On February 27, ECNU President Qian Xuhong met with a delegation led by Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University (UNU) and UN Under-Secretary-General, at the Putuo Campus. The delegation included Dr. Michael Baldock, Chief of Staff of the UNU Rector’s Office; Dr. Huang Jingbo, Director of UNU Macau; and Mr. Dai Qian, Communications and External Relations Officer at UNU Macau.
President Qian Xuhong meets with the UNU Delegation
First, President Qian Xuhong cordially welcomed the guests and introduced ECNU’s commitment to global collaboration, particularly in AI-driven financial research. He emphasized that this partnership would provide broader opportunities for both universities. He also wished for deeper cooperation in AI-finance research, talent development, and international academic exchanges to drive financial technology innovation and promote intelligent and inclusive finance globally.
Then, Rector Tshilidzi Marwala introduced UNU’s global academic framework and research priorities while reflecting on the opportunities for collaboration with ECNU. He highlighted that the rapid evolution of AI-finance brings both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. UNU aims to collaborate with ECNU in advancing interdisciplinary research and technological innovation in AI-finance, ensuring the sustainable development of AI in the financial sector and contributing to global digital economy governance.
The signing of the MoU
Following the discussions, in the presence of President Qian Xuhong and Rector Tshilidzi Marwala, Prof. Shao Yilei, Dean of Shanghai AI-Finance School, and Dr. Huang Jingbo, Director of UNU Macau, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of both universities. During the meeting, both sides engaged in discussions on the establishment of the “UNU Hub in AI-Finance at ECNU” and explored collaboration opportunities in applying AI technologies to global financial transformation.
The United Nations University (UNU) is the think tank and academic arm of the United States. Its mission is to help resolve global issues related to human development and welfare through collaborative research and education. To achieve this mission, UNU is partnering with leading universities and research institutions worldwide, acting as a bridge between the international academic community and the United Nations system.
Source: Shanghai AI-Finance School
Copy editor: Philip Nash
Editor: Xu Xincheng
