The Business School of the Central University of Finance and Economics, also known as CUFE, hosted the 2026 International Summer School in Beijing from July 5 to 18 — fostering entrepreneurial spirit in the digital era. The program focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital age. It attracted students from the United States, Greece, Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Tanzania and more — as part of CUFE's ongoing efforts to enhance international collaboration in business education.

Distinguished scholars were invited to teach courses like Strategic Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Marketing. They included Professor Attila Mucsi from Corvinus University of Budapest, Professor Xiaoming Yang from the University of Nebraska, and Professor Andranik Tumasjan from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. The courses were closely aligned with the practical demands of digital entrepreneurship — guiding students through case studies, group discussions, company visits and field research to explore core concepts and operational models.

In the practical teaching module, students visited tech companies like Benewake (Beijing) Co Ltd and NewLink Group, as well as the entrepreneurship incubation center in Shunyi district — to gain firsthand insights into cutting-edge technologies in smart photonics and energy digitization. They talked with executives, and conducted market research in local communities, interacting directly with consumers and professionals to assess product-market fit.

The program broke down national and cultural barriers by forming diverse, multinational teams. Students collaborated on simulated digital entrepreneurship projects — leveraging their varied cultural backgrounds, perspectives and professional knowledge to refine their business plans.

During the final presentations, each team showed off their comprehensive digital entrepreneurship projects and implementation strategies. Instructors provided thorough evaluations based on professional standards — highlighting project strengths and areas for improvement, and offering guidance for future entrepreneurial endeavors and international collaboration.

At the closing ceremony, Professors Attila Mucsi, Andranik Tumasjan and CUFE Professor Ge Jianxin delivered speeches — praising the students' creative and feasible entrepreneurial ideas, while offering insights based on industry trends and international perspectives. Dean Lin Song of CUFE's Business School expressed gratitude to all instructors and mentors, and encouraged continued cross-cultural exchanges and collaborative exploration of innovative entrepreneurship. Student representatives shared their experiences, reflecting on the diverse, cross-cultural learning journey.

The International Summer School is a hallmark program of CUFE — emphasizing international education and fostering bilateral exchanges between young people from China and abroad. Participants are encouraged to act as cultural ambassadors, using their expertise to facilitate diverse interactions and in-depth dialogues, building communications bridges from young people's perspective and contributing to mutual understanding and international cooperation.

Writers: GUO Xiaokun

Reviewers: LIN Song

Editors: WANG Xinyu

Approvers: HUO Xiaoran