[12 August 2009]
SMU partners CFA Institute at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels

SMU is the first institution in Singapore with this comprehensive partnership

Singapore, Wednesday, 12 August 2009 – The Singapore Management University has become the first institution in Singapore to be recognised as a partner of CFA Institute at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The two parties today inked an agreement formalising the collaboration.

The curricula of SMU's undergraduate programme, the Bachelor of Business Management (BBM), and its two postgraduate programmes, the Master of Science in Applied Finance (MAF) and the Master of Science in Wealth Management (MWM), cover a major portion of the academic and professional content examined in the three-level CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) examinations.

“This collaboration strengthens the joint efforts between SMU and CFA Institute in the promotion of education and training in the areas of asset management and financial analysis,” says SMU Associate Dean (Curriculum and Teaching) of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Practice Professor Francis Koh. “It will also allow SMU students in the partnering programs access to scholarships, CFA Institute curriculums, journals, webcasts, and other educational resources,” he adds.

In welcoming SMU as a CFA Program Partner, Dr. Ashvin P. Vibhakar, Managing Director of the CFA Institute's Asia-Pacific Operations, says, “Students completing their degrees from the partnering programs will gain a firm grounding in the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge which covers ethics as well. The solid foundation of the CFA Program curriculum is developed through extensive collaboration with practitioners throughout the world, essentially representing the knowledge, skills, and abilities that serious investment professionals need to have in the real world.” Undergraduate students in their final year may enroll for the CFA Program and register for the Level I CFA examination.

Under the collaboration, SMU will roll out a new course on ethics based on the CFA Program curriculum which is specific to the investment industry for all of its undergraduates majoring in Finance, and the postgraduate students in the MWM and MAF programmes this academic year.

About the Bachelor of Business Management

Following a broad-based approach to university education since the School's inception in 2000, the Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) programme aims to produce outstanding business leaders and creative entrepreneurs who will excel in an increasingly dynamic and competitive world. At the heart of the BBM programme is the University Core, which comprises courses considered fundamental to all students at SMU, such as Analytical Skills & Creative Thinking, Leadership & Team Building, Ethics & Social Responsibility, and Technology & World Change. The curriculum further provides students with ample opportunities to major in one or more areas of concentration, including Management, Accounting and Finance. Students who major in Finance enroll in required and elective courses which cover a major portion of the academic and professional content of the examinations of the CFA Institute. The 4-year BBM programme commences every August. Students, who excel, graduate with cum Laude, Magna cum Laude and Summa cum Laude.

About the Master of Science in Applied Finance (Year of inception: 2002)

The Master of Science in Applied Finance is an 18-month part-time programme that aims to raise the standard of practitioners' knowledge and skills in applied finance, a critical training need identified by Economic Review Committee and the finance industry. Besides specialising in Applied Finance, the programme incorporates a substantial portion of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Program with courses in Terms 1 and 2 specially tailored to equip students with the knowledge and skills to sit for the Level I, II and III CFA examinations. To acquire the breadth of knowledge in Finance, students are required to enrol in Core courses and electives such as Corporate Finance, Financial Risk Management, Hedge Funds, e-Commerce & Finance and Corporate Strategy & Financial Performance in Term 2. The programme commences every July.

About the Master of Science in Wealth Management (Year of inception: 2004)

The Master of Science in Wealth Management (MWM) is an innovative graduate course that brings academics and professionals together to share their knowledge on wealth management. In conjunction with the Asia Wealth Management Institute and the Swiss Finance Institute, the programme is facilitated by a team of selected faculty from two branches: senior academics with industry experience, and successful wealth managers with academic exposure. The MWM has been designed specifically to meet the needs of aspiring and seasoned wealth managers who wish to deepen their skills, knowledge and expertise. Participants have the opportunity to learn about recent theoretical and industry advancements in wealth management as a profession and as a business. They will also have opportunities to meet industry captains in seminars, talks, internships and site visits. The programme has been designed to cover all major asset classes for investments, as well as topics in investment advisory. Thus, it covers a large portion of the academic and professional content in the examinations of the CFA Institute. The programme is conducted in five two-week study modules over a period of 12 months. For one segment of the programme, there is an organised visit to Switzerland to understand the practice of wealth management there. The programme commences every July.