23 Jan 2026
On 21 January 2026, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) hosted the 2024-25 Strategic Partner Appreciation Gathering. Bringing together corporate partners, alumni representatives, external mentors, and IBSS faculty and staff, the event centred on the theme of "“Deepening University-Enterprise Collaboration and Jointly Embarking on an Innovative Future.” It reflected on recent collaboration achievements, shared the School's evolving strategic direction and highlighted global market investment trends for 2026 - injecting fresh momentum into deeper, multi-partner co-operation.
Professor Eddy Fang, Dean of IBSS, shared the school's progress and future direction in his opening address. He noted that IBSS has grown into one of the largest English-speaking business schools in China, with a highly international faculty and student body. As one of only 17 Chinese business schools worldwide accredited with the ‘Triple Crown’, IBSS has demonstrated outstanding research strength and entered a new phase of "turning research credibility into real-world industry impact". Looking ahead, the school will take "connecting East and West" as its core mission, deepen university-enterprise collaboration, establish industry research centres and develop solutions for international businesses.
Professor Fang also observed that global study-abroad trends are shifting: fewer Chinese students are pursuing further study overseas, while demand among international students to study in China continues to grow. He predicted that the proportion of international students at IBSS will continue to rise, and that students from emerging markets will increasingly pursue dual degrees at IBSS, strengthening their options and employability.
Mr Yucheng Feng, Senior Investment Product Specialist of Wealth Management at HSBC Bank, delivered a keynote speech titled “2026 Global Market Investment Outlook.”" A cross-disciplinary investment expert with a background in nuclear physics, he emphasised a "logic first” approach and commitment to avoiding overconfident forecasting. He summarized three core themes for global investment in 2026: technology driving profits, gold offering insurance and discipline delivering returns.
Turning to the Chinese market, Mr Feng highlighted two key investment directions. First, domestic consumer demand: with policy support and improving household income expectations, niche areas such as small household appliances show promise. Second, technological innovation: under the direction of "new productive forces" and greater self-reliance, sectors such as semiconductors and high-end manufacturing are worth strategic allocation. He also mentioned that China's strong export growth to Southeast Asia and Africa has supported the RMB exchange rate, and that export-orientated firms in these markets may have solid long-term prospects.
At the gathering, IBSS expressed sincere gratitude to strategic partners for their support over the past academic year, including internships and employment, corporate visits, industry-academia-research projects and employee professional development. Through initiatives such as entrepreneurship park incubation, industry research collaboration and student skills-building in real world settings, the School has built strong, sustained links with enterprises, including annual strategic partners. Partner support has also brought valuable industry insight into the school's teaching and research. In particular, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and Engma Culture Development Co., Ltd. were named this year's Annual Strategic Partners, recognising their close collaboration and outstanding contribution.
This appreciation gathering is not only a look back at what has been achieved, but also a shared commitment to what comes next. Guided by its evolving strategy, IBSS will continue working with global partners to advance international education and industry innovation -contributing to regional economic development and to greater exchange and understanding across the global business community.
23 Jan 2026