Rubing Wang
My name is Rubing Wang, and I’m from Xi’an, China, home of the Terracotta Army. I have degrees in applied psychology and in statistics and data science. I’ve also worked at the UN Secretariat and Nike. These experiences have taken me across China, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain, and shaped my global perspective on how data, people and institutions interact.
I chose to study at IE University to deepen my understanding of economics and connect data with policy, markets and global development. In the long term, I hope to work at the United Nations or the World Bank Group. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy hiking and landscape photography, and I have a special fondness for red pandas and their conservation.
“Classes are intense and highly interactive, and professors constantly encourage us to question assumptions, engage in discussion and learn from one another.”
Q&A with Rubing Wang
What factors led you to choose IE University and the Master in Applied Economics?
The Master in Applied Economics offered the academic depth I was looking for, but what stood out most to me was the close-knit and highly international learning environment. Being part of a cohort of only 24 students from 18 nationalities allows for close interaction, open discussion and constant exchange of perspectives, which has significantly enriched my learning experience.
You were one of 50 students selected to receive the Chinese Government Scholarship to study at IE University. What did this opportunity represent for you?
Receiving the Chinese Government Scholarship represented both recognition and opportunity. Personally, it has allowed me to continue developing a global perspective within IE University's international environment. I’m able to learn in both the classroom and through exchanges with peers from diverse backgrounds. Academically, it enabled me to finally pursue formal training in economics and complete an interdisciplinary path linking behavioral science, data science and economic analysis.
How has the Chinese Government Scholarship empowered you to focus on your development?
The support I get from the Chinese Government Scholarship, which is fully funded, is essential in enabling me to pursue applied economics. It allows me to focus entirely on my studies, immerse myself in the coursework and extracurricular workshops and benefit from IE University’s strong connections and international setting.
How has the combination of the Chinese Government Scholarship and IE University’s academic approach positioned you for impactful roles?
The scholarship has allowed me to fully engage with the program and take advantage of the opportunities presented to me. Together with IE University’s applied and international academic approach, it’s helped me better integrate data, behavioral insights and economic reasoning in preparation for future policy and analytical roles.
How would you describe the academic rigor of the program?
My experience has been both challenging and rewarding, with a compact but carefully structured and fast-paced curriculum. Classes are intense and highly interactive, and professors constantly encourage us to question assumptions, engage in discussion and learn from one another.
While the pace can be demanding, it allows me to better connect ideas across different areas of economics, and I enjoy the sense of focus, progress and intellectual stimulation that comes from this learning environment.
How does IE University complement your academic and professional background?
My experience at IE University provides me with a formal and structured foundation in economics. It has helped me move from analyzing behavior and data in isolation to understanding how economic systems, international resources and institutions shape those patterns. I’ve gained a much more interdisciplinary academic profile
Have you been able to apply what you’ve learned in the program to a professional context?
Yes. The applied focus of the program has allowed me to revisit challenges I encountered during my work at the UN, such as staff mobility and workforce planning, from an economic perspective, framing data-driven insights around resource allocation, efficiency and police trade-offs.
How has the Master in Applied Economics influenced the way you think about economic analysis and decision-making?
It’s given me a structured perspective to my background in behavioral science and statistics. Previously, my analysis focused mainly on behavioral insights and large-scale data, but the program has added a strong economic foundation, allowing me to structure analysis around economic intuition and theory before turning to data.
Looking ahead, how do you envision your career evolving?
I see my career evolving within international organizations, working on economic and developmental challenges. Drawing on my multidisciplinary background, I hope to use both data and theory to support evidence-based decisions that address real issues across different contexts.