On 20 December, the new Nottingham Fintech Lab was officially launched at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Industry experts, business representatives, and university leaders gathered to witness this significant moment.
Professor Alain Yee Loong Chong, Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Partnerships at UNNC, Professor Kok Wei Khong, Dean of Nottingham University Business School China, Professor Bohui Zhang, Executive Dean of the School of Management and Economics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Dr Kewei Tang, founder of Fullink, Nottingham University Business School China Advisory Board member, jointly inaugurated the Nottingham Fintech Lab.
The lab is equipped with high-performance computers and Bloomberg Terminals, utilising industry-leading financial platforms, databases and analytical tools, including Bloomberg, Wind, LSEG, computing devices, cloud computing platforms and open-source large language models (LLMs). It provides students with training in data collection, analysis, modelling and quantitative trading, offering an innovative and immersive learning environment.
“The lab aims to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.” Dr Tingting Ying, Assistant Professor in Economics and Project Manager of Nottingham Fintech Lab introduced.
The lab provides students with an advanced learning environment to train in various areas, while also supporting their participation in business competitions and practical experience learning. By engaging with real-world financial cases, students will acquire essential skills to adapt to the future digital financial landscape, enhancing their employability in a highly competitive global market.
Danxu Zhang, a student in Finance and Investment at UNNC, recently won the championship in the Asia and Oceania region and ranked third globally in the 2024 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge with her team. She expressed that the advanced equipment and resources available in the new Fintech Lab enable students to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, which will provide more possibilities for their research methodologies.
At the opening ceremony, financial experts delivered keynote speeches on cutting-edge topics such as LLMs and satellite data, demonstrating how these technologies are applied in financial analysis using advanced equipment. Students expressed that such hands-on experiences will allow them to gain a deeper understanding of financial knowledge.
Professor Alain Yee Loong Chong remarked that UNNC is uniquely positioned to explore innovative research in areas such as international business. The establishment of the Nottingham Fintech Lab is a significant step towards empowering individuals and enterprises through technology, positively impacting societal progress and people's lives.