On May 18 2026, Liu Weidong, Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Chen Fangruo, Dean of Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM), and Qu Xi, Associate Dean of ACEM, met with a delegation headed by Zinga Venner, Vice President and World Bank Group Controller. President Liu warmly welcomed President Venner and her delegation.  The two parties held in-depth discussions on global economic development, the cultivation of talent , and digital finance. Wang Qian, Deputy Director of International Division of Cooperation and Exchange of SJTU, Wen Yi, Distingushied Professor of Economics of ACEM and Chen Jingqiu, Professor of Organization Management of ACEM also attended the meeting.

After the meeting, Ms. Venner gave a talk on “The World Bank Group in a Changing World and the Evolving Finance and Accounting Profession”.

In her speech, Ms. Venner emphasized that the global economy is undergoing changes, and the finance and accounting professions are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities in the era of AI. She reiterated “active learning” and encouraged students to ask questions and explore proactively rather than simply transmitting knowledge . She emphasized the importance of free exchange, experience sharing, and deep engagement in real-world issues. She also highlighted "critical thinking" as a core competency for navigating complex economic environments. At last, Ms. Venner stressed that a “learning” mindset was  a critical driver for  personal career advancement. .

Regarding cooperation between international institutions and universities, Ms. Venner acknowledged the value of establishing knowledge exchange and partnerships with SJTU. She expressed that the World Bank Group was willing to deepen cooperation with top universities like SJTU to collectively promote the cultivation of global talents. She encouraged students to strengthen cross-cultural and interdisciplinary practice, becoming high-caliber talents capable of leading future changes.

Following the lecture, Ms. Venner and her delegation had a campus tour in SJTU Xuhui Campus.