2024 International Youth Leadership Finance Summit at Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) hosted the 2024 International Youth Leadership Finance Summit (IYLFS) on December 7-8. The event was organized by the Master of Finance (MF) Program and attracted participants from a variety of prestigious domestic and international institutions, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Fudan University. The number of registrations exceeded expectations, with more than 200 contestants attending, over 20% of whom were international students.
Opening Ceremony
During the opening ceremony, Professor David Li, Faculty Director of the MF Program, spoke about the Summit’s objectives as a platform for international exchange. He highlighted the importance of interactions among students, professors, and industry experts, encouraging attendees to build connections that could support their future roles in the global finance sector.
Event Evolution and Contemporary Topics
Lin Yang, Director of the SAIF MF Program, noted the event’s evolution since its launch in 2013, underscoring its significance in China’s higher education ecosystem. This year’s Summit addressed contemporary topics, including FinTech, Blockchain, Green Finance, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations. Innovations introduced at this edition included immersive financial experiences and diverse academic discussions aimed at enhancing participants’ understanding of primary and secondary markets, as well as quantitative finance.
Workshops Offered
The Summit featured three specialized workshops:
- The “Primary Market” workshop, led by Professor Zhan Jiang, focused on mergers and acquisitions.
- The “Secondary Market” workshop, conducted by Professor Wenjun Qiu, centered on global equity investments.
- The “Quantitative Finance” workshop, facilitated by Professor Zhihao Yin, emphasized data modeling techniques using Python.
Preparation and Research
To support the participating teams, volunteers from the SAIF MF program facilitated discussions on WeChat in advance of the event. Following the workshops, teams conducted research tailored to their specific tracks.
Evaluation and Feedback
On December 8, a panel of experts evaluated the presentations across the three tracks, providing professional feedback. The judges acknowledged participants for their global insights, analytical abilities, and effective communication skills, praising the clarity and innovation of their presentations.
Awards Ceremony
The Summit concluded with an awards ceremony in which 17 teams received top honors from various institutions, including Peking University and Tsinghua University. Additionally, fifteen students were awarded Outstanding Individual Awards. Professor Tan Wang, Deputy Dean at SAIF, encouraged participants to view the Summit as an opportunity to tackle financial challenges and urged them to uphold professionalism and social responsibility in their future careers.
(Source: Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
