"AI will not replace the humanities; rather, it will promote their further development while also placing higher demands on humanistic spirit in this new era. What truly masters science is not science itself — the ultimate destination of science is not technology, but rather compassion. What controls AI is not AI either, but innovative individuals with deeper humanistic values."
These inspiring words were spoken by Liu Yuanchun, President and Deputy Party Secretary of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, during the university's 2025 graduation ceremony on June 24. His speech deeply resonated with and encouraged many young graduates.
Liu Yuanchun posed the "Four Questions for SUFE (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)" to the 5,163 graduates of the Class of 2025:
- "What should SUFE do in the context of the Fourth Industrial and Technological Revolution?"
- "What should SUFE do in the building of an education powerhouse?"
- "What should SUFE do regarding Shanghai’s development as 'Five Centers'?"
- "What should SUFE do in the era of fading financial and economic dividends?"
He pointed out that the changes in the times and the transformations in the world not only demand new perspectives and capabilities from the graduating students, but also place higher expectations on the university’s mission of fostering virtue and nurturing talent. As a community of shared values, the alma mater must grow together with its graduates and continue to evolve and rise in this transformative era.
"Building a world-class university in the digital and intelligent age — one that represents a new model of finance and economics" is the definitive answer to the "Four SUFE Questions." This is also the new positioning and mission for SUFE moving forward.
Professor Liu Yuanchun believes that mapping knowledge structures, exploring meta-knowledge, and teaching students how to learn new knowledge will be the core mission of high-level university education in the future — and also the most valuable gift Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) can offer its alumni.
He advised young graduates to "think like futurists" —
