Technology for a Future in Finance

In the same way that it has transformed financial markets worldwide, technology has the potential to elevate teaching methods and nurture the next generation of financial professionals across Asia.

For a graduate seeking employment in today’s increasingly competitive areas of corporate finance, investment banking and fund management, strong functional skills and practical experience are now required.

Founding partner of Apollo Global Management in Asia Tan Chin Hwee said at the recent event, “My own experience in hiring local interns for Apollo Global Management suggests that students are not at all well trained sometimes not even in the areas of Excel model building and Bloomberg skills.”

In response, business schools are now offering programs that focus on contextual intelligence and application of knowledge. And in Asia, a number of schools including Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Nanyang Polytechnic, National University of Singapore, TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) Manipal, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, Griffith University and Peking University have turned to technology to improve their teaching outcomes.

They are part of a growing number of educational institutes that have set up financial labs equipped with the Bloomberg Professional service, giving students a competitive edge in the job market.

Bloomberg labs support curriculum design, simulation exercises, management development programs as well as institute brand building and student recruitment.

Working with the faculty to create a virtual workbook, we provide students with a practical understanding of the inner workings of global financial markets and access to an unparalleled universe of data, news and information to advance their financial literacy and analytical skills. There are currently 13 such labs across India, the biggest of which, is located at TAPMI Manipal.

Professor Madhu Veeraraghavan, Area Chairman (Accounting, Economics and Finance) at TAPMI Manipal has this to say: “Technology is changing the future workforce and in today’s digital age, teaching and technology go hand in hand. The Bloomberg Professional service has been a real asset for the faculty, allowing us to challenge students with real-world scenarios and enriching our syllabus with the same quality data, news and analytical tools used by finance professionals worldwide.”

TAPMI recently launched a Student Managed Investment Course where selected students were given real money to invest in the Indian Financial Markets. This unique course providing hands on investment experience to students is run in the TAPMI Finance Lab using the Bloomberg Professional service.

“As the global benchmark for market data, financial analysis and portfolio management, the Bloomberg Professional service exemplifies applied finance, adding real world experience to the academic foundation we provide.” said Dr Badrinath, Chairman of the Centre for Capital Markets and Risk Management at IIM, Bangalore.

Part of our engagement with schools includes a ‘Bloomberg Champions’ program which equips students from each campus with financial markets knowledge and expertise. Students compete in real-world applications for an opportunity to intern with us.

Education is a key engine of economic growth and in Asia, the business of education is a significant one. At the inaugural Asian Management Conclave (AMC) held in Singapore this week, corporate leaders, deans and directors from leading business schools will gather to discuss strategies to excel locally and compete globally.

As a partner for the AMC 2015, we are proud to be facilitating this discussion and look forward to partnering with more leading schools in Asia to offer world class technology for a future in finance.

Contributed by Nitin Jaiswal, Head of ASEAN and South Asia Sales, Bloomberg LP.