On June 3rd, with an aim to meet the needs of economic and social development in the new era and to improve the high-level talent cultivation system, the School held the launching ceremony of the brand-new cultivation system of professional master programs and the establishment of industry-education integration base. Prof. YAN Haifeng, member of University Council, Vice President of the University, delivered the opening remark and made a keynote report. More than two hundred people attended the meeting, including representatives of the collaborative enterprises, media guests, as well as faculty members and students.

Prof. YAN Haifeng stated that industry-education integration is the path for education development in the new era, especially for the reform of professional degree education. Business education must further break down the barriers between schools, industries and enterprises, and further promote the sharing of resources, so as to provide students with educational resources that are closer to the real-life situation. Prof. YAN Haifeng hoped that the establishment of this industry-education integration base would inject new vitality into the school-enterprise cooperation.

Prof. YAN Haifeng delivered a keynote speech on the topic of "Management Education Needs 'To be in the Context". He pointed out that management is a human activity that combines knowledge with practice, which is highly contextualized and action-oriented. Taking swimming as an example, he explained vividly that "being in the context" means "actually being in the water", suggesting that business education needs to strengthen experiential learning. The nature of management education and the reality of the new round of industrial revolution determine that management educators need to "go back into the water" and "be in the context" again. " Prof. YAN Haifeng hoped that the School of Business would continue to fulfill its mission of "to bridge business with technology, and to nurture managerial talents with advanced knowledge and practical ability".

Prof. YU Feng, Visiting Professor of the School，President, Honeywell China Co., Ltd., delivered a speech entitled "Enhancing Business Education to Meet the New Demand for Talents". Based on the latest survey data and his own work experience, Prof. YU Feng shared his insights on how managers can better analyse and solve problems, as well as integrate into teamwork. He also elaborated on how managers should learn to embrace uncertainty, approach problems from multiple perspectives, and mobilize collective wisdom and strength. He believes that in the new era, managers need to emphasize capability of "providing others with consultancy " and their "physical and mental well-being", also maintain the habit of lifelong learning to keep pace with the changing times.

Dr. Anuruddha Rathninde, Visiting Professor of the School, President of Johnson Controls (Asia-Pacific), delivered a keynote speech titled "Cultivating China's Younger Generation of Business Management Talents to Go Global". He focused on the three stages of China's economic development, the global business map of Chinese companies, and the evolution of Chinese companies and leadership. He mentioned that the young generation of business managers should not only be rooted in China, but also have a global vision; they should be able to learn from both the East and the West, meanwhile having strong cultural confidence. Besides, they're expected to be capable of dealing with complex problems and think systematically, so as to truly develop and improve their global leadership.

Subsequently, the new cultivation system of professional masters’ degree of the School of Business was officially released. Prof. HOU Limin, Chair of School Council, Director of Professional Master Programs Center, shared her views on the theme of "Open Integration, Coordination, Coexistence and Value Co-creation". She mentioned that in the era of digital intelligence, business education is facing many challenges, how can ECUST School of Business break the gridlock and continue to achieve great success? Prof. HOU Limin claimed that there is a demand to further promote the following integrations: the integration of knowledge and practice, the integration of business with engineering and humanities disciplines, the integration of industry, education and research between schools and enterprises, the integration of academic and professional education, as well as the integration with domestic and foreign renowned colleges and universities. 

Based on the concept of "development based on communication", the School creates three platforms for exchange of professional knowledge, exchange of management experience, and construction of social networks, encouraging students complete the shift from improving educational background to knowledge acquisition, and from skill enhancement to competence development, through exchanges between teachers and students, students and the industry, as well as cross-cultural exchanges. The School will continue to focus on the development of the school's programs, dedicating to its mission of "business + technology", "theory + practice" in curriculum development, teaching mode and faculty development. The School will further develop action learning, and create an ecological system to promote the all-round development of master's degree students.

The roundtable forum was co-chaired by Dr. GE Yongsheng, Deputy Director of Professional Degree Education Centre of the School of Business, and Ms. PEI Qinyu, Vice Chair of Company Council of HASCO Vision Technology Co.,LTD. Honoured guests including Mr. FANG rangqing (Chief Organizational Development Officer, Shanghai Easun Technology Co., Ltd), Ms. FENG Yan (Vice President of Human Resources of Fonterra (Shanghai) Co., Ltd), Mr. MA Zhiwei (Vice President of Opple Lighting Co. Ltd.), Mr. WU Kezhao (President of Shanghai Huarui Bank Co.,LTD.)and MS. ZENG Fang (Vice President of Human Resources Department, Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co. Ltd.) offered their opinions on the theme of "Gathering Synergy, Co-generation and Co-creation", and exchanged views on the future talent demand of the enterprises, as well as the role of higher educational institutions and enterprises in the process of talent cultivation. They also discussed the future direction of industry-education integration as well as the path of cooperation between schools and enterprises.

Representatives of the School and 40 enterprises jointly launched the opening ceremony of the industry-education integration base. Prof. DU Wenli, Dean of the Graduate School of ECUST, said that industry-education integration and technology-education integration are the long-standing cultivation policies of the University concerning graduate students. It is hoped that this cooperation will comprehensively strengthen the interaction between schools and enterprises, so that the cutting-edge knowledge system and outstanding talents can really empower enterprises, informing universities of the actual needs of enterprises. Thus, favourable conditions for the value creation and win-win situation for both schools and enterprises can be created. Afterwards, the representatives of the 40 enterprises signing up for the industry-education integration base took the stage and pressed the starting device to start a new journey of cooperation with ECUST Business School.