The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and Middlesex University London have forged an unique partnership, with Middlesex introducing one of the CISI’s professional qualifications as a core element of its revalidated MSc Financial Mathematics programme.
From September 2021, students on the MSc will be required to study for the CISI L3 Introduction to Investment qualification and sit the exam as part of their course. This is a foundation exam for many higher level CISI qualifications and offers a comprehensive introduction to the financial services sector, with a specific focus on investment. They will also have access to CISI events, networking and training – a potential gateway to a financial career. Graduates are entitled to become CISI Affiliates to continue their professional development after leaving university.
Middlesex students can also take part in the CISI Educational Trust Awards. The top entry from the university will receive a £500 cash prize, and an invitation to enter the national competition.
The new partnership is one of a number of bold innovations across Middlesex’s undergraduate and postgraduate Mathematics programmes as part of the revaluations and in light of the experience of the pandemic. Core modules and most options are now 100% coursework assessed, helping students build a bank of solutions to problems they might realistically encounter in the workplace, making them eminently employable. The Middlesex BSc Mathematics and BSc Mathematics and Data Science degree programmes now offer options on financial subjects.
“We’ve used what we learned while teaching online during the Covid-19 pandemic to design a blended learning approach” says Head of Learning, Teaching and Student Experience at Middlesex’s Faculty of Science & Technology, Dr Alison Megeney (left). “We’re combining live sessions on-campus, live sessions online and videos and recordings, to give a varied, efficient and flexible learning experience for our students”.
Marlen Mercedes (right), who graduated with MSc Financial Mathematics in 2017 and is now
a research analyst at Dominican Republic asset management firm INICIA says that the programme at Middlesex “developed my creativity and analytical thinking to evaluate situations. It provided me with the tools to enter in an asset management firm as a research analyst”. She welcomes the potential of the CISI partnership for next years and subsequent cohorts of students as offering “a well-known finance certification which provides multiple areas of specialization for the future. It opens new opportunities for employment and students have access to a network of professionals that can mentor them to their next position”.
Kevin Moore, Chartered FCSI, CISI Global Business Development Director said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Middlesex University on this important initiative. This programme will unlock access for students to our professional body resources and learning, offering them a competitive edge in our fast moving, exciting global financial services profession.”