Led by Professor ZHANG Weiguo, the professor who lectured in the course “ESG Information Disclosure and Investment, a Practice Professor of Dishui Lake Advanced Finance Institute, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE-DAFI), and Distinguished Professor of the School of Accountancy of SUFE, students of the MBA program at SUFE-DAFI paid a visit to Nanjing Iron and Steel Group (NISG) on June 14, 2025 for in-depth practical teaching (the “Event”). Professor HUANG Shizhong and Professor QIU Ciguan, two authoritative experts in China’s ESG field, offered guidance to the students throughout the Event, witnessing the sustainable transformation model of the traditional heavy industry together with the lecturers and students.
1
On-site Visit:
A Vivid Interpretation of ESG Philosophy at the Frontier of Intelligent Manufacturing
As a core practical module of the program, the on-site visit provided the MBA students with vivid cases beyond theoretical frameworks:
01
New Benchmark of Environmental Governance (E): The clean factory area with low carbon emissions, koi fish swimming in the circular treatment lake, and the ecological park with peacocks and sika deer have completely reshaped our perception of the steel industry.
02
New Practice of Social Responsibility (S): By building a public fitness center by itself and renovating the community leisure park, NISG has practiced the concept of “coexisting with all stakeholders”.
03
智慧治理（G）新高度：高精度定制化产线无人化运行、航天级智慧运营中心，展现数智化驱动的治理效能。
New Height of Intelligent Governance (G): With the unmanned operation of customized high-precision production lines and the aerospace-level intelligent operation center, NISG has showcased its digital intelligence-driven governance efficiency.
2
High-end Dialogue:
China’s Solution related to ESG
At the seminar hosted by TANG Rui, Secretary of the Board of Directors of NISG, the development philosophy of “Environmental Friendliness, First-class Governance, Sci-tech Innovation Leadership, and Win-win Coexistence” of NISG was firstly clarified. After GAO Jinghan, Director of the Investor Relations Office of NISG, explained the enterprise’s practice in sustainable development, an in-depth discussion was conducted among the three parties: after Professor ZHANG Weiguo raised an incisive question about the core transformation issues, NISG responded with "leading digital transformation with innovation, and driving the governance development with digitalization", and then the two parties reached a consensus on building a localized ESG rating system; Professor HUANG Shizhong suggested deepening the Scope 3 Disclosure and the quantitative expression of social contributions of the enterprise; and Professor QIU Ciguan pointed out the driving forces behind the enterprise’s transformation, including the carbon barriers from 80 Fortune Global 500 companies, the pressure from China’s policies related to the carbon market and EU’s carbon tariffs, as well as the inherent demand for transformation of the industry, all of which drove NISG to carry out innovative carbon data capitalization practice.
3
Dialogue between History and the Present:
The Practice of “The World Is for All” Represents the Spirit of ESG
Upon the 100th Anniversary of Mr. Sun Yat-sen's passing, Professor ZHANG Weiguo and some MBA students made a special trip to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum to pay tribute to the pioneer. In front of the plaque inscribed with “The World Is for All” (“天下为公” in Chinese), Professor ZHANG Weiguo explained its contemporary value: “The World Is for All” was deeply rooted in the genes of Chinese civilization, which required each enterprise to develop beyond short-term interests and to act as a guardian of the environment, a co-builder of communities, and an innovator of governance. This was also the spiritual foundation of ESG in China.
4
Voices from Students
An Educational Paradigm of “Integration of Knowledge and Action”
This on-site visit deeply resonated with the MBA students, who shared their reflections one after another:
1
Voices from Student Representatives
“Today, I witnessed the intelligent manufacturing revolution at NISG, felt the spirit of Mr. Sun Yat-sen at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, and comprehended the power of ‘integration of knowledge and action’ as mentioned by Professor ZHANG. I not just learnt an ESG course, but obtained a guidance for my life.”
2
Voices from Student Representative
“NISG’s innovative development has subverted my perception, from which I learnt how ESG was transformed into core competitiveness from an indicator in corporate reports. Thank Professor ZHANG for opening this window of practice for me!”
3
Voices from Student Representative
“The mutual verification of theory and practice reminds me of the ‘attaining conscience’ of Wang Yangming, a renowned thinker of the Ming Dynasty. We have comprehended China’s spirit of ESG from Professor ZHANG’s words and deeds.”
With koi fish swimming in the purified water in the steel factory, and the pines at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum echoing the maxim of “the World Is for All”, the MBA students of SUFE-DAFI stood at the intersection of cultural inheritance and industrial transformation, a cradle for sustainable development of Chinese enterprises and society.
