Senior Lecturer in Actuarial Science, Mark Heller, from the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Kent, travelled to China to promote Actuarial Science prorgammes at Kent.

Week One

Shanghai

Week one of the recruitment trip to China started with some much-needed sleep. After 11 hours and 30 minutes in flight, we touched down in Shanghai Pudong Airport as the city bustled with people going to work.

 

Within seconds, we lost 7 hours of the morning as our mobile phones updated to China time. Jetlag kicking in, it was time to check-in early to the hotel and head straight to bed.

Refreshed from a good night’s sleep, I awoke to fantastic views over Shanghai skyline. The hotel was located a short distance from the world-famous Yu Garden, with excellent transport links across the city.

I travelled north to the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) and was greeted by Professor of Insurance and Actuarial Studies, Dr Zhigang Xie. We made our way to the Auditorium in the School of Finance, where I delivered a lecture to over 50 undergraduate Insurance and Actuarial Studies students from the University.

The University itself was founded in 1917 and is the oldest financial university in China. SUFE is a world-renowned research university at the cutting-edge of multidisciplinary and international approaches to applied economics and finance.[1]

Following the lecture, I met with the Executive Deputy Dean and his Assistant, before heading back to the hotel.

 

The next day, I joined colleagues from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) for lunch. After a delicious meal, we headed to the Main Library at SJTU’s Minghang Campus, where I gave a talk promoting actuarial careers and Kent’s Postgraduate Applied Actuarial Science degrees to students.

SJTU was ranked as the =59^th top university in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2019[2], and has an established reputation for being one of the most prestigious universities in China.

During my final day in Shanghai, I visited Shanghai United International School’s (SUIS) Gubei Campus to promote Kent’s degree programmes. SUIS is a group of international schools in Shanghai which offers students the opportunity to study the International Curriculum of England (ICE) and the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP).

I spoke with students over their lunch break about studying in the UK and the benefits of undertaking a degree in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science at Kent, before heading back to the hotel to pack ahead of my flight to Hong Kong.

 

Week Two

Hong Kong

I had a fully-packed itinerary for my day in Hong Kong, starting with a visit to True light Middle School of Hong Kong. The school has a long history of championing the education of women in China, and provided me with chance to discuss education and career opportunities available for the young women. [3]

Following the visit, I journeyed the short walk to the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) to deliver a talk titled, ‘What is an actuary, and how can I become one’.  The University gained university status in 1994 and was ranked as the 27^th top university under 50 years old in the QS World University Rankings 2019.[4]  After my talk, I joined colleagues from HKBU for dinner, before heading back to the hotel to pack for Beijing.

 

Beijing

I started my penultimate day in China by attending a meeting with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) at their Beijing office.

In the afternoon, I headed north to the Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE) to meet with members of staff and to give a presentation to current students.

CUFE was ranked No.1 among 67 finance and economics universities in mainland China in ‘The Report of Chinese Universities and Courses evaluation of 2017-18’ by the Research Centre for China Science Evaluation.[5]

During my final day in China, I visited the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and gave a lecture to students in Stages 1, 2 and 3. UIBE was ranked as the =198^th top university in the QS Asian University Rankings 2018.[6]

My recruitment trip to China ended on a high note, enjoying a meal with colleagues from UIBE.

 

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[1] English.sufe.edu.cn. (2018). Introduction. [online] Available at: http://english.sufe.edu.cn/2945/list.htm  [Accessed 28 Jun. 2018].

[2] Topuniversities.com/universities/shanghai-jiao-tong-university. (2018). Shanghai Jiao Tong University. [online] Available at: https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/shanghai-jiao-tong-university [Accessed 28 Jun. 2018].

[3] Tlmshk.edu.hk/about4.php. (2018). About True Light: History. [online] Available at: http://www.tlmshk.edu.hk/about4.php [Accessed 28 June 2018] .

[4] Topuniversities.com/universities/hong-kong-baptist-university. (2018). Hong Kong Baptist University. [online] Available at: https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/hong-kong-baptist-university [Accessed 28 June 2018].

[5] Nseac.com/eva/CUEC.php?DDLThird=12&DDLyear=2017. (2018). 2017-2018 Nian Finance and Economics Unviersity Rankings. [online] Available at: http://www.nseac.com/eva/CUEC.php?DDLThird=12&DDLyear=2017 [Accessed 28 June 2018].

[6] Topuniversities.com/universities/university-international-business-economics. (2018). University of International Business and Economics. [online] Available at: https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-international-business-economics [Accessed 28 June 2018].