DBS extends its partnership with SWUFE to facilitate ongoing projects and programs.

An inaugural symposium between Deakin Business School (DBS) and China’s Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) has strengthened plans to establish a joint research centre in banking and finance.

Delegates from both DBS and SWUFE met recently in Chengdu (China) to discuss ideas for shared research projects across the five key areas of management, marketing, economics, accounting and finance.

‘From there, the idea to establish the Centre for Banking and Financial Stability was realised and this development is being led by Professor Ed Lin (Deakin) and Professor Wang (SWUFE),’ said Professor Alex Newman, Associate Dean (International) with the Faculty of Business and Law.

Signed in 2014, a memorandum-of-understanding (MOU) was established between DBS and SWUFE to build joint research capacity and teaching programs.

Now Deakin’s key partner in China, SWUFE’s researching and teaching strengths are in applied economics, finance, theoretical economics and management.

‘It is EQUIS-accredited and in the top ten institutions for business and economics in China. Since the initial MOU was signed in 2014, senior staff from both institutions have visited for the purposes of developing research and teaching,’ said Prof. Newman.

Several DBS staff are currently undertaking joint research projects with SWUFE and there are ongoing discussions on the development of a joint eMBA program.

‘We also send students to SWUFE for short-term programs and have developed a work-integrated learning program with for 2018 in which Deakin students will be able to work on projects for Chinese businesses,’ said Prof. Newman.

Focused on finance and economics, SWUFE comprises 20 schools and seven research institutes. It is ranked in the top 75 key national universities in China and a member of the Project 211 and 985 groupings of top research universities in China.

Prof. Newman said DBS is looking forward to extending its partnership with SWUFE to facilitate ongoing projects and programs.  

‘We intend to continue working together on joint publications, the development of a leading research centre into banking and financial stability and teaching programs. Deakin staff and students will also be able to visit SWUFE for the purposes of conducting research and undertaking short programs for undergraduate students.’