11 Sep 2024
On 7 September, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University held the alumni conference themed ‘Innovative Technologies and the Rise of AI’. The event featured industry keynote speech, parallel sessions, alumni award ceremony, and a networking dinner, attracting over a hundred alumni, industry leaders, academic experts, IBSS faculty and staff.
Professor Jorg Bley, Dean of IBSS, extended a warm welcome on behalf of the school. He mentioned that IBSS is an international family, with its alumni network expanded to more than 13,000 members and over 30 chapters across the globe. The school has integrated innovative technological trends into its curriculum design. IBSS trading floor, which mimics real-world scenarios, is under final test phase and will soon be used for teaching and research purposes. Professor Bley also stressed that lifelong learning has become increasingly important, as the development of AI has created many new jobs.
Professor Jorg Bley
Professor Jianwu Lin from Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School delivered an industry keynote speech titled "The Internet Industry and Digital Economy." In his presentation, he introduced how large enterprises are leveraging the industrial internet to promote financing for small and medium-sized enterprises in the market with the development of internet technology. He also used the example of the "agriculture and tourism" economic model in rural areas to explore deeply how modern internet finance can empower the revitalization of rural agricultural and tourism economies.
Professor Jianwu Lin
Subsequently, Professor Roberto Dona from the Department of Strategic Management and Organisation, Dr Bo Jiang, Assistant Professor from the Department of Economics, and Dr Yue Xu, Associate Professor from the Department of Strategic Management and Organisation, each moderated one of the three parallel sessions centered on the integration of AI and business development.
On the sub-forum “Strategic Impact of AI in Business”, Professor Roberto Dona, Dr Xiangyun Lu, Assistant Professor from the Department of Accounting, Stephen Zhu, Head of China Innovation Center at Schindler, Zhenning Yao, Senior Solutions Specialist of Data & AI in the Public Sector at Microsoft China, and Erik Walenza-Slabe, CEO of IoT ONE, Shanghai Director of Startup Grind, Co-chair of American Chamber of Commerce Technology & Innovation Committee, engaged in an in-depth dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of AI in business. They discussed perspectives such as integrating teaching with ChatGPT and Python, enhancing corporate decision-making capabilities with general-purpose technologies, and the transformative impact of AI on productivity.
Dr Bo Jiang moderated the session titled “The Macro Consequence of AI and Asset Allocation”, inviting Dr Kang Dang, Associate Professor at XJTLU, Weibin Chen, Assistant General Manager of the Equity Investment Headquarters and General Manager of the Equity Research Department at Soochow Asset Management Co., Ltd., and Senior Scientist Yiming Qian from A*STAR, Singapore, to jointly explore how the development of AI impacts macroeconomics and asset allocation. They engaged in a comprehensive and profound discussion on various dimensions, including AI empowerment in medical treatment and rare disease therapy, AI acceleration of enterprise existing business transformation and investment competition, and the impact of AI on the job market, providing attendees with valuable insights.
On the sub-forum “Career Development in the AI era”, Dr Yue Xu, Andrew Nip, Talent and Development Director for the APAC and Greater China regions at LVMH, Masha Chen, Founder of Abundant Career, and Jimmy Qian, Mflex Group CFO, jointly discussed the challenges faced by corporate human resources and talent management in the digital intelligence era and the strategic adjustments that need to be made. They delved into the impact brought about by technological advancements and digital transformation, how to address the shock of emerging technologies on traditional positions, and proposed corresponding solutions.
Alumna Xiuqin Huang, who graduated from the 2021 International MBA (IMBA) programme and is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Convergen, was awarded the 2024 Alumni of the Year. She expressed her gratitude to IBSS for providing her with a platform for personal growth, particularly for enhancing her diverse and international mindset, and for enriching her with a wealth of campus experiences and friendships.
Xiuqin Huang
Furthermore, two alumni who participated in the event also discussed their experiences. Huarong Xu, a 2023 IMBA student and the Human Resources Director at Suzhou Powersite Electric, shared that her colleague, also an IMBA alumna of IBSS, influenced her decision to pursue the IMBA study at IBSS. “The IMBA faculty and classmates have diverse backgrounds, and the curriculum is designed to emphasize both breadth and depth. For example, the study of accounting has equipped me with the ability to analyze the financial statements of competitors when conducting industry research and company talent strategic planning. The talent structure data obtained from the financial statements has provided robust support for talent allocation within my own company.”
Alumna Xingchen Xia, who graduated in 2021 with a major in economics and is currently employed at OPPLE Lighting, expressed that the theme of the event closely follows the trend of the times. By listening to the insightful perspectives and intellectual exchanges from guests across various industries, she has gained a deeper insight into the role of AI in career development. At the same time, she has also made more like-minded and mutually supportive friends through the alumni event.
Finally, the event concluded with a closing speech by Professor Eddy Fang, Deputy Dean of IBSS. He remarked, “We are now doubling our efforts to fulfil our mission, which is to bridge the East and the West. In these tumultuous times where discussions about globalization appear to be regressing, we serve as the window between China and the rest of the world. Now we take our role even more seriously than before because of everything that is happening. Therefore, we hope that as our alumni, you will return to share the knowledge and experience gained in your companies and future careers. Together, we can build a brighter future and make IBSS a shining beacon.”
Professor Eddy Fang
11 Sep 2024