The world is inexorably changing, bringing forth both technological breakthroughs and global challenges that demand collective action. At Duke Kunshan University (DKU), we believe that inclusive collaboration is key to solving the world’s pressing issues. On April 18, 2025, DKU convened leading academics, industry experts, and innovative students for the Digital Technology for Sustainability Symposium, followed by the Finance Forum 2025—two vibrant platforms empowering tomorrow’s changemakers to drive tech-powered solutions for humanity’s common good.
As Confucius wisely said, “Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.” This spirit of standing together in pursuit of a better world came to life at DKU.
The symposium and forum brought together distinguished speakers and contributors from prestigious academic institutions including Westlake University, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), NYU Shanghai, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), and Duke University, alongside leaders from industry giants such as McKinsey Global Institute, Intel Labs, Intel Labs China, Amazon Web Services, Warburg Pincus, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, HD Edu, Wilton Partners, New Energy Nexus, and Microsoft.
The Digital Technology for Sustainability Symposium
The Digital Technology for Sustainability Symposium was hosted by the Center for the Study of Contemporary China (CSCC) Digital Technology and Society Cluster, and co-hosted by DKU’s Social Science Division, University Colloquium Committee, and Environmental Research Center. Led by General Chair Professor Fan Liang, Partnership Chair Professor Luyao Zhang, Research Chair Professor Charles Chang, and Student Co-Chairs Yuanjun Du and Jiahe Chen, the event reflected DKU’s strong commitment to interdisciplinary innovation and social responsibility.
The morning began with an opening ceremony hosted by Professors Fan Liang and Luyao Zhang, featuring welcoming remarks from Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Professor Scott MacEachern and CSCC Co-Director Professor Annemieke Van Den Dool. This was followed by two inspiring keynote speeches. Professor Yaochu Jin, Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Westlake University, President-Elect of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, IEEE Fellow, Editor-in-Chief of Complex & Intelligent Systems, and a Member of Academia Europaea, explored how artificial intelligence can contribute to sustainable development. Professor Wei Chen, Dean of the School of CHIPS at XJTLU Entrepreneur College, Fellow of the US National Academy of Inventors, International Association of Advanced Materials, and Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), offered insights into technological innovation for a greener future.
The symposium featured two major panel discussions. The first, the Planetary Health Panel, was chaired by Professor Luyao Zhang and brought together faculty from Duke Kunshan University and Duke University to examine the relationship between digital technology and planetary well-being. The second, the Digital Transformation for Sustainability Panel, chaired by Professor Charles Chang, united experts from academia and industry to discuss how responsible digital innovation can serve the global sustainability agenda. During the lunch symposium, DKU Chancellor Professor Yaolin Liu delivered welcoming remarks, followed by a presentation by Professor Kai Huang, who emphasized the university’s liberal arts and sciences approach in preparing students to tackle complex global challenges with creativity and rigor.
The Finance Forum
In the afternoon, the university’s energy shifted to the DKU Finance Forum 2025, hosted by the DKU Finance Club and co-hosted by the AI Club, the University Colloquium Committee, the CSCC Digital Technology and Society Cluster, Development and Alumni Relations, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, and Career Services. The forum began with opening remarks from Executive Vice Chancellor Professor John Quelch and was followed by three influential keynote speeches. Professor David Ye from Duke University, Dr. Yimin Zhang, Principal Engineer at Intel Labs and Chief Scientist at Intel Labs China, and Dr. Dongping Liu, Higher Education Industry Lead at Amazon Web Services, each offered compelling visions of the future of finance and technology’s role within it.
Throughout the afternoon, the Finance Forum featured four engaging panels: Banking and Investment, Fintech and Quantitative Finance, AI-Empowered Finance, and Policies and Social Implications. Student hosts Yuanjun Du, Khisamutdinova Albina, Yanjing Tu, Jiahe Chen, Siyao Pan, and Guangzhi Su skillfully moderated the discussions, embodying DKU’s spirit of student-driven leadership.
Concluding Remarks
The Digital Technology for Sustainability Symposium and the Finance Forum 2025 showcase DKU’s commitment to advancing global sustainability through interdisciplinary collaboration and responsible innovation. They also serve as testament to the university’s mission to empower the next generation of leaders who will shape a more sustainable, equitable, and interconnected world.
True to the ideals expressed by Confucius, DKU is surrounded by a vibrant and growing community of neighbors, partners, and changemakers who together are planting the seeds for a better future.
Acknowledgments:
Drafted by: Eric-Ștefan Duma
Edited by: Prof. Fan Liang and Prof. Luyao Zhang
Published by: Shuqian Xu
