On the afternoon of March 9, the first lecture of the International College’s series East-West Integration, Dream Construction was held in the Multi-Function Room 101, Main Building No. 4, Zhangzhou Campus. Professor Ye Zhen (Peter), a distinguished scholar from University College London (UCL) and an alumnus of Xiamen University（XMU）, was invited to deliver the lecture. He engaged in an in-depth dialogue with teachers and students of the college on the cutting‑edge developments in finance and international higher education experiences. The lecture was chaired by Yu Hongbo, Dean of International College（IC）, XMU, attended by faculty and student representatives of the college.

Dean Yu Hongbo extended a warm welcome to Professor Ye Zhen. She briefly introduced Professor Ye’s extensive international educational experience and interdisciplinary background, and expressed sincere gratitude for his contributions to advancing international exchanges between XMU and UK universities. Professor Ye Zhen is a renowned scholar in infrastructure economics and finance at University College London (UCL). He also serves as a visiting Professor at the School of Economics, XMU, and previously served as the program Director of the MSc in Infrastructure Investment and Finance at UCL. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a PhD in Applied Economics, and a Master of Laws. He possesses profound experience in both academia and the industry, including private equity and risk management. In addition, Professor Ye has been appointed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to provide policy advice to governments of multiple countries.

During the lecture, Professor Ye Zhen shared his career exploration in finance and insights into international higher education based on his academic and professional experience. As an alumnus of XMU, he fondly recalled his years at his alma mater and expressed gratitude for its high-quality academic platform, student-centered philosophy, and guidance from mentors. He noted that the education at XMU laid a solid foundation for his future development on the international stage in both academia and industry.

Drawing on his academic and teaching experience at the University of Chicago, University College London, Newcastle University and other institutions, Professor Ye Zhen shared his insights into knowledge acquisition and competency development. He noted that as artificial intelligence can now codify human knowledge and train it repeatedly on large language models, the value of merely memorizing standardized knowledge has diminished. What remains irreplaceable and beyond current technology, he emphasized, is judgment in real-world complex contexts and tacit knowledge. Such competencies and knowledge cannot be gained directly from textbooks; they derive from non-codified industry insights and hands-on experience accumulated through practice. He encouraged students to transcend disciplinary boundaries, strengthen their foundational learning, engage in diverse practices, and build future-ready comprehensive capabilities.

At the end of the lecture, Dean Yu Hongbo delivered concluding speech, expressing her gratitude to Professor Ye Zhen for his insightful sharing and presenting him with a certificate of appreciation and a souvenir marking the college’s 20th anniversary. The lecture not only offered faculty and students a valuable opportunity to interact face-to-face with a distinguished international scholar and broaden their academic and global horizons, but also embodied the college’s educational philosophy of East-West Integration, Dream Construction, thus carrying great significance in promoting academic exchange and improving the quality of talent development. Moving forward, the college will continue to organize such high-level thematic lectures, gather quality educational resources, support the development of faculty and students, and further empower the cultivation of high-quality talents with global competitiveness and professional insights.