Institute of Economics and Finance (IEF)

(1)Introduction to the Institute

The Institute of Economics and Finance (IEF) at Nanjing Audit University was established in October 2015 (NAU Document [2015] No. 49) as a specialized teaching and research unit. Its purpose is to adapt to the trend of internationalization, reform the talent cultivation model in economics and finance, and transform the paradigm of scientific research. The institute specifically recruits high-level talents who have obtained doctoral degrees in economics, finance, and management from renowned overseas universities. The primary responsibilities of IEF are to focus on the frontiers of the discipline, engage in international and domestic cooperation and exchanges, conduct high-level academic research activities, and simultaneously develop elite programs and cultivate students in economics and finance.

To utilize high-quality educational resources more effectively and explore a path for cultivating internationally-minded, innovative talents, the university decided to establish the "Economics and Finance International Talent (EFIT) Immersion Program" within IEF. This program primarily follows the talent cultivation models of internationally renowned universities in economics and finance, aiming to elevate the undergraduate education in economics and finance to world-class standards in a leapfrog manner.

Academically, the institute aims to become a first-class, internationally recognized economics and finance research center in China and an important think tank in East China and even nationwide. To this end, IEF will plan and prioritize the establishment of several research institutes/centers in batches, such as the "China Grassroots Governance Survey Center," "Green Finance Research Center," "Digital Finance Research Center," and "Jiangsu Anti-Money Laundering Education Base," to undertake major domestic and international research projects. The institute organizes regular academic seminars, inviting renowned scholars in related research fields to present the latest research developments.

(2) Research Achievements

The Institute of Economics and Finance currently has 16 full-time faculty members, all of whom have obtained doctoral degrees from prestigious overseas universities. In recent years, faculty members have presided over 9 national-level research projects and 4 other projects from the Ministry of Education, among others. They have published 5 monographs, obtained 3 computer software copyrights, and published over 100 high-level academic papers in internationally and domestically authoritative journals such as the Journal of Public Economics and China Economic Quarterly. Concurrently, the research of IEF has expanded into the industry, serving society. The institute serves as the director unit of the Finance Industry Committee of the Jiangsu Financial Industry Association. Over the past three years, IEF has secured approximately 3 million RMB in funding for horizontal research projects commissioned by government agencies and enterprises.

(3) Educational Achievements

Since 2016, IEF has collaborated with the University of Birmingham on a credit mutual recognition joint education program. Students who complete two years of study at IEF can be selected by the University of Birmingham to enter the second year of study in one of three programs at the Birmingham Business School: "Economics," "Economics, Mathematics and Statistics," or "Money, Banking and Finance." Students who successfully complete their studies will receive a bachelor's degree from the University of Birmingham, a corresponding bachelor's degree from Nanjing Audit University, and a graduation certificate from Nanjing Audit University. In 2022, IEF and the University of Birmingham reached an agreement for the program's enrollment through the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao). Enrollment for the Economics (Sino-British Credit Mutual Recognition Joint Education Program) via Gaokao began in 2024, with 30 students enrolled that year. In 2025, enrollment for this program increased to 40 students.

Since 2018, IEF has collaborated with the University of Western Australia on a credit mutual recognition joint education program. Students who complete two years of study at IEF can be selected by the University of Western Australia to enter the second year of study in programs such as "Economics," "Finance," or "Business Analytics" at the UWA Business School. Students who successfully complete their studies will receive a bachelor's degree from the University of Western Australia, a corresponding bachelor's degree from Nanjing Audit University, and a graduation certificate from Nanjing Audit University. In 2024, Nanjing Audit University and the University of Western Australia reached an agreement for the program's enrollment through Gaokao. Enrollment for the Economic Statistics (Sino-Australian Credit Mutual Recognition Joint Education Program) via Gaokao began in 2025, with 30 students enrolled that year.

Since 2018, IEF has collaborated with Queen's University Belfast on a credit mutual recognition joint education program. Students who complete two years of study at IEF can be selected by Queen's University Belfast to enter the second year of study in one of three programs at the Queen's Business School: "Economics," "Finance," or "Finance with a Year in Industry." For the "Finance with a Year in Industry" program, the second year includes a full-year internship. Students who successfully complete their studies will receive a bachelor's degree from Queen's University Belfast, a corresponding bachelor's degree from Nanjing Audit University, and a graduation certificate from Nanjing Audit University. Currently, approximately 10 students go to Queen's University Belfast each year to pursue their bachelor's degrees.

Since its establishment, IEF has achieved significant results in talent cultivation. Approximately 70% of graduates choose to pursue further education annually, ranking first within the university. Among them, about 50% choose to study abroad, and about 20% pursue further studies domestically. Graduates studying abroad are primarily admitted to world-renowned institutions such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London, Imperial College London, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Graduates pursuing domestic further studies are mainly admitted to prestigious institutions such as Peking University, Nanjing University, Fudan University, Renmin University of China, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nankai University, Southeast University, and Shandong University. Additionally, approximately 30% of graduates directly enter the workforce, with many employed in government agencies, renowned foreign-funded enterprises, large state-owned enterprises, or financial institutions, including the Jiangsu Provincial Selected Transfer Program, local financial regulatory authorities in Jiangsu Province, Ernst & Young, KPMG, CITIC Securities, and Huatai Securities.