On September 1, 2025, Shenzhen Audencia Financial Technology Institute (SAFTI) of Shenzhen University held its Opening Ceremony for the 2025 cohort of new students at the International Conference Hall of the Yuehai Campus, with over 400 students in attendance. The ceremony featured two special sessions—the "Dean’s First Lecture" and a "French Culture Seminar"—designed to provide academic and cultural enlightenment for the new students.
This year, 327 new undergraduate and master’s students were enrolled, achieving a registration rate of 95%. Among them, there are 248 undergraduates and 79 master’s students: the undergraduate freshmen are from 167 high schools across 16 provinces and municipalities in China; the master’s students, specializing in Financial Technology and Risk Control, are graduates of 49 universities both in China and abroad, with 33% holding degrees from institutions ranked in the QS World Top 300 or recognized as Double First-Class universities in China. Additionally, 55 exchange students from Audencia Business School (France) participated in the ceremony, infusing a vibrant international atmosphere into the event.
Over the past 45 years since its establishment, Shenzhen has been a pioneer in the fintech industry. According to the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) released in March 2025, Shenzhen ranked third globally and first in China in the fintech sector. Rooted in Shenzhen, SAFTI enjoys inherent geographical and industrial advantages. Through its Sino-French cooperative education model, the institute serves as a two-way platform for professional education and cultural exchange, acting as a key link in nurturing fintech talent and facilitating cultural mutual learning between China and France.
Nylam GAUTHIER, Head of Campus France Chine at the French Consulate General in Guangzhou, attended the ceremony and delivered a cultural exchange seminar. He emphasized the significant potential of Sino-French cooperation in fintech, encouraging students to leverage SAFTI’s platform to deepen their expertise, build bridges for exchange, and inject youthful energy into innovation between the two countries. He also noted that the exchange students have further enriched the institute’s international environment.
Professor Haiqiang CHEN, Dean of SAFTI, inaugurated the "Dean’s First Lecture" with a presentation titled "New Drivers of China’s Economic Growth and the Nurturing of Fintech Talents." Drawing on Shenzhen’s practical experience, he elaborated on the industry’s talent demands and introduced SAFTI’s educational approaches, such as "Sino-French Dual-Tutor Teaching" and "Industry-Focused Practical Teaching." He also announced plans to establish internship bases, where students will have the opportunity to engage in practical projects related to digital payments and intelligent risk control. Furthermore, both Chinese and international new students can participate in fintech research under the guidance of Chinese and French faculty, exploring the applications of AI and blockchain in risk prediction and product innovation.
Representatives from the Chinese and French faculties also shared messages: the French representative encouraged exchange students to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and broaden their perspectives; the Chinese representative urged students to "cherish the present and embrace the flow," inspiring them to delve into the depths of financial thinking. A new student representative delivered a speech titled "Live Up to the Prime of Youth and Embark on a New Journey," calling on all freshmen to face challenges head-on and seize opportunities.
As the first Sino-foreign cooperative education institution under Shenzhen University, SAFTI is dedicated to its mission of nurturing talent, guided by the educational vision of "Fintech Pioneers, Technology for Good." Following the successful conclusion of the opening ceremony, both Chinese and international new students will pursue their dreams within SAFTI’s integrated Sino-French educational environment, contributing to the development of the fintech industry in the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
