From September 28th to October 6th, 13 students and 2 staff members from Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance (Tsinghua PBCSF) traveled to London, UK, to complete a week-long autumn program at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This autumn program is part of the School's international education strategy, aiming at broadening students' international perspectives and enhancing their understanding of global financial markets.
Group Photo of the Participants.
After visiting two of the UK's oldest and most prestigious institutions, the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, students began their studies at LSE. The program included courses on cross-cultural learning, corporate finance, behavioral finance, industry lectures, and company visits.
In the cross-cultural communication series, Xiang Hua, UK Director of LSE Confucius Institute for Business London, used group discussions and videos to vividly demonstrate the barriers in cross-cultural communication and guided students to consider the cultural roots behind conflicts. Neil Maclean, Director of LSE Language Centre, discussed how to maintain etiquette in business and private communication across different cultural backgrounds. In the financial professional series, Kathy Yuan, Head of LSE's Department of Finance, introduced the financial intermediation based on market value, starting with recent research on pledges to explain basic concepts and systematically elaborated on the role of decentralized finance in helping to obtain collateral with market value. Cameron Peng, Assistant Professor at LSE's Department of Finance, explained classic experiments, mathematical models, and cutting-edge papers on the behavioral biases of overreaction and underreaction in investors, and shared research experiences with students after class. Lecturer Java Xu from University College London clearly introduced the pricing algorithms of cryptocurrencies with specific cases. In the industry lecture series, Luca Grulla from the industry brought an industry lecture on the application of AI in the financial field, exploring how artificial intelligence is changing the future of the financial industry. Christopher Cubitt introduced the profit model of the London Underground.
Students Discussing Enthusiastically in Class
During the program, all participants visited the headquarters of BP and Bloomberg in London, understanding the global business layout, competitive advantages, and sustainable development strategies of the two companies. Through a visit to the Bank of England Museum, staff and students explored the development of world currencies, financial regulatory mechanisms, and the operation of central banks. By comparing and discussing with China's central bank and financial market, students not only broadened their horizons but also gained a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of the global financial system.
Faculty and Students Visiting BP Headquarters
Students expressed their hope for more such exchange opportunities in the future, allowing students in PBCSF to showcase their talents on the international stage and contribute to promoting world harmony.
Graduation Ceremony
Since 2018, the school has cooperated with the London School of Economics and Political Science to carry out short-term student program, and a total of 4 sessions have been held so far. Through this program, students can comprehensively understand the current economic situation in the UK, conduct in-depth study of Sino-British financial markets, learn more about British culture, history, etc. The all-English teaching environment and concentrated simulation training have improved students' international communication skills.
