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Lingnan Global Forum

Beyond the Degree Premium: Returns to Skills and the Economics of Higher Education

Wednesday, January 21, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: University of DC - Level M1

    Moderator(s)

  • Hui Chen

    Professor
    MIT Sloan School of Management

    • Presenter(s)

  • Yun Dai

    Associate Professor of Finance and Associate Dean
    Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University

  • Xubei Luo

    Senior Economist
    World Bank

  • Joseph Oncochie

    Associate Professor of Finance Executive Director for Executive Education (non-degree)
    Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY)

  • Daniel Zizzo

    Academic Dean and Head of School, School of Economics
    The University of Queensland

Pre-registration is required.

Global economic realignment, industrial transformation, and advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are redefining the traditional “degree premium.” As higher education shifts toward a more pragmatic view of academic credentials, greater emphasis is being placed on tangible outcomes and employability. This session will explore how institutions can integrate skills-based education and realign curricula with evolving workforce demands to prepare graduates for meaningful and sustainable careers in the AI-driven economy.