On November 3rd, the commencement ceremony for the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA Program for the 2023 cohort was held at the Beijing National Accounting Institute (BNAI). The new cohort of 2023 gathered in Beijing, marking the official commencement of a new doctoral research journey.
The event was attended by esteemed leaders and guests including: Fengling ZHANG, Secretary of the Party Committee of BNAI; Professor El Mouhoub MOUHOUD, President of Paris Dauphine-PSL University; Professor Nicolas BERLAND, Vice President of Paris Dauphine-PSL University; Professor Marc DAUMAS, Counselor for Higher Education, Research, and Innovation at the French Embassy in China; Professor Xuhong LI, Vice President and Director of the Academic Committee at BNAI; Wei CHEN, Vice President of Tsinghua Asset Management Moocaa Education and Chairman of ZHUOER Education; Professor Yushun FAN, Vice Director of the National CIMS Research Center at Tsinghua University; Professor Bernard FERNANDEZ, Director of Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA Program in China; Professor Horacio ORTIZ, Academic Director; Yue CAO, Vice Director of the Graduate School of BNAI; and Yingjun ZHANG, Executive Director of ZHUOER Education, who also presided over the ceremony alongside Yue CAO.
Fengling ZHANG, Secretary of the Party Committee at Beijing National Accounting Institute (BNAI), delivered a keynote speech titled “Creating the Future with Good Governance.”
At the commencement ceremony, Secretary ZHANG warmly welcomed the new students and expressed three earnest expectations: “Firstly, to uphold the mission with responsibility, becoming a driving force for the high-quality development of China’s modernization. We hope that students in the Paris Dauphine-PSL Executive DBA program can integrate management theory with practice, confidently tackle various challenges in corporate change management, continually enhance their capabilities, and become the backbone in shaping new development patterns, building a modern economic system, and promoting high-quality development.
Secondly, root yourselves in Chinese practices and become practitioners driving innovative development. As entrepreneurs in the new era, we hope you will be grounded in the domestic market while keeping an eye on global transformations, aligning with the development direction of modern China in the new era. Actively explore and systematically promote management innovation, technological innovation, and market innovation, leading companies to become truly influential industry leaders.
Thirdly, broaden your perspective and become pragmatic and visionary ‘thought leaders’ in business. The Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program serves as a knowledge platform for inspiring each other’s thinking and sharing fresh ideas. It is also a conduit for integrating Chinese traditional culture with advanced international management practices. Let’s work together to develop this immensely promising platform, maintaining an attitude of constant improvement, innovating in research, advancing in pursuit, and enriching our doctoral study experience.”
Paris Dauphine-PSL University President El Mouhoub MOUHOUD specially flew from France to Beijing to attend the 2023 cohort inauguration ceremony and delivered a speech. He expressed recognition and gratitude for the achievements of the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program over the past 11 years, “Since its inception in 2012, the program has gained high academic recognition in China and throughout the Asia-Pacific region due to everyone’s tireless efforts. This program has become one of the top Executive DBA programs in business management, thanks to the long-standing mutual trust and contributions from academic teams, operational teams, professors, and teaching assistants.”
Finally, he represented the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program and its alumni, President MOUHOUD extended a warm welcome to the new cohort of 2023. He stated, “Participants in the Executive DBA program come from various professional fields, bringing rich industry experience that contributes to high-quality research topics in Chinese management, strategy, international affairs, and innovation.” He emphasized, “Research demands high standards, including scientific literacy, rigor, and creativity, along with humanities qualities such as patience, willpower, management skills, perseverance, and self-discipline. As entrepreneurs engaged in management research while bearing heavy responsibilities, their dedication is truly admirable. I look forward to everyone embarking on a beautiful ‘adventure’ journey.”
Paris Dauphine-PSL University Vice President, Professor Nicolas BERLAND also flew from France to attend the opening ceremony. He expressed his pride as Vice President of Paris Dauphine-PSL University and as a professor teaching in the Executive DBA program. Since its establishment in 2012, the program has achieved remarkable accomplishments over the past 11 years, highlighting the efficiency and authenticity of Sino-French international cooperation. Engaging in this international initiative, he deeply feels the powerful motivation driven by strong values.
At the same time, he expressed anticipation for the new students joining the program. “I know that after 3-5 years of research, you will submit high-quality doctoral research papers to the school, covering various fields such as management innovation, business models, leadership, organizational change, strategic management, financial innovation, and sustainable development. These reports will also be available for reference by local students at the school. The mutual learning and knowledge sharing between China and France fully embody the idea of our program’s research without borders.”
Vice President of Tsinghua Asset Management and President of ZHUOR Education, Wei CHEN welcomed and congratulated the students who enrolled this year, “This year marks the beginning of the second ‘Decade’ of the Paris Dauphine-PSL Executive DBA program. We will continue our mission to ‘influence the globalization of China’s economy and finance, and promote research in Chinese economic management practices.’ We uphold the development of ‘Chinese Management Thought’ and the concept of cultivating ‘Entrepreneurial Thinkers,’ to address the opportunities and challenges brought by unprecedented changes. As new students in this inaugural year, you will be witnesses and participants, embarking on a new journey together with the program.”
As a messenger of Sino-French friendship, the Paris Dauphine-PSL Executive DBA program continues to contribute its efforts to deepening the friendship between China and France. Professor Marc DAUMAS, Counselor for Higher Education, Research, and Innovation at the French Embassy in China, was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 2023 cohort. He stated, “China and France have maintained close cooperation, especially in education and academic exchanges, which are key areas for enhancing bilateral collaboration. The 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France will be mark in the next year, and the French Embassy in China is delighted to have this opportunity to participate in the opening ceremony.”\
The Vice Dean of Beijing National Accounting Institute (BNAI) and Director of the Academic Committee, Professor Xuhong LI expressed a warm welcome to the entrepreneurs at the forefront of management returning to campus. She emphasized witnessing the refinement of their management ideas, innovation in management models, and enhancement of management capabilities. “The world today is undergoing rapid and profound changes that are reshaping our lives and work environments. As you embark on your doctoral research journey, having a keen insight and exploratory spirit is crucial. You must start from the complex practical issues, based on summarizing management experiences and reviewing literature, to identify a point of entry that serves as your research direction and dissertation topic.”
Since its inception, Professor Yushun FAN, Associate Director of the National CIMS Research Center at Tsinghua University, deeply involved in the operation and teaching of the Paris Dauphine-PSL Executive DBA program, “As a high-end program in the field of management research, the Paris Dauphine-PSL Executive DBA program has been committed to providing students with the highest quality educational resources and cultivating more industry leaders and innovators.” He also emphasized, “The Paris Dauphine-PSL Executive DBA program serves as a bridge connecting the academic and practical aspects between the two countries and three schools. It represents our joint efforts towards the future. This collaborative program will cultivate more leadership talents and bring greater value to future societies and businesses.”
Professor Yushun FAN concluded by encouraging the students, “The Executive DBA research is a journey full of surprises and challenges. Pursuing a management doctoral study is not merely about attending lectures; it is a process of continuous reflection, deep understanding, and discovering the rules of enterprise management. The purpose of learning is not just to acquire knowledge but to enhance research capabilities, broaden perspectives, and expand horizons. I hope you cherish this rare opportunity, bravely face challenges, continually improve yourselves, and lay a solid foundation for your future career and life. We will continue to support you wholeheartedly and advance together.”
Life is most beautiful at its peak. Entrepreneurs are the most diligent climbers in the world. As an alumni who has embarked on the journey—Dr. Wuxing LIANG, General Manager of Mingsidun Power Co. Ltd., welcomed the new students of the 2023 cohort in the Executive DBA program at Paris Dauphine-PSL University. He shared his own connection with the program, stating that although he has already obtained his doctoral degree, joining the Executive DBA program at Paris Dauphine-PSL University in 2022 was a wise decision he made over the past few years.
“At first, the program’s lofty goal of nurturing ‘business philosophers’ and its connection between France and the three universities attracted me,” he said. “Throughout this year of courses, the exchanges and discussions among classmates in class, the business competitions, and the dedication of professors, especially those from France, reflected a profound cultural richness that has greatly benefited me.”
In an era where unprecedented global changes are accelerating, the world is witnessing transformations in its dynamics, the times, and history itself in ways never seen before. These profound shifts pose significant challenges for business leaders in managing their enterprises. How to better grasp the changing dynamics of the global economy, seize strategic opportunities, and build upon past achievements to create new visions for the future are critical topics for business leaders to study and explore during their enrollment in the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program.
Dunpeng HUANG from the 2023 cohort, is the Party Secretary, Director, and General Manager of GRG Metrology & Testing Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 002967), stated that embarking on the journey of studying for an Executive DBA is a call of the times, driven by the responsibility and mission of enterprise development, the pursuit of personal value, and the strong appeal of the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program.
“China is the locomotive of global economic growth, home to the largest enterprises as market entities. China is also a cornerstone of global peace, stability, and harmonious development. The world urgently needs and eagerly anticipates ‘Chinese management thought and wisdom.’ There is a pressing need for China’s theoretical support and innovation. The Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program is dedicated to cultivating scholar-entrepreneurs and financiers, developing ‘Chinese management thought,’ and creating ‘enterprise thinkers.’ It aims to nurture and disseminate business concepts and management ideas. This is the reason I chose this program for my doctoral research.”
As the representative of the 2022 cohort, Wuxing LIANG passed the program flag to Dunpeng HUANG of the 2023 cohort, the opening ceremony drew to the end. The passing of the flag symbolizes the inheritance of the program’s spirit. From this moment, the 2023 cohort officially embarks on their doctoral journey. We look forward to seeing the students seize this opportunity, live up to the times, and live up to their youth, explore uncharted territories in their doctoral research, and embrace infinite possibilities!
From 2012 to 2022, the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program has completed its first decade, delivering outstanding results to both society and the university. The program has produced nearly 70 excellent doctoral dissertations, contributing original management ideas from China to the world. Celebrating a glorious decade, we recount the many “firsts” of the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program.
In 2023, the Paris Dauphine-PSL University Executive DBA program embarks on its second decade, committed to its mission of “influencing the globalization of the Chinese economy and finance, and advancing research in Chinese economic management practices.” Upholding the development of ‘Chinese management thought’ and nurturing the concept of ‘enterprise thinkers,’ the program aims to address the opportunities and challenges brought by unprecedented global changes. It seeks to explore new models and methods for China’s development in the era of globalization and, cultivate a new generation of scholar-entrepreneurs.
