CityU students’ sharing: Faculty of Finance nurtures talents in line with professional benchmarks by industry-academic collaboration
The Faculty of Finance (FOF) is the first school dedicated to all aspects of finance in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. FOF is staffed with experienced teaching members drawn from internationally renowned universities and emphasizes cultivating students’ solid theoretical foundation, financial cognitive ability, and market analysis ability. As strategic partners of many renowned higher education institutions and the financial sectors, FOF is committed to providing professional practical training and career consultancy services.
- FOF has obtained a silver status validated by the Business Graduates Association for its distinctive degree programs. A variety of financial topics, including fintech, finance leasing, and green finance, are addressed in the three programs. The Faculty offers the Bachelor of Applied Economics program, the Master of Science in Finance program, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Finance program.
- In collaboration with the Hengqin Innovative Institute for Finance and Management (HIIFM) and the Hengqin-Macau Youth Entrepreneurship Valley, FOF has formed a hub that promotes exchanges among businesses, academia, and research institutions for talent cultivation. Students and faculty are encouraged to conduct joint projects and participate in various exchange activities and workshops related to research development, education, and field visits.
- Various partnerships have been established with renowned universities in mainland and overseas to launch summer internship programs for students.
- Well-known industrial elites will be invited to share cutting-edge information with students in order to enhance their professional literacy.
- Leading refereed journals have featured research findings developed by faculty and students.
Alumni Highlights
Ou Yonglin, Master of Science in Finance, Cohort of 2022
Commercial Bank of Macau, trader
“Two years have passed in a flash. I’m so lucky to have had a wonderful college experience at CityU. Under this favorable learning environment and excellent mentorship, my critical thinking and academic performance have greatly improved. That helped me a lot when I started my career as a trader at an investment bank. I have created many happy and precious memories and friendships on campus through the many activities we have participated in. Through the sharing of seniors, not only did I learn the most cutting-edge industrial know-how, but also got a lot of inspiration from their experiences. It was their sharing that helped me prepare not only physically, but also mentally for the job.”
Chen Zhenji, Master of Science in Finance, Cohort of 2022
Continuing his PhD studies in Finance at CityU. Once involved in the compilation of the financial-textbook: The Principles and Practices of Modern Commercial Bank Management and the study project on the feasibility of enterprise-asset-digitization under the mentorship of his supervisor.
“CityU gives me the opportunity to experience the special cultural vibe in Macao and improve myself in all aspects. More precisely, the outstanding postgraduate program offered by FOF has taught me how to apply advanced theoretical knowledge to practices, allowing me to broaden my financial thinking and international visions. I found room for improvement after attending academic lectures, which strengthened my determination to continue my studies. Thank you CityU and the Faculty of Finance. There is a long way to go, and I will always stay true to our motto – Virtue, Knowledge, Practice.”
Lin Lichao, Master of Science in Finance, Cohort of 2022
Teaching member at Guangdong University of Science and Technology
“During my years in CityU, I competed with the top teams from Tsinghua and Peking University, and also had the honor to be given the sincere advice by the top scientist around the world. Beyond the campus, more than 200 libraries scattered in the city, and hitting these libraries became my “go-to” extracurricular activity. As time went on, I found that only by slowing down our pace we can experience the exotic charm of Macao. I realized that patience and perseverance should be the basic qualities of a scholar. Thank you CityU, thank you Macao.”
Student Outcomes
Student Li Jiachun in Master of Science in Finance program, Class of 2021
Recipient of the “Luso International Banking Scholarship.” Li participated in a summer internship at a research department of a securities firm. Several commentaries that she contributed to, such as the comparative analysis of brokerage firms, the product life cycle and market development of new games, and the business opportunities in carbon neutrality, were featured in the hotlist of the online news column “Nancai Hao” (Chinese: 南財號) of the Southern Finance Omnimedia Corp. in June. Meanwhile, she followed the first-class industry trends in Shenyang Tier and combined fundamental data and policy-oriented analysis to produce core views and investment scores for each industry.
“FOF sets goals to enhance the uniqueness and quality of its courses, improve students’ research and practical abilities, and sharpen their analytical skills and financial vision. In this era of rapid information development, an individual’s versatility reduces the chance of being replaced. A large number of interdisciplinary talents surge under the comprehensive pedagogical mode of research, theory, and practice. Here, I have met many professors who treat me like friends. I have met like-minded classmates, and we have had a meaningful and diverse campus life. In an era of the interweaving of the centennial change and pandemic, challenges and opportunities coexist, and so do difficulties and achievements. Under the mentorship of the faculty and senior professors, I strongly believe that we will gear up for future success during the economic downturn, and to meet up to the expectations given by the university and society. I firmly believe that when the wind rises and the waves break, we will set sail cross the sea with determination and perseverance.”
Student Zou Xueying in Doctor of Philosophy in Finance program, Class of 2020
Zou has published several academic papers and won awards in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. She has been involved in several projects on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, business incubation, and investment and financing projects of technological enterprises.
“My PhD studies in Finance have been full of surprises. Firstly, we have a distinctive curriculum setting that is similar to western colleges, including group discussions and presentations. Our courses are centered on the development of the Greater Bay Area and mainland China, providing us with opportunities not only to enhance teamwork and public speaking skills but also to guide us to find our research interests at disciplinary frontiers, helping us to build a solid foundation for future development in academia or in the job market. Furthermore, our professors have been dedicated to helping us. I am honored to be part of the research team and we have published articles and gained prizes in innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. All of these achievements would not have been possible without the selfless mentorship and guidance of my professors.”
Yan Wanlin in Doctor of Philosophy in Finance program, Class of 2020
Yan co-authored a paper with her supervisor, which was published online by the international finance journal Finance Research Letters. She also published a paper as a single author in The North American Journal of Economics and Finance. She won the third prize in the fifth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Graduate Student Forum for conference papers. She was part of the research team of several projects, including “Macao Social Security Fund Index Calculation and Sustainability Research” and “Analysis and Evaluation of Statistical Indicators for Moderately Diversified Economic Development in Macao.”
“FOF’s academic offerings have distinct characteristics. Besides having a deep knowledge base, our professors have extensive teaching experience and outstanding hands-on research skills. At CityU, we have a fine peer-learning environment. We are involved in academic salons and dissertation seminars hosted by the faculty on a regular basis. Through the linkage between FOF and universities worldwide, we keep our fingers on the pulse of financial studies and research, which enables us to develop our innovative thinking skills. Professors are students’ navigators, and students can count on them for sincere instruction and guidance throughout their academic careers. Their mentorship has been a great example for students, and I have learned a lot from them.”
Welcome to Faculty of Finance
The Faculty of Finance keeps abreast with the social and economic development of the world to create an application-oriented curriculum setting through international perspectives. The faculty centers on experiential learning and integrates industry-academia collaborations into pedagogies. The Faculty of Finance will continue to take the development of Macao and the Greater Bay Area as the platform to cultivate sought-after financial talents.
