Educational Objectives:
The Economics Innovation Classaims to cultivate top-tier talent with a strong sense of national pride andglobal vision, who excel in the three powers (learning ability,critical thinking, and action ability), and have well-rounded development inethics, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. The programequips students with a solid foundation in economic theory and mathematicalanalysis methods, outstanding academic research capabilities, computer skills,and practical experience in economic activities. Graduates are capable of workingin government departments, enterprises, and economic decision-making sectors asthree-creation (innovation, creation, entrepreneurship) leaders.
Objective 1: To cultivatestudents with a correct outlook on life, values, and the world, who possessgood moral character, a strong work ethic, awareness of the rule of law, and asense of social responsibility, enabling them to actively serve the country andsociety.
Objective 2: To equipstudents with solid knowledge in economic theory, fundamental principles,dynamic optimization methods, general equilibrium analysis tools, and otherspecialized areas, while enhancing mathematical training in economics, anddeveloping independent scientific research capabilities in the fields ofeconomics and finance.
Objective 3: To providestudents with fundamental knowledge in finance, securities, accounting, andadvanced methods in social surveys and econometric analysis, cultivatingpractical management skills for government departments and enterprises.
Objective 4: To developstrong skills in computer programming and mathematical modeling, proficiency inutilizing digital technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence,blockchain, and cloud computing, and foster practical innovation abilities inthe field of financial technology.
Program Profile：
The Economics major began enrolling undergraduatestudents in 2009. In 2021, the Economics major was designated as a nationalfirst-class undergraduate major construction site. The major offersdegree-awarding authority at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The“Economics Innovation Class”, which integrates undergraduate and master’seducation, is a base for cultivating top talents in basic disciplines inGuangdong Province. It was prepared for construction in 2010 and beganenrolling students as a special major in the college entrance examination in2013. In 2014, it was further deepened based on the Guangdong Province qualityeducation project “Economics Talent Training Mode Innovation ExperimentalZone,” adopting the teaching philosophy of “integration of scientific researchand education, and innovation in talent cultivation” to nurture high-levelinnovative talents in economics. The talent cultivation adheres to the SouthChina University of Technology tradition of “theoretical teaching and appliedresearch complementing each other,” emphasizing the study of basic theories andmathematical methods, highlighting applied research on Chinese issues, and iscommitted to cultivating top innovative talents with a solid theoreticalfoundation, rich professional knowledge, and practical working abilities.
The Economics Innovation Class adopts a one-on-onementorship system, small-class teaching, and personalized education. Studentscomplete all undergraduate courses except for graduation internships andgraduation design (thesis) within the first three years. After the end of thesixth semester, students who rank in the top 80% in comprehensive evaluationand meet the basic recommendation conditions for exemption from the entranceexamination for graduate studies, including English scores and physical fitnesstest scores, are eligible for exemption. Students with exemption qualificationscan take graduate courses in advance in their fourth year. The undergraduatestage implements dynamic management and a phased分流and selection mechanism.
Program Features:
(1) RegionalCharacteristics. Rooted in Guangdong, the program fully utilizes the economicexperimental platform of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,integrates economic theory with reform practice, and serves the development ofthe Greater Bay Area.
(2) InterdisciplinaryIntegration with Science and Engineering. Leveraging the university'sfirst-class strengths in science and engineering, the program promotes theintegration of economics with technological revolutions to create a new modelof liberal arts education.
(3) Research-Oriented Features. Relying on the college'sfirst-level doctoral degree program in applied economics, the program trainsresearch-oriented talents who are capable of pursuing master's and doctoraldegrees in various majors of economic and management disciplines.
(4) Personalized Training Programs. Personalized trainingplans are formulated for students to systematically master the basic methods ofmodern economics, the application of economic mathematics, computer operationskills, and practical abilities in economic activities. The program aims tocultivate top innovative talents who can work in government departments, policyresearch institutions, educational institutions, financial institutions, andenterprises.
