From July 6 to 10, 2026, Beijing Normal University Business School (BNUBS) successfully held the 4th International Summer School on Digital Economy, attracting nearly 200 undergraduate students and international students from the School. The program is designed to broaden students’ academic horizons, strengthen their capabilities in research practice, and deepen their understanding of frontiers in digital economy development.

Launched in 2023, the International Summer School on Digital Economy has run for four consecutive sessions and evolved into a flagship initiative of the School for cultivating top innovative talents. The curriculum of this year’s summer school features a well-structured framework consisting of three modules: frontier thematic lectures, student academic practice forums, and core courses on econometric methods.

A number of distinguished scholars were invited to deliver keynote lectures on cutting-edge digital economy topics. Professor Li Sanxi, Yangtze River Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Economics, Renmin University of China, shared theoretical advances in Lexemes and the Agent Economy. Professor Liu Bin, Huiyuan Distinguished Professor, national high-level leading talent and Associate Dean of the School of Government, University of International Business and Economics, analyzed the evolution of international trade rules in his presentation Evolution of Digital Trade Rules and Global Games. Dr. Chen Zhiyuan, Assistant Professor at the School of Business, Renmin University of China and Young Yangtze River Scholar, drew on hands-on research experience and delivered a lecture entitled One-Stop Research: Practical Application of VS Code and Large Language Models. This series of lectures systematically outlined the latest research developments and policy trends in digital economy, effectively stimulating students’ academic curiosity and enthusiasm for exploration.

Photos: Professor Li Sanxi; Professor Liu Bin; Dr. Chen Zhiyuan

To boost students’ practical capabilities and academic innovation, the School hosted the 2nd Undergraduate Internship & Practice Forum on the evening of July 7 and the 12th Undergraduate Academic Forum on the afternoon of July 8. The two forums offered students valuable platforms to present research outcomes and exchange practical experience, constituting key measures for the School to refine the full-cycle training system for elite innovative talents and enhance students’ comprehensive capabilities.

From July 7 to 10, Professor Wan Yuanyuan, tenured econometrician from the Department of Economics, University of Toronto, delivered an online course on econometric methods. Centering on causal identification in regression analysis and supported by abundant case studies, Professor Wan systematically illustrated the principles and applications of diverse estimation approaches, laying a solid methodological foundation for students’ further studies and research.

Well balanced between theoretical innovation and practical orientation, this summer school has won wide acclaim among participating teachers and students. Going forward, BNUBS will continue to leverage themed academic events to advance teaching reform and innovate talent training models, nurturing economics and management professionals equipped with global vision and innovative competence.

Contributed by Economics Department

Edited by Xu Minbo

Reviewed by Jiang Jie