance and Economics Department of Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission) and other participants attended the seminar. Some representatives expressed their views on "the latest policy changes of Document No.958", "key points of the compliance review of infrastructure projects", "reflections on publicly traded REITs in 5A scenic spots", "reflections on banks","participation in publicly traded REITs", "problems in publicly traded REITs in the exhibition industry", "publicly traded REITs for protected housing" and other related issues. They also provided policy consultation on problems encountered during the operation of new energy generation projects, indemnificatory housing projects, and non-government business projects. Cen Chang said that Shanghai Municipal Government and Shanghai Development and Reform Commission actively supported publicly traded REITs. Chang interpreted Shanghai’s supporting policies and encouraged institutions to actively explore high-quality local assets and enterprises in other regions for the issuance of publicly traded REITs through the SSE. Representatives of SSE introduced relevant work in the pilot promotion of publicly traded REITs, analyzed problems that commonly exist in this phase, and urged all parties to communicate and cooperate further in the joint promotion of healthy development for the REITs market.

December 01, 2021

Pagano and Zechner 2021 Prize Won by Professor Xiaoyun Yu

Recently, the paper "The Externalities of Corruption: Evidence from Entrepreneurial Firms in China"was awarded the 2021 Review of Finance Pagano and Zechner Prize, as announced by the European Finance Association (EFA). It was co-authored by Professors Xiaoyun Yu (Professor of Finance; SAIF), Mariassunta Giannetti (Professor of Finance; Stockholm School of Economics), Liao Guanmin (Professor of Accounting; School of Business, Renmin University), and Jiaxing You (Professor, School of Management, Xiamen University). The Review of Finance Pagano and Zechner Prize was established by the EFA to laud the best non-investment paper published in EFA's journal, the Review of Finance. This was the first time that the award had been given to a paper focusing on corporate finance in China, which was based entirely on data from Chinese companies.

November 05, 2021

2021 SAIF Media Excellence Initiative Held

Between October 21st and 24th, 2021, the 2021 SAIF Media Excellence Initiative was held. This was the third year since the program had launched and nearly 50 media elites from leading financial media were selected to participate in this year's program. In 2019, taking the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of SAIF, the Media Excellence Initiative was launched to better fulfill SAIF’s social responsibility of financial knowledge instruction to the financial media. The program not only invites professional scholars in finance, accounting, management, marketing and other related fields, but also invites industry leaders and experts to integrate practice and theory. It provides media elites with short-term, professional, small, customized courses. In the past two years, nearly 90 financial media elites from China and beyond have participated in our training. On the evening of October 21st, Professor Qigui Zhu (Secretary of the CPC SAIF Committee), delivered a welcome speech. He pointed out that promoting the vigorous development of China’s finance was the common goal of both SAIF and the financial media. And this program, which helps media professionals to improve their financial skills through a short-term (yet intensive) study journey guided by experts and scholars, could help to fulfill our common goal better and more swiftly. During the two-day-course, 10 professors gave lectures focusing on different finance issues. They were: Professor Guangshao Tu (Adjunct Professor at SJTU, Executive Director of the SAIF Board), Professor Chun Chang (Executive Dean, Huifu Chair Professor at SAIF), Professor Jun Pan (SAIF Chair Professor), Professor Feng Li (Professor of Accounting, Associate Director of CAFR), Professor Hong Yan (Deputy Dean for Faculty and Research, Professor of Finance at SAIF), Professor Zhen Huang (Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Member of the National Committee of CPPCC), Professor Xinlei Chen (Professor of Marketing at SAIF), Professor Xiaochun Liu (Associate Director of CAFR), Professor Ning Zhu (Professor of Finance, Deputy Dean at SAIF), and Professor Tzu-kuan Chiu (Professor at SAIF). In the peer exchange session, three professionals that were invited to share their ideas had a discussion with all participants on the topic of “How to Make the Media Reports Hot”. At the end of the course, participants gave presentations in groups, and Professor Ning Zhu made comments for each group, respectively. The participants thought highly of the course because of its broad view and useful knowledge. They also hoped to have more opportunities like this in the future — to listen to lectures given by SAIF professors and to exchange views with other media peers.

November 03, 2021

Average Annual Starting Salary of SAIF MF 2021 Graduates Hits Record High

Recently, SAIF released the Employment Report of MF (Master of Finance) Graduates in 2021. The report showed that, despite the adverse influence on the global economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average and median numbers for annual starting salary were RMB 429,000 and RMB 400,000, respectively (up 21% and 33% from 2020). These figures showed the strong competitiveness for SAIF MF graduates in the job market, and among them, each Fintech Graduate received three job offers on average. There were 89 SAIF MF graduates in total this year, including 71 Chinese students and 18 foreign students. Apart from two graduates who decided to continue their studies, the placement rate of the other 87 graduates was 100%. The average annual salary of the first 24 MF Fintech track graduates was RMB 472,000 and the median figure was RMB 445,000. The average annual salary of the MF General track graduates was RMB 412,000 and the median figure was RMB370,000, which showed a significant rise compared to year 2020. Among all employed students, 68.4% earned more than RMB 300,000 per year and 15.2% earned more than RMB 600,000 per year. As SAIF's flagship program, SAIF MF has been taking the lead in employment data among comparable institutions and universities. This year, overall employment statistics still fully highlight SAIF MF's differentiators of Internationalization, Specialization, and High Level. According to recent statistics, 38.8% of the graduates preferred investment banks, securities, and financial advisors; another 31.3% were engaged in the asset management industry. In terms of functions, investment research posts once again became the most popular positions for this year's SAIF MF graduates, accounting for 42%, followed by sales transaction, investment banking, and consulting/strategic investment (accounting for 18.8%, 15.0% and 12.5%, respectively). In terms of employers, MF graduates were attracted by different kinds. These included renowned international investment banks (JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Securities, Citigroup, Nomura International, etc.), leading domestic institutions (Tencent Investment, Capital Today, Chinese Investment Corporation, etc.), traditional domestic securities firms (CICC, CITIC Securities, China Securities, Huatai United Securities, etc.), leading consulting firms (E Fund, GF, Da Cheng, Zhong Ou, BOCIM, etc.), and consulting institutions (Boston Consulting Group, Bain Capital, etc.) Online leaders have also become hotspot targets for SAIF MF graduates, including Tencent, Meituan Dianping, and other unicorn companies. To meet development demands of the financial industry, SAIF was the first to set up a MF Fintech Track in China. After completing two years of systematic courses and practical internships in finance, the first class of Fintech Track graduates are heavily favored by the market. The placement rate of Fintech graduates is 100% and they each receive more than three job offers on average. To be specific, 62.5% of the Fintech graduates entered the securities industry, 20.8% entered hedge funds or privately offered funds, and another 8.3% entered the technology & internet industry. Their main job functions are investment research (secondary market) and sales & trading, , accounting for 45.8% and 37.5% respectively. In terms of employers, more than half of the Fintech graduates chose top investment banking firms such as CICC, CITIC Securities, China Securities, or Huatai United Securities. Other employers include Morgan Stanley, DTL, Jiukun Investment, Chongyang Investment, and other well-known Chinese and foreign financial institutions. Tencent also hired two Fintech graduates this year for big data analysis and research. Unlike the MF-General Track, the MF-FinTech Track prefers students with a background in science and technology or a second major in mathematics, statistics, or computer science. In addition to Finance courses, the curriculum focuses on Statistics & Machine Learning, Computer Skills & Applications, and other professional skills training. It cultivates top inter-disciplinary talent who can understand basic principles of finance; master modern artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, cloud platforms, blockchain, and other technologies; and demonstrate programming skills. Xuebo Xu, a graduate from Jilin University who majored in financial mathematics and joined CICC after graduating as a Fintech SAIFer, said that "The curriculum at SAIF is of high quality, with comprehensive technical courses such as C++, machine learning, database, measurement and financial engineering, etc. These courses focus on combining theory and practice together, requiring students to do everything from building models to programming by ourselves, which prompted us to grow up quickly to meet the industry's needs in just two years." The Master of Finance Program is a full-time flagship program launched by SAIF in 2009. All of its students have graduated from world-class universities, and the average admission rate is below 5%. With all courses taught in English, the SAIF MF Program trains international financial professionals who are proficient with modern financial theory, techniques, and skills — and are familiar with the practices of the financial sector in China and across the world. Compared against other similar programs in China, SAIF MF features world-class faculty from leading international universities, a dynamic curriculum design in line with international standards, and an internationalized and open-minded educational system. In addition, its modern teaching approaches are supported by a simulation laboratory. Curriculum and courses are closely linked with development of the international financial industry and reflect the reality of Chinese and international markets. Students not only have the opportunity to participate in joint admission programs with world-renowned institutions such as Columbia University, the London School of Economics, and others, but may also enjoy access to international resources and exclusive short-term overseas modules from all over the world. After years of hard work, SAIF MF Program has become a benchmark program in China. In the Masters of Finance Ranking published by the Financial Times, the SAIF MF Program maintained its leadership in Asia for three consecutive years. This year, the SAIF MF Program Admissions Committee selected 79 MF22 pre-admitted students based upon 7 dimensions and 14 indicators, with a final acceptance rate of only 2.5%. MF22 pre-admitted students, originating from 985 universities, have diverse professional backgrounds and rich practical experience, earned outstanding awards, and possess soft power. Among them, 41% majored in science and technology and 58% majored in finance and economics. Of the pre-admitted FinTech students, 72% had majored in science and technology and 54% had inter-disciplinary dual degrees. "We want to endow our students with not only the ability to think systematically and innovatively, but also the cutting-edge skills that Fintech provides, which will help all SAIF MF graduates to grow continuously in the next decade or even decades and become modern professionals close to the market and with outstanding expertise and international vision,"said Professor Tan Wang (Faculty Director of the SAIF MF Program and Professor of Finance at SAIF). "Over the past ten years, SAIF MF has been on the road to success, step by step, by adhering to our international vision and integrating our curriculum with China's financial needs, while persisting in continuous innovation. The organic combination of the two ensures that our program is full of vitality, and that our students can learn and apply what they have learned in practice. In the future, we will continue to adhere to this roadmap and direction."