To deepen industry-education integration and explore new models for cultivating digital-intelligence talents, Tongji University School of Economics and Management (Tongji SEM) partnered with DingTalk, a leading digital intelligence enterprise, to successfully host the “AI Era: Intelligence Ignites the Future” Innovation Forum and the Tongji SEM-DingTalk Cooperation Signing Ceremony on the afternoon of March 23rd. This event officially inaugurated a new chapter in their collaboration.

Distinguished attendees included Professor Xie En, Vice Dean (Acting Dean) of Tongji SEM; Dong Bianlin, Deputy Party Secretary of Tongji SEM; Professor Cheng Mingwang, Vice Dean of Tongji SEM; Professor Wu Sizong, former Party Committee Secretary of Tongji SEM; and Professor Zheng Xin from the Marketing Department. Representing DingTalk were Ms. Xing Yue, Vice President of Alibaba Group, Vice Chairwoman of Alibaba Women’s Federation, and Vice President of DingTalk; Mr. He Yong, Director of Alibaba Cloud Government and Enterprise Business Unit Ecosystem; Mr. Zhang Jiayao, Director of Strategic Cooperation at DingTalk; Mr. Lin Weixing, Director of Strategic Cooperation at DingTalk; and Ms. Li Jie, General Manager of the Higher Education Division of Xin Feng Wei. Leaders and guests from Shanghai Normal University Tianhua College, including Mr. Wang Dong, Executive Deputy Director of the Information Office, and Mr. Wang Xiaobo, Deputy Director of the Artificial Intelligence Training Center, were also present to witness this significant occasion.

The event was hosted by Professor Cheng Guoping, Associate Dean of Tongji SEM, Director of the Alumni and Corporate Relations Office, and Director of the Professional Degree Center & MBA/EMBA Center.

1. New Chapter in University-Enterprise Cooperation

In his opening remarks, Professor Xie En, Vice Dean (Acting Dean) of Tongji SEM, discussed the disruptive impact of the AI era on the positioning and future development of business school education. He emphasized the school’s commitment to collaborating with outstanding enterprises to continuously deepen industry-education-research integration and jointly advance the upgrading of the talent cultivation system.

“Partnering with DingTalk today is a crucial step in the school’s integrated development path,” he stated, “and will tangibly drive the transformation and upgrading of our talent cultivation model.”

Ms. Xing Yue, Vice President of Alibaba Group and DingTalk, and an alumna of Tongji SEM (1998 International Trade undergraduate, 2002 Enterprise Management master), fondly recalled her time at Tongji. She expressed her delight in facilitating the collaboration between DingTalk and her alma mater to empower digital-intelligence talent cultivation. “I hope this cooperation will further promote the university motto of ‘同舟共济’ (working together through thick and thin),” she said, “and help Tongji University and Tongji SEM forge new advantages in development.”

▲Professor Cheng Guoping hosting the event.

▲Tongji SEM – DingTalk Cooperation Signing Ceremony:Witnessed by leaders from both sides, Mr. Dong Bianlin (Deputy Party Secretary of Tongji SEM) and Mr. Zhang Jiayao (Director of Strategic Cooperation, DingTalk) sign the Memorandum of Cooperation.

This “mutual pursuit” between Tongji SEM and DingTalk will accelerate the cultivation of digital-intelligence talents. To concretize the collaboration, the launch ceremony for the “Tongji University AI Assistant Creation Competition” was held simultaneously.

▲​Leaders and Distinguished Guests Jointly Launch “Tongji University AI Assistant Creation Competition”​

▲Mr. Zhang Jiayao, Director of Strategic Cooperation at DingTalk, Presented an Overview of the Competition​

2.Cultivating Talent for the Times​

As a pioneer in Chinese management education, Tongji SEM has continually reflected on the evolving needs of enterprises, the economy, and society amidst change and opportunity. How should the school enhance its cultivation system to meet the demands of the times?

Professor Xie En addressed this in his presentation titled “Building Tongji SEM’s ‘Digital Intelligence Plus’ Innovative Talent Cultivation System.” He outlined the school’s proactive approach to disciplinary restructuring, talent cultivation model upgrades, and service enhancements, focusing on developing “interdisciplinary talents capable of adapting to and leading the digital and intelligent industries.”

3. Keynote Insights

Ms. Xing Yue delivered a keynote speech titled “Tech-Innovative Talents: The Changemakers Leading the Future.” She began from a practical perspective, highlighting the business transformation occurring in the AIGC field driven by large language models. DingTalk’s AI Agent, leveraging its robust technological foundation and diverse application scenarios, aims to make “everyone an AI master,” empowering both enterprise growth and personal development. Concluding from a management perspective, Xing emphasized that “humans are the most intelligent large models,” urging the audience to “maintain curiosity, keep thinking, keep learning,” and transform every experience into personal wealth, thereby “embarking on a journey of promising prospects.”

Her insightful presentation sparked enthusiastic questions from the audience. Ms. Xing provided professional, thoughtful, and detailed responses to queries about energy consumption in AI development, data protection, and the evolving role of humans, earning warm applause.

During the commentary session, Professor Wu Sizong, former Party Committee Secretary of Tongji SEM, categorized individuals in the digital era into four types: digital illiterates, digital immigrants, digital natives, and digital nomads. He identified Xing Yue as a “digital nomad,” who, driven by insatiable curiosity and strong learning capabilities, moves with the times toward “poetic aspirations and distant horizons.” Professor Wu stressed the paramount importance of curiosity, particularly for management students, especially MBAs and EMBAs, urging them to “stay curious to move forward.”

Professor Zheng Xin, using Xing Yue and herself as examples, highlighted how Tongji University’s strong science and engineering background and Tongji SEM’s forward-looking talent cultivation model equipped them with the capability and confidence to transition from traditional disciplines to the internet industry, continuously crossing boundaries to become “digital intelligence plus” talents with cutting-edge technological expertise.

▲To express gratitude for her support, Professors Xie En and Cheng Mingwang presented Ms. Xing Yue with an “External Mentor” certificate.

Professor Cheng Mingwang, Vice Dean of Tongji SEM, Changjiang Scholar Professor, Young Changjiang Scholar, Oriental Scholar, and Shu Guang Scholar, then presented his keynote report “AI and China’s High-Quality Economic Development.” Tracing historical economic development waves with wit and humor, he analyzed the transformation pressure facing China’s economy after its rise and high-speed growth. He identified artificial intelligence as the new engine for this transformation, with digital-intelligence talents being the most critical factor.

TJSEM is advancing the implementation of digital and intelligent talent development step by step.The signing cooperation with DingTalk marks a resolute and concrete stride forward.We are confident that in the future, this collaboration will cultivate a cohort of competent, capable, and ready-to-deploy talents for the digital intelligence industry,contributing more of ‘Tongji Power’ to China’s societal development.​