SWUFE-UD Institute of Data Science honors first graduating class

On June 19, 166 students at the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, China, proudly became University of Delaware alumni during the inaugural 2024 SWUFE-UD Institute of Data Science graduation ceremony.

These students are the first cohort to graduate from the joint institute, which was formally launched during fall of 2020 after many years in the making. The program is administered at UD by the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.

"Looking out at all of you, I also see the fulfillment of all the investment from everyone at Lerner and SWUFE, from faculty to staff," Oliver Yao, dean of UD's Lerner College, said in his remarks. "They had a hand in the degrees we are celebrating today. So did your family and friends who invested in you and helped get you here. They will walk alongside you as you take your next steps."