The School of Finance of Nankai University was established in 2015. In order to implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’ s speech at the National Conference of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2021, it is emphasized that high-level research universities should better combine the development of science and technology as the first productive force, the cultivation of talents as the first resource and the enhancement of innovation as the first driving force. In response to the call of the Ministry of Education to promote the construction of new liberal arts and cultivate liberal arts talents in the new era, the School of Finance launched and explored the “Digital Finance” characteristic talent training project in 2021. Based on the rapid of digital economy and financial technology, this characteristic project aims to cultivate students to systematically master the theoretical knowledge of economics, finance and modern information technology, be familiar with financial practical operation, be proficient in financial technology, data science, algorithm and intelligent technology, have strong practical ability and innovative spirit, and become the digital financial elites who are able to adapt to banking technology, intelligent investment adviser and programmed transaction, insurance technology ,regulatory technology and other fields.

Distinguished Class Training

Among the students admitted to Nankai University in 2021, the characteristic class is established through secondary selection to train and connect with financial technology companies, artificial intelligence companies, robot companies, data centers of large commercial banks, securities companies, investment companies, asset management companies, fund management companies, insurance companies, financial infrastructure companies, regulatory agencies and enterprises and institutions in various industries and fields.

About the Training Program

The training program of the characteristic class is based on finance major, focusing on innovation and reform of course teaching content, teaching methods, training standards and academic assessment. It has a separate professional training plan, and some major courses of characteristic class are taught in small classes.

Training standards and requirements

Students are required to have broad theoretical literacy in economics and finance, and to be able to use statistics, mathematics and computer knowledge and basic skills to teach financial analysis, analyze and understand problems related to domestic and foreign financial operation practices and policies, and creatively solve practical problems.

Customized modular education model

According to the core courses of fintech and digital economy and the needs of digital finance format, the project team of “Digital Finance” characteristic class implements “modular” management, and preliminarily develops a curriculum system of digital finance distinguished class of about 160 credits, forming a batch of high-quality interdisciplinary courses.

Rich practical teaching links

The “Digital Finance” distinguished class project pays special attention to the cultivation of students’ comprehensive ability of innovation and practice. The college has established extensive cooperation with the People’s Bank of China, banking, insurance and securities regulatory authorities, international and domestic well-known financial and insurance institutions, which can provide students with extensive academic, teaching and practical resources at home and abroad.

Master guidance, personalized academic guidance

The college assigns influential professors and associate professors who love undergraduate teaching, have rich teaching experience, profound academic attainments, and act as academic mentors for each student. They follow and guide each student's academic development throughout the course.

Special safeguard mechanism

Fang Xianting Financial Education Development Foundation provides special fund support for the training and activities of “Digital Finance” distinguished class. Students in the distinguished class will receive an honorary bachelor’s degree after graduation, with the certificate marked “Digital Finance Characteristic Class Project”.