On the morning of June 5, 2018, Professor Ricky Cooper from Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Director of IIT China Representative Office visited BNUBS. Cai Hongbo, Assistant to the Dean of BNUBS, met with the guests. Li Wei, doctor from the Department of Finance, and Shang Yihong and Wang Dan from the International Exchange and Cooperation Office attended the meeting.

Cai Hongbo welcomed Professor Ricky Cooper and introduced the international exchanges and cooperation of BNUBS briefly. Reviewing the cooperation between the two sides, he highlighted the 3+2 Master of Finance that would be implemented by both parties and its positive significance to the international development of BNUBS. Professor Ricky Cooper said that attaching great importance to the cooperation with BNUBS, the Stuart School of Business of IIT looked forward to welcoming the first batch of 3+2 students from BNUBS in 2019. He hoped that the two sides could cooperate in more fields in the future. Later, the two sides carried out in-depth communications on more topics such as exchange visits for masters and doctors.

On June 4, Professor Ricky Cooper held an information session on the 3+2 Master of Finance program of BNU and IIT. He introduced the basic situation, professional teaching staff, excellent alumni and the dominant position of the financial discipline of of IIT and Stuart School of Business in the world, focusing on the application process and notice of the 3+2 Master of Finance program. Later, by simulating an American class for the students, he conducted academic discussions with the teachers and students on “Financialization and Futures Premiums Theory and Evidence”.

Note: Founded in 1890, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), a powerful and comprehensive private university, is one of the National Tier 1 universities of the United States, owning a world-class reputation in many research and academic fields. Developing for nearly 130 years, IIT has cultivated five Nobel Prize winners, becoming one of the first batch of foreign institutions recognized by the Ministry of Education of China.

The cooperation between BNUBS and IIT Stuart School of Business has developed rapidly in recent years and the 3+2 Master of Finance program has completed the internal examination and approval. It will be officially launched in September 2018 and begin to accept applications. The first batch of students will enroll in 2019.

Some Rankings of IIT:

■ National Tier 1 (National Tier 1)

■ The 6^th most popular university in the United States (2016)

■ The safest campus in Illinois (over the years)

■ Highest mid-term salary of graduates in the United States (Payscale)

■ 18^th among the best value private university in the United States (Payscale)

■ Rated as the Most Valuable University by U.S. News, Princeton Review, and Fiske Guide to Colleges for many years.

■ 38^th in the US News Best Values