On the morning of 18 November 2023, the "China-UK Education Cooperation and Innovation Symposium" 2023, hosted by the Institute of Economics and Finance of Nanjing Audit University, was held in Room 502 of Zhonghe Building at the Pukou Campus. Invited attendees included Mr. Li Qianwen, Vice President of Nanjing Audit University; Mr. Sun Yang, Dean of the Institute of Economics and Finance; Ms. Zhao Ningru, Vice Dean; Mr. Huang Neng, former Dean of the School of International Education at Nanjing University of Finance and Economics; Mr. James Rockey, Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Birmingham; Mr. Joseph Bromfield, Director of Undergraduate Programmes at Birmingham Business School; and Ms. Yao Yao, Director of Taught Postgraduate Programmes. The symposium was chaired by Mr. Peng Langchuan, Assistant Dean of the Institute of Economics and Finance at Nanjing Audit University.
Vice President Li Qianwen delivered the opening address. He noted that the university has always been committed to cultivating high-calibre talent with international vision and innovative capability. Through cooperation with internationally renowned universities such as the University of Birmingham and Queen's University Belfast, the university has not only broadened students' international horizons and improved teaching quality but also provided students with more opportunities for international exchange and employment.
Dean Sun Yang delivered a keynote report titled "Exploring the Path to Cultivating Internationalised Elite Talent". Mr. Sun introduced the teaching and research work of the Institute of Economics and Finance and shared the exploration and practice of the Economics and Finance International Innovative Talent Class from five perspectives: "independent thinking", "professional knowledge", "oral and written expression", "cross-cultural communication", and "innovative spirit".
Professor Huang Neng delivered a keynote report titled "Design and Innovation in International Cooperation Work", pointing out that internationalised education requires assessing the situation, planning ahead, and doing good design work, as well as integrating resources, co-building experience, and jointly building platforms.
Mr. Joseph Bromfield delivered a keynote report titled "Economics Teaching for the Modern Digital Economy". Against the backdrop of the vigorous development of modern artificial intelligence technologies such as AI and ChatGPT, he introduced to the audience the University of Birmingham's recent exploration of curriculum reform for undergraduate economics programmes in response to modern development, and encouraged students present to study more and think diligently. In the interactive Q&A session that followed, he patiently answered students' questions about studying statistics and analysis. Ms. Yao Yao delivered a keynote speech titled "Postgraduate Opportunities at Birmingham Business School", in which she gave a detailed introduction to the University of Birmingham's geographical location, historical heritage and academic atmosphere, presented the features and strengths of its postgraduate programmes, and encouraged students to continuously enhance their international vision and their capacity for innovation and collaboration.
Ms. Wendy McKnight, Head of International at Queen's Business School, Queen's University Belfast, attended the symposium online and delivered remarks remotely.
The symposium aimed to provide an excellent platform for promoting cooperation and exchange among the participating parties in the field of education, with all parties jointly exploring new ideas, new models and new opportunities for educational cooperation and innovation in order to address the multiple opportunities and challenges in contemporary education. In addition, the "Nanjing Audit University Master's Programme for Reserve Economic/Financial Audit Talent for International Organisations", organised under the leadership of the University's Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and applied for by the Institute of Economics and Finance, was recently approved. Taking this symposium as an opportunity, the Institute of Economics and Finance will, in accordance with the university's requirements, earnestly advance the programme's development, further promote reform of the talent cultivation model, and contribute to the university's future in-depth cooperation and innovative development in the field of international education.
All faculty members of the Institute of Economics and Finance of Nanjing Audit University and student representatives of the Economics and Finance International Innovative Talent Class attended the symposium.
Prior to the symposium, Vice President Li Qianwen, Mr. Zhai Guo, Vice Dean of the Graduate School, Ms. Yang Yan, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, and Mr. Sun Yang, Dean of the Institute of Economics and Finance, together with Ms. Zhao Ningru, Vice Dean, held discussions and negotiations with University of Birmingham representatives Mr. James Rockey, Mr. Joseph Bromfield and Ms. Yao Yao on matters including the terms of the master's programme agreement between the two universities and the gaokao admission arrangements for the "2+2" dual degree undergraduate programme.