Swansea University
Jia Joy Yihui (China), Phd in Business and Economics
Jia (Joy) Yihui, a PhD student in Swansea University's School of Business and Economics has been awarded a Doctoral Research Fellowship, worth over £40,000, by one of the world’s largest international risk and insurance brokers.
Ms Yihui (Joy) Jia, 30, is originally from Shanghai, China. She is a graduate in computer science from Tongji University, China, and subsequently achieved a distinction in her MSc in Management (Finance) at Swansea University in 2007.
Professor Mike Adams, who is Joy's principal supervisor at Swansea University said: "We are delighted that one of the insurance world’s biggest names is supporting Joy's research, which will examine the economic impact of insurance as a risk management technique on the cost of capital – and hence the market value - of Chinese companies."
"The study has major academic and practical considerations, particularly for investors and suppliers operating in the major emergent Chinese market."
Before coming to the UK, Joy worked in the business development and underwriting offices of the Tai Ping Insurance Company, based in Shanghai. Her doctoral research will examine the linkage between insurance and the cost of capital in Chinese publicly listed companies.
Joy said: "I am very grateful to the Willis Research Network for their support. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to gain international experience and it’s great to know that my research is valued by a major player in the risk and insurance industry."
"I’m also very grateful to Professor Adams for his ongoing advice and guidance, and for making contact with the Managing Director of Willis Re (and Chairman of the Willis Research Network), Mr Rowan Douglas. I wouldn’t have had this opportunity without him."
Joy Jia's study is the first proposal that the Willis Research Network has supported in the area of the economics and finance of insurance. The doctoral fellowship is valued at over £40,000 over three years. It will fund the costs of the research project and contribute towards Joy's living costs.
Joy will also spend time working from Willis Re's Shanghai offices, and will be supported by Professor Zou (Joe) Hong, an internationally renowned insurance academic based in the Department of Economics and Finance at Hong Kong’s City University.
Mr Douglas said: "Under Professor Mike Adams' direction, Swansea University's School of Business and Economics has become a leader in insurance and reinsurance research. We are delighted to support Joy's exciting and ground-breaking research on the impact of insurance on the cost of capital in the Chinese insurance sector. We know this is going to be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between Willis and Swansea."
Joy was also awarded a £1,600 Research Travel Grant from Umea University Sweden, funded by the Sweden Research Council. this enabled her to visit Sweden in May to present her Phd proposal at a doctoral workshop for students and staff in Economics, Economics History, and Business at the University.
In addition she will be presenting her proposal at a conference in the Caribbean during the summer.
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