The applications for internet and artificial intelligence have drastically changed the traditional finance sector, which propelled universities to rethink the knowledge system that higher institutions provided to their students, he says.

Besides, as China is carrying out projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative, and the development of Xiongan New Area, the Yangtze River Delta region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, universities need to adapt to meeting the new demands for related human resources and professions, to better contribute to the development of the country and the world, Zhuo adds.

Lu Fucai, president of Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, said at a session held under the main forum on Oct 18 that the market demand for finance talent has changed remarkably. "When AI replaces the basic function of accounting, can human accountants still find a job? When AI sees through the demands of customers in advance, what else can our marketing team do?

"During the age of AI, we need to think what occupations our students can take and what skills they should gain to help them to obtain a good job after graduation, so we need to timely upgrade our traditional management and finance sectors to satisfy the students' craving for new technological skills and advanced know-how."