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SUFE-DAFI
On the afternoon of June 21, 2025, the 2025 Graduation Gala for Master of Finance (MF) students (“Gala”) at Dishui Lake Advanced Finance Institute, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (“SUFE-DAFI” or the “Institute”) unfolded in a warm, intimate setting. Among the attendees were Mr. CHEN Xinyuan, Former Vice President of SUFE and the First Secretary of SUFE-DAFI’s General Party Branch, SUFE-DAFI leadership, faculty representatives, guests from employer organizations, graduates’ family members, and the entire 2025 graduating class. Together, they celebrated a milestone moment: the first group of SUFE-DAFI graduates stepping into the next chapter of their lives. This marked SUFE-DAFI’s inaugural graduation gala since its founding, and also a pivotal chapter in the story of emerging finance education.
Guided by Our Founding Aspirations, Youth Etched in Memory
The Gala opened with a heartfelt graduate-produced short film, capturing two years of growth, transformation, and cherished moments by Dishui Lake that defined the students’ journey.
Structured around four themes, “First Encounter - Breaking Boundaries - Resonances - New Beginnings”, the Gala wove a narrative of the graduates’ evolution over their time at SUFE-DAFI.
In her address, Professor CHEN Xuanjuan, Executive Dean of SUFE-DAFI, reflected on the Institute’s journey with its first cohort: growing “from scratch” alongside the students. She thanked the students for laying the foundation of emerging finance education for the Institute with their youth and passion, and for personally participating in the exploration and practice of SUFE-DAFI’s emerging finance talent development system. She encouraged the graduates to maintain focus and passion in this era of uncertainty, expand new dimensions of life, and continue to embrace future industry changes with the responsibility of financial professionals.
Mr. XUE Dongyang, Faculty Representative, Executive Vice President of CCXI Credit Rating Co., Ltd., and President of CCXI Green Finance Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., shared insights into the industry. He encouraged graduates to embrace the future with an open mindset and the professional rigor they’d built at SUFE-DAFI.
LI Qixiang, speaking on behalf of the graduates, offered an emotional tribute to his time at the Institute, expressing gratitude to teachers and classmates alike.
Songs and Games: Capturing Precious Moments
Graduate LU Jiarui performed The Best Days, with his voice conveying nostalgia for campus life. Fellow graduate YANG Yunlong sang Nanping Evening Bell, with the melody echoing with the warmth of teacher-student bonds.
A highlight of the evening came when GUO Yuchao, a 2025 graduate representative, unveiled the “Knowledge Legacy Gift”, a collection of insights curated by the graduating class for future students. It symbolized passing the torch of experience, thus embodying the graduates’ hope to nurture SUFE-DAFI’s culture for years to come.
Interactive games followed, including Pictionary, Garden Scavenger Hunt, and Reverse Commands, sparking laughter and energy as teachers and students joined in together, and filling the venue with a lively atmosphere and continuous laughter.
The Gala also featured the screening of the video DAFI Survival Guide, produced by students including JIANG Liyuan. This video was a heartfelt “experience sharing” for junior students, demonstrating the deep affection of the first batch of graduates for SUFE-DAFI.
Passing the Legacy Forward: Building Alumni Connections
Later that evening, the Launching Ceremony for the Preparation of the DAFI Branch of the SUFE Alumni Association was successfully held. Professor CHEN Xuanjuan, Executive Dean of SUFE-DAFI and graduate representatives REN Hanyi and ZHOU Guangyu witnessed the kickoff. Vice Dean ZHANG Jun presented alumni cards to the first cohort, representing a symbol of the enduring bond between SUFE-DAFI and its graduates, and a promise of shared success ahead.
Vice Dean QIU Jiaping then appointed six Alumni Liaison Ambassadors. These graduates will serve as bridges between SUFE-DAFI, the finance industry, and the broader alumni network, driving collaboration in both brand building and industry-academia initiatives.
From SUFE-DAFI to the World: Embarking on a Broad Journey
As the Gala drew to a close, 2024 cohort representatives LUO Wei, YU Jie, and HE Xianming sang Cheers, followed by a collective performance of Those Years, led by 2025 graduates YANG Meiyun and YANG Yuquan, with all teachers and students joining in. Amid the sincere blessing of “May you travel through half your life and return still as a young soul”, the Gala concluded successfully with a group photo of all attendees.
The Gala was hosted by JIA Yixin and YANG Haolin, students of the 2024 cohort of SUFE-DAFI.
As SUFE-DAFI’s first MF graduates, the 2025 class not only witnessed the critical stage of the Institute’s development from its infancy to growth, but also expanded new practical paths for global financial education from the perspective of emerging finance professionals.
Looking ahead, DAFI will remain committed to “Emerging Finance, International Vision, and Industry Practice”. It will deepen its open approach to education, expand global partnerships, and strive to become a world-class new financial institute with global influence that serves China’s goal of building financial powerhouse.
