CUHK Economics Alumni in Academia Meet in Shanghai

Nearly 20 alumni and faculty members from the Department of Economics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) gathered in Shanghai on 26 July for a reunion that fostered both academic exchange and alumni connections.

Hosted at the College of Business of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), the event brought together scholars currently serving at universities and research institutions across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, including CUHK, the City University of Macau, Zhejiang University, Renmin University of China, and SUFE, among others.

Six faculty members from CUHK Economics attended the gathering: Professors Shu Lin, Yifan Zhang, Duozhe Li, Liugang Sheng, Dan Lyu, and Ce Shi. The gathering was supported by the Global South Institute of Finance and Economics at SUFE and chaired by Junjie Tang, Assistant Professor at Hangzhou City University and a 2022 graduate of the CUHK Department of Economics.

Opening the event, Professor Haoyuan Ding, a 2014 graduate of CUHK Economics and currently Dean of the Global South Institute of Finance and Economics at SUFE, reflected on the formative role the Department had played in his academic journey. He also introduced SUFE’s recent strategic priorities and the Institute’s ongoing initiatives, highlighting opportunities for deeper collaboration and exchange between the two institutions in the years ahead. Professor Ding further advocated for the establishment of a more regular and structured platform for alumni engagement. He noted that CUHK’s Shanghai Centre and future academic forums could serve as valuable channels for strengthening scholarly interaction and fostering collaborative research among alumni and faculty members.

Haoyuan Ding, a CUHK Economics alumnus and Dean of the Global South Institute of Finance and Economics at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, delivers the welcome remarks.

Professor Yifan Zhang, Director of the Graduate Division and Coordinator for Alumni Relations of the CUHK Department of Economics, expressed his gratitude to SUFE and Professor Ding for hosting the reunion. He provided an overview of recent developments in the Department’s graduate programmes and highlighted achievements in faculty recruitment, student development, academic exchange, and alumni engagement. Professor Zhang encouraged alumni to take an active role in future activities and reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to supporting their academic and professional development. He also expressed his hope that CUHK Economics would continue to strengthen its partnerships with the universities and research institutions where its alumni are now teaching and conducting research.

Yifan Zhang, Director of the Graduate Division and Coordinator for Alumni Relations of the CUHK Department of Economics, delivers the opening remarks.

Beyond the formal programme, the reunion provided a valuable opportunity for participants to exchange views on research, academic careers, and developments in the economics profession. The discussions also underscored the importance of maintaining strong institutional and personal ties across an increasingly diverse and geographically dispersed academic community.

For many attendees, the gathering was more than a reunion with former classmates and colleagues. It marked an important step towards building a sustainable platform for academic exchange, collaboration, and mutual support among CUHK Economics alumni working in academia.

Alumni and faculty members from the CUHK Department of Economics gather for a group photograph at the reunion.

Faculty members from the CUHK Department of Economics pose for a photograph at the Global South Institute of Finance and Economics at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.