Interview with Huashang on IR & Credit Management Workshop, a Collaboration between Alpha & Leader, Altra Corporate Training and Guangzhou Huashang College

IR & Credit Management Workshop

Preface:

In April 2025, the "School of Digital Accounting & Business Services Industry — Investor Relations & Credit Management Workshop" (hereinafter referred to as the "IR & Credit Management Workshop") was officially established through a joint initiative by Guangzhou Huashang College, Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training. Centered on the principle of "tripartite collaboration between academia, industry, and enterprises, with deep integration of education and industry," the Workshop features a customized curriculum and corporate mentorship. It aims to cultivate well-rounded investor relations (IR) and credit management professionals for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area who are "business-savvy, technologically proficient, and highly skilled in application."

A New Model for Industry-Academia Integration

As a pioneer in business education, why did Guangzhou Huashang College choose to collaborate with Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training? How does this industry-academia partnership model break through the boundaries of traditional teaching and create a "fast track" for students to enter the workplace?

With these questions in mind, Alpha & Leader is honored to invite Mr. Brendan Huang, the leader of the "IR & Credit Management Workshop" project of Guangzhou Huashang College, to unveil the story behind this collaboration and explore a new model for cultivating IR and credit management talents through industry-academia integration. With over 20 years of experience in consulting in the fields of internal audit, internal control, ESG, risk management, and corporate governance, Brendan currently serves as Senior Financial Head of Huashang Education Group and Adjunct Professor at the School of Accounting of Guangzhou Huashang College. He has assisted a number of Hong Kong-listed companies in risk control, ESG and related fields.

Q1: What was the impetus behind Guangzhou Huashang College's collaboration with Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training to establish the IR & Credit Management Workshop?

In recent years, the credit management industry has seen a significant increase in demand for well-rounded talents. However, existing professional training programs in related fields continue to exhibit an overreliance on theoretical instruction while demonstrating inadequate integration with practical applications. Guangzhou Huashang College (hereinafter referred to as "the College") has initiated the establishment of an industry-academia collaborative platform to integrate industry resources and professional training expertise of Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training, with the objective of equipping students with specialized knowledge through real-world case studies, thereby cultivating qualified IR and credit management professionals to meet evolving market requirements.

To ensure students gain holistic comprehension of corporate investment and financing operations, we have consolidated the Investment, Financing & Investor Relations Workshop with the Credit Management Workshop. This integrated approach facilitates students' understanding of enterprises' roles and functions in investment and financing domains, broadens their interdisciplinary or cross-field expertise, and ultimately strengthens their professional competitiveness and career prospects.

Q2: What core competencies and resources of Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training attracted the College most in selecting partners? How do these advantages align with the College's pedagogical objectives and strategic development orientation?

Alpha & Leader possesses profound professional expertise in credit management, while Altra Corporate Training specializes in comprehensive credit management training aimed at cultivating elite professionals in the field. Currently, the College lacks credit management courses. Therefore, our collaboration with Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training effectively addresses this academic gap. This partnership fully aligns with the College's strategic vision of "Empowering Industry-Education Integration with Digital Intelligence", thereby facilitating the development of a distinctive curriculum system.

Q3: What key challenges in conventional pedagogical approaches does the College seek to address through this collaboration?

Traditional classroom instruction has disproportionately emphasized theoretical knowledge transmission, resulting in students' inadequate sensitivity to industry developments and deficiencies in practical operational competencies. Through the Workshop's real-world industry case studies, simulation exercises, and guidance from industry experts, students will gain insights into actual industry conditions, deepen their professional comprehension, sharpen their operational capabilities and problem-solving ability.

Q4: What innovative adjustments have been made for the Workshop in terms of curriculum design, practical components, or student appraisal?

To enhance student engagement and bridge the gap between theory and practice, we have introduced three transformative educational approaches:

1) Dual-Mentor Instructional Model: Industry experts are invited to deliver lectures, incorporating real-world case studies, methodologies, and cutting-edge professional knowledge drawn from their extensive industry experience into the curriculum, thereby achieving theory-practice integration.

2) Real-world Case Studies & Increased Practical Training: Through in-depth collaboration with Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training, the Workshop introduces real-world corporate credit management cases studies and standard operational procedures. Students have the opportunities to directly engage with industry challenges and pain points to accumulate practical experience. The curriculum significantly increases practical components to ensure students have more time for practice and experience the daily work of IR and credit management professionals.

3) Innovative Appraisal Method: In addition to traditional written exams, project deliverables serve as one of the considerations in evaluation criteria. Students are required to complete simulation tasks such as corporate credit analysis reports and financial analysis reports during the Workshop to demonstrate their professional understanding and proficiency.

Q5: Could you specify the roles of the College and the enterprises in this project?

Guangzhou Huashang College, as the academic partner, provides teaching venues and facilities, manages enrollment and student affairs, and coordinates resources. On the enterprise side, Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training contribute professional training materials, real-world case studies, client servicing tactics, and expert mentorship, while also offering internship opportunities to top-performing students. Both sides collaborate on curriculum development and will organize regular company visits and industry seminars.

Q6: How does this collaboration enhance the professionalism of the "School of Digital Accounting & Business Services Industry"?

The involvement of Alpha & Leader and Altra Corporate Training brings substantial teaching resources and professional expertise to the College. Through direct guidance from credit management experts, students gain firsthand industry knowledge and practical experience. Enterprises provide valuable professional teaching materials, real-world case studies, and client servicing techniques and sharing, all of which serve as important educational assets for students while reinforcing the College's curriculum development and further enriching its teaching resources.

This partnership not only expands the College's network of industry-academic collaborators but also significantly broadens and deepens its interdisciplinary cooperation. Through this strategic integration with leading industry players, the College gains valuable insights into current market demands and emerging trends. These benefits establish a solid foundation for subsequent curriculum enhancements, academic program development, and research collaborations.

Q7: What are the immediate objectives of the Workshop? What industry-specific skills would students acquire through this practical experience?

The Workshop represents an integral component of the College's career-oriented education framework. This educational approach aims to equip students with profession-ready capabilities through comprehensive talent development initiatives, including workshops, practicum courses, studio, and professional certification programs. The fundamental goal is to enable students to identify career paths aligned with their major and effectively apply their academic knowledge in professional settings.

As the old saying goes, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." Beyond helping students secure their ideal jobs, what matters more is inspiring them to embrace lifelong learning and continuous growth in their careers. This is the core mission of the College's career-oriented education. Once students master the methods of learning, they can apply them to acquire skills and knowledge across various industries.

Q8: Could you share the future development direction or strategy for the Workshop?

Moving forward, we will enhance the IR & Credit Management Workshop with three new components to further enrich students' overall learning experience:

1) Enriching Teaching Methods and Activity Forms:

We will organize professional competitions in relevant fields to stimulate students' learning interest and competitive awareness. These competitions will allow students to test their professional knowledge, inspire thinking and creativity, while providing top performers with a platform to showcase their capabilities.

2) Corporate Study Visits:

To help students better understand corporate operations and industry characteristics, we will arrange corporate study visits. Students will visit partner companies or related industries to gain in-depth understanding of business operational models, processes, and industry trends. Through face-to-face interactions with corporate executives and industry experts, students will obtain first-hand industry information, broaden their professional perspectives, and establish solid foundations for future career development.

Enterprise visits represent the most practical learning approach — a single tour, exchange, or conversation can potentially bring significant inspiration to students.

3) Exploring Project-Driven Teaching Approach:

We will incorporate more authentic enterprise projects into our teaching activities. This project-oriented approach will enable students to apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems while enhancing their comprehensive ability. Additionally, we will arrange corporate internships for students to further strengthen their practical experience.

Perspectives from Alpha & Leader

True education lies not in providing students with ready answers, but in teaching them how to discover solutions.

Through the IR & Credit Management Workshop, students acquire more than just knowledge, and they obtain a key to the future, one that integrates theory, practical application, and innovative thinking. At Alpha & Leader, we believe that modern education must transcend traditional boundaries. Rather than moving along parallel paths, enterprises and academic institutions must establish synergistic partnerships. This collaborative approach cultivates next-generation IR and credit management specialists who possess both solid expertise and acute market awareness. This educational philosophy represents the shared vision of Guangzhou Huashang College, Alpha & Leader, and Altra Corporate Training.