The School of Economics is one of the strongest schools in teaching and research at Guangdong University of Finance and Economics (GDUFE), and holds a prominent standing and influence among comparable institutions nationwide. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the School takes fostering virtue through education as its fundamental task and the building of a distinctive, high-level school of economics as its goal.Grounded in the teaching of core economic theory and in disciplinary development, the School follows a main thread of “optimizing the faculty, expanding resources and strengthening quality,” actively explores a talent-cultivation model characterized by “integrity, diligence, innovation and application,” and reinforces curriculum-based ideological and political education. It has thereby developed the distinctive characteristics of 'innovation and entrepreneurship, openness and collaboration, service to development, and public satisfaction,' together with the institutional strengths of 'a younger faculty, diversified resources, high-end research output, and systematic support.'

Faculty

The School has 100 staff members, including 80 full-time faculty members: 22 professors, 28 associate professors, 6 postdoctoral co-supervisors, 16 doctoral supervisors, 57 master's supervisors, and 43 faculty members with overseas work or study experience. Its ranks include 1 national-level high-caliber talent, 1 National Outstanding Teacher, 1 national-level candidate of the New Century Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand Talents Project, 1 selectee of the Ministry of Education's Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, 1 expert receiving the State Council Special Allowance, 4 Pearl River Scholars, 1 Distinguished Professor under the Minjiang Scholars Program, 1 recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 3 scholars listed among the World's Top 2% Scientists, 1 Chinese Highly Cited Researcher in 2020 and 2021, 2 Chinese Highly Cited Researchers from 2022 to 2025, 1 recipient of the Guangdong Provincial Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 1 Young Cultural Talent under the Guangdong Special Support Program, and 6 experts formajor administrative decision-making consultation and appraisalin Guangdong Province.

The school has also appointed a number of distinguished domestic economistsincluding holders of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, senior executives from Fortune Global 500 companies and other accomplished economic practitioners as visiting professors and practice advisors. In recent years, the school has undertaken more than 120 research projects of various kinds, including Major and Key Projects of the National Social Science Fund of China; published over 300 papers in Chinese and international journals such as Social Sciences in China, Economic Research Journal and Management World; received affirmative written instructions from national leaders on a number of research reports; and won more than 10 research awards at or above the provincial and ministerial level, including the Second Prize of the Scientific and Technological Progress Award of the Ministry of Education.

These achievements have produced a well-structured faculty with strong teaching capability and robust research capacity.

Academic Programs

The School currently offers four undergraduate programs: Economics (including the Economics Innovation Class), International Economics and Trade (including the International Class), International Business (including the International Corporate Finance track, the International Business CHEPD 1+2+1 duel degree program, and the International Business Experimental Zone), and Digital Economy. Its program portfolio closely follows the development trends of new technologies and emerging industries, as well as major national strategic needs. International Economics and Trade is a National First-Class Undergraduate Major Construction Site as well as a Guangdong Provincial Famous Major and a provincial characteristic major. International Business is a National First-Class Undergraduate Major Construction Site and an approved program under the Guangdong Provincial Innovation Experimental Zone for Talent Training. Economics is a National First-Class Undergraduate Major Construction Site, a Guangdong provincial characteristic major, and a designated program under Guangdong's 'Changji Plan' (Long-Term Foundation Plan for Basic Disciplines). The Digital Economy major is supported by Digital Economy, a provincial key discipline under Guangdong's 'Chong-Bu-Qiang' initiative (striving for first-class status, remediating weak links, and strengthening distinctive features). A number of courses, including International Trade, have been recognized as national- or provincial-level bilingual teaching demonstration courses and exemplary (quality) courses.

Disciplinary Platforms

The School operates a postdoctoral research station in Applied Economics; a first-level doctoral program in Applied Economics (with specializations in Industrial Economics and International Trade); a second-level doctoral program in Digital Economics; two first-level master's degree programs in Theoretical Economics and Applied Economics (covering Industrial Economics, National Economics, International Trade, Regional Economics, and Digital Economics); and two professional master's degree programs in International Business and Digital Economics. As a principal participating unit, the School also contributes to the jointly developed doctoral discipline in National Security Studies. Among these, Applied Economics and Theoretical Economics are respectively a provincial advantageous key discipline and a provincial characteristic key discipline.

The School has established 3 Guangdong Provincial Demonstration Bases for Joint Postgraduate Training and 5 provincial innovation teams. It hosts the National Economy Research Center of GDUFE, a Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences for Guangdong's regular higher education institutions; the Open Economy Innovation Research Center, a Guangdong Provincial Decision-Making Consulting Research Base; two Guangdong provincial characteristic think tanks, the Guangdong Institute of Digital Economy and the Guangdong Institute of High-Quality Development; the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences, namely the Laboratory for the Co-Evolution of Eco-Environmental Resources and Economic-Social Systems; and two Guangdong provincial characteristic industry colleges, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Actuarial and Insurance Industry College and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Digital Commerce Industry College.

Talent Cultivation

The School's graduates consistently achieve high employment rates, high employment quality, and strong social satisfaction. In recent years, many outstanding graduates have been admitted to doctoral or master's programs at leading Chinese universities such as Renmin University of China, Nanjing University, Sun Yat-sen University, Wuhan University, South China University of Technology, Tongji University and Jilin University, or have pursued further study at renowned universities outside the Chinese mainland, including Columbia University, the University of California, Northwestern University, the University of Sydney, the National University of Singapore and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Students have won nearly 100 awards at or above the provincial level in competitions such as the 'Challenge Cup', the National College Student Market Survey and Analysis Competition, the National College Student Mathematical Modeling Competition, the Mathematical Contest in Modeling in the United States, and the National English Competition for College Students. More than 100 projects have been approved at the national level under the Undergraduate Innovation Training Program or at the provincial level under the Guangdong College Student Science and Technology Innovation Cultivation Special Fund (the 'Pandeng Plan', or Climbing Plan). Many graduates have become distinguished alumni.

Committed to internationalization in education, the School has sent 8-10 faculty members each year over the past five years to internationally renowned universities for training and visiting scholarships, hosts international academic conferences every year, and has established partnerships with more than 10 universities and educational institutions outside the Chinese mainland.