On the afternoon of February 23, 2025, the School of Economics Peking University held the opening ceremony for its inaugural “FinTech Experimental Class.” Professor Zhang Hui, Dean of the School of Economics, attended and delivered a keynote speech. Professor Wang Yiming, Head of the Department of Finance and Director of the Financial Engineering Laboratory, along with all enrolled students from the School of Economics and Yuanpei College, participated in the ceremony and engaged in discussions. The ceremony was hosted by Dr. Li Xinping, Research Fellow at the School of Economics and Executive Director of the Financial Engineering Laboratory.

　　During the ceremony, Dean Zhang Hui emphasized that the launch of the undergraduate “FinTech Experimental Class” is designed to cultivate interdisciplinary talent with strong foundations in economics, mathematics, and information science. This initiative represents a significant effort by the School of Economics to explore new approaches for nurturing top-tier innovative talent in emerging interdisciplinary fields. It also marks a concrete step toward advancing the university’s “Year of Technological Innovation” strategy. The School of Economics will spare no effort in the construction of the FinTech program with a focus on integrating education, science, and talent development, aligning closely with national strategic goals. Dean Zhang encouraged students in the FinTech Experimental Class to engage in rigorous, systematic study in interdisciplinary domains from the undergraduate level. He expressed his hope that the FinTech program would nurture numerous generations of outstanding, homegrown talent from Peking University.

　　Professor Wang welcomed the students who enrolled the FinTech Experimental Class. He introduced the background of the program’s development, resources offered by the faculty, collaborations with industry partners, and elaborated on the curriculum developments. He highlights the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across disciplines and the attention this program has received within financial institutions and markets. Professor Wang emphasized the program’s personalized guidance approach, including one-on-one mentoring for academic and career planning.

　　Dr. Li Xinping then addressed some of the key concerns raised by students regarding the program. He encouraged students to confront future challenges head-on and assured students that the Department of Finance and the Financial Engineering Laboratory would mobilize a variety of resources to support their all-around development. Li detailed the lab’s extensive offerings in preparation for the program, including financial databases, the quantitative finance teaching platform, and AI-powered “Finance TA” systems designed to enhance research and teaching. He affirmed that more interdisciplinary courses tailored to the FinTech curriculum would be rolled out. Students were encouraged to strengthen their research and practical abilities through real-world applications, leverage cutting-edge tools like AI, and strive for both technical understanding and conceptual mastery. He expressed confidence that, though newly formed, the FinTech Experimental Class would become a cohesive and enriching community where each student discovers invaluable growth.

　　During the opening ceremony, the inaugural cohort of students introduced themselves and actively engaged in discussions about their academic journeys and career planning. These conversations highlighted their diverse outlooks and insightful thinking, reflecting their motivations for joining the FinTech program. They also showcased a strong desire for global academic engagement and staying at the forefront of research.