In May 2025, ZIBS The World and The Future China Module - University of Zurich China Module Executive Education Program was successfully held. The program objective was innovative and globalized business education, with a theme on China's Innovation in Global Technological Development. Through lectures, on-site teaching, the Sino-Swiss Financial Institution Technology & Finance Conference, and the Global Fintech Roundtable Forum, 12 high-level Swiss participants, including the President of the Swiss Fintech Association, member of the Executive Board of the Swiss Stock Exchange, and Executive of UBS, participated in the program.
During the program, Dean of ZIBS BEN Shenglin and Professor ZHENG Gang from the School of Management gave lectures and exchanged ideas with participants on the Future of AI in Banking and Innovation & Entrepreneurship in China-An Ecosystem View respectively. Through the teaching of high-level faculty in international business education at Zhejiang University, students observed the evolution of China's fintech curve overtaking from a more cutting-edge perspective, clarifying that AI or any technology represents the core of a strategic culture and business transformation. They also gained a better understanding that Zhejiang University is not just a university in China, but an ecosystem with world-class resources and a hub for contemporary entrepreneurial spirit. For China's innovation and entrepreneurship practices in the AI+ era, participants directly learned about the authentic “Zhejiang Model” and Zhejiang University Plan, and gained intuitive insights.
In order to help participants feel and experience the development status of China's scientific and technological innovation more comprehensively, ZIBS Executive Education Center accompanied them to Ant Group, ByteDance, Alibaba Cloud, NIO, Wensli Group, Hangzhou City Brain and other innovative enterprises as well as ZJU alumni-affiliated enterprises for on-site teaching. TANG Weicheng, Director of Ant Group's Financial Research Center, XIAN Zhuoxian, Chief Architect of Financial Solutions of Alibaba Cloud International Business Unit, XIE Jun, Deputy General Manager of Hangzhou City Brain Co., Ltd., and others all introduced the characteristics and international development of Chinese enterprises which are focused on scientific and technological innovation. There were ample opportunities for exchanges and discussion.
The ZIBS Executive Education Center fully integrates the resources of the ZIBS ecosystem and organizes high-level exchange meetings such as the Sino-Swiss Financial Institution Technology & Finance Conference with members of the Financial Committee of the Western Returned Scholars Association and Executive of the Hangzhou Financial Investment Group during the program, to exchange and explore cooperation in the financial sector between China and Switzerland, and share the achievements and opportunities of expanding the opening up of the financial industry. YANG Zhiying, Director of the Shanghai International Centre for Communication and Cooperation between Exchanges, DU Yang, Deputy Secretary General of the Financial Committee of the Western Returned Scholars Association and Chairman of Mitsui Sumitomo De Si Private Equity Fund Management Co., Ltd., FU Zhan, Assistant General Manager of Hangzhou Financial Investment Industrial Fund Management Co., Ltd., and others focused on the new opportunities of Sino-Swiss financial integration, and held in-depth dialogues with participants on topics such as financial inclusion and innovation, cross-border investment and financing cooperation, and green finance development, etc. Through sharing, not only did mutual trust and consensus in the financial field between China and Switzerland deepen, but we also explored practical paths for the implementing bilateral cooperation for the future.
During the program, participants gathered with scholars and industry experts from different countries and regions to participate in the ZIBS Global Leaders Lecture Series and Z Talk Special Forum, envisioning the future of global economic and technological development. In the keynote speech titled Re-examination of Globalization Trends, participants actively asked Geoffrey Garrett, member of the ZIBS International Advisory Board (IAB) and Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, about topics such as the prospects of China Europe cooperation and cutting-edge technological development trends. Two representatives, along with Vice Dean WU Jian of Zhejiang University International Campus, BEN Shenglin, Han Seung-soo, Chairman of ZIBS International Advisory Board (IAB) and President of the United Nations General Assembly Council, and Yaseen Anwar, ZIBS IAB member and former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, witnessed the unveiling of the Zhejiang International Base for Science & Technology Exchange: Fintech and Big Data Analysis (ZIBSciTechX); In the roundtable discussion on financial technology, student representatives including Thomas Brändle, President of the Swiss Fintech Association, and Dieter Goerdten, member of the Executive Board of the Swiss Stock Exchange, and LUO Xingguo, Vice Dean of ZIBS, SO Ha Yan, Associate Professor of ZIBS and Director of the Master of Finance (iMF) Program, delved into the trends of globalization and new opportunities in financial technology. The participants, along with ZIBS faculty and students, expressed their blessings to Zhejiang University for her 128th anniversary celebration.
The ZIBS-EEC 2025 sixth ZIBSers & Executives sharing event was held simultaneously with the UZH CM. 30 students from iMBA, iMF, iMDS, and GCM registered to participate in 8 sharing events, with a total of 53 participants. The degree program students interacted frequently with participants and corporate executives, and all had a great sense of achievement.
At the graduation ceremony, SHEN Li, Assistant Dean of ZIBS, and Professor Daniel Peter Fasnacht, Director of Executive Education Programs at the University of Zurich, jointly presented graduation certificates. Professor Daniel Peter Fasnacht stated that the orderly progress of the program was made possible by the professional execution and efficient coordination of the ZIBS Executive Education Center, particularly in areas such as overall planning and resource integration. He also noted that the University of Zurich China Module was an exceptional academic and cultural experience in China, and the participants are very satisfied. The University of Zurich is willing to establish a strategic partnership with ZIBS for the sustainable development of executive education.
ZIBS Executive Education Center：
ZIBS Executive Education Center holds independent flagship programs such as ZIBS the World and the Future - China Module, ZIBS the World and the Future - Overseas Module, ZIBS the World and the Future - Global Youth Leaders Summer Camp and other bespoke training programs on science and technology innovation, globalization, and sustainable development for executives from the Chinese and foreign government, universities, enterprises, banks and financial institutions. We also undertake programs such as ZIBS Global Leaders Series - Executive Education Forum, Hi Academy events, etc.
The ZIBSers & Executives series provides class sharing of executive education with degree program students, serving the overall mission of talent cultivation of ZIBS, also enriching and improving the learning experience of executive education students. What we do at ZIBS EEC extends the reach of ZIBS social services, showcases the achievements of Model Region of International Cooperative Education, and important window of Zhejiang, and the results of China's path to modernization. It's also an exhibition of international vision, global competitiveness, and a sense of responsibility to the world for ZIBS faculty and students. We strive to elevate the level of regional internationalization and promote innovative capabilities, contributing to the comprehensive constrution of the lifelong education system in China and the implementation of the strategy of strengening the country with a quality work force.
