On November 23, 2022, the Theoretical Economics doctoral candidates’ graduation defense of Shenzhen University (SZU) was held in meeting room 1500 of the Liberal Arts Building. Prof. Zhou Xianbo of Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University, was invited to be the defense chairman and Associate Prof. and Ph.D. Advisor Kong Fanmin of HSBC Business School, Peking University, a member of the defense committee. The defense review was attended by Prof. Tao Yitao, Director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), and the leader of the discipline of Theoretical Economics, Prof. Zhang Kai, Dean of Webank Institute of Fintech of SZU, Prof. Zhou Zhimin, Deputy Dean of the School of Management of SZU and Prof. Yuan Yimin of CCSEZR.
Prof. Zhou Xianbo is a professor and Ph.D. advisor in Economics at Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University, Ph.D. in Economics at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Ph.D. in Mathematics at Sun Yat-sen University, executive director of the Chinese Association of Quantitative Economics and chief expert for the Key Programs of China's National Social Science Fund. He engaged in Econometrics teaching and research and is interested in semi-parametric and nonparametric estimation and their application, as well as micro-econometrics estimation and its application. He has published papers in first-class academic journals like the Journal of Econometrics, Econometric Theory, China Economic Review and Economics Letters.
Associate Prof. Kong Fanmin is a Ph.D. advisor of HSBC Business School, Peking University, associate professor of Human Resources and Industrial Relations at Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, and Ph.D. in Human Resources and Industrial Relations at the University of Minnesota System, USA. His major areas of research are Human Resource and Industrial Relations, Organization Theory and Organizational Culture.
Prof. Tao awards the letter of appointment of the defense committee to Associate Prof. Kong Fanmin
Attending the defense were 7 doctoral students in Theoretical Economics, including three students of secondary discipline outside the catalog (Management Science and Economic Decision-Making) and one international doctoral student in Theoretical Economics. Five doctoral students passed the defense after a rigorous defense review. During the defense, the experts gave advice mainly on improving the logic and innovation, enriching the research conclusions and summarizing the literature review. The degree applicants also made detailed records of experts’ suggestions and guidance.
As the first-level discipline doctoral program and platform for interdisciplinary studies of Theoretical Economics, CCSEZR of SZU has been placing the quality of doctoral thesis as the top priority for years. Theoretical Economics is one of the first doctoral programs of SZU, and all the academic theses have been well qualified since participating in the doctoral thesis spot check. CCSEZR will continue to improve the evaluation process, strictly review the degree application and defense criteria, and give top priority to the quality of degree theses.
Group photo of doctoral students and defense committees
