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Master of Science in Financial Risk Management launches in Shenzhen, China

October 7, 2019

Representatives from the Northern Illinois University College of Business, in their commitment to cross global boundaries, traveled to Shenzhen in East Asia for the launch of the college’s Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program. Shenzhen is a major city located in China’s Guangdong Province.

“NIU is delighted to offer the MSFRM program in Shenzhen,” NIU President Lisa Freeman said. “Our community and partnerships are ever expanding. We have more than 220,000 alumni who live and work across the world, and many are in China. We highly value our relationship with China, a significant force in the global economy.”

“NIU’s MSFRM program helps our students develop a deep understanding of finance and risk in an extraordinarily complex global economy,” NIU Provost and Executive Vice President Beth Ingram said. “The program prepares our students for professional success in an increasingly interconnected and competitive financial environment. Our Chinese students will learn from some of the best scholars in their fields.”

During a late summer welcome ceremony to mark the launch of the program, the inaugural class received enthusiastic greetings from NIU Business Dean Balaji Rajagopalan. NIU Department of Finance Chair Gina Nicolosi, Executive Director of Global Programs Anthony Preston, Chinese industry leaders and other NIU partners were also in attendance.

The inaugural class represents a dynamic group of outstanding professionals from a wide range of industries. In the MSFRM program, the students will learn from world-class scholars from NIU, scholars from other reputed institutions and industry experts.

“Global leaders understand and value the power of diversity in a variety forms,” Rajagopalan said. “This is an important focus in the NIU College of Business. We pride ourselves on being a diverse college across a number of spectrums. These range from geographic backgrounds and perceptions to experiences and knowledge. We continually challenge ourselves and our students to cross the boundaries of perspectives and ideas. Presently, we welcome students from 32 different countries into the NIU Business academic adventure. We also enjoy long-standing relationships with many businesses around the world. Our purposeful engagement of the worlds of business and academia in a truly global way is at the core of how we deliver on our vision of preparing global citizens. Our partnership in China provides an apt illustration of just how impactful this approach truly is.”

“The MSFRM develops global leaders in the field of finance, with an emphasis on reimagining the future of financial firms and industries,” Nicolosi said. “At the same time, the curriculum also emphasizes strategic decision-making, corporate governance and organizational design along with the dimensions of risk, the drivers of risk and financial instruments.”

Students in the NIU MSFRM in China program will earn a master of science degree in a STEM-designated program from a highly regarded and continually ranked U.S. business school.

“The talented members of the inaugural class are impressive individuals,” Preston said. Preston is the executive director of global programs for the college. “I am excited for them because they are about to embark on a fantastic educational journey and join a university with a track record of graduating exceptional leaders who have transformed industries, changed lives and contributed to making a better world.”

NIU’s business college is among a select list of less than 200 worldwide to be accredited by AACSB International for both business and accounting. The NIU College of Business has been listed for more than 30 consecutive years in the U.S. News & World Report annual rankings.