On January 8, 2018, a 5-member delegation from School of Economics of Zhejiang University including Dean Huang Xianhai, Vice Dean Pan Shiyuan, Vice Dean Wang Yizhong visited Columbia University. Vice Provost of Columbia University & Senior Vice Dean of Columbia Engineering Professor Soulaymane Kachani, Executive Director of Columbia Engineering Dr. Jenny S. Mak, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Student Affairs and Global Programs Dr. Leora Brovman, Associate Dean of Graduate Student Dr. Affairs Tiffany Simon gave a warm welcome. The two parties discussed and signed a collaborative agreement for a dual master's degree program.

According to the agreement, the program for dual master's degree in Financial Engineering and Operations Research will start in 2018. The School of Economics of Zhejiang University will send annually about 15 outstanding graduate students to Columbia University for further education. In the first year of the program, the participants of the program study at Zhejiang University and complete the required courses. In the second year, the participants study at Columbia University and complete the required courses of MS in Financial Engineering. After successful completion of all the requirements including the required courses, the participants will achieve master's degree from both institutions.

This cooperation program is a new mode of internationalization of higher education and a new exploration of ZJU in joint cultivation in large scale of graduate students with world's most prestigious universities.

After the signature ceremony, the two parties conducted a deep conversation on the concrete implementation of the Agreement and possible future cooperation. Both parties hope to establish a long-term cooperative relationship through the agreement and contribute to the cultivation of international talents.