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Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences obtains affiliation with CFA Institute

26 May 2022 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath | Photo istock

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Free State is pleased to announce its affiliation with the prestigious American-based Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute of Investment and Financial Professionals. The affiliation of the Bachelor of Commerce in Investment Management and Banking with the CFA programme demonstrates that the programme embeds a significant portion of the intensive CFA programme’s candidate body of knowledge (CBK) and standards of professional conduct. This reflects the rigour and value of our degree programme in the field of investment and portfolio management.

“The affiliation signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that the UFS BCom Investment Management and Banking curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to prepare students for a brighter carrier in the investment field and better placed to sit for the CFA examinations,” says Dr Nico Keyser, the Head of the Department of Economics and Finance in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the UFS.

Through participation in this programme, the university is eligible to receive CFA programme student scholarships each year, thereby massively contributing to the much-needed skill set of well-grounded financial analysts who can take our financial sector to new heights.

According to Dr Keyser, aligning the UFS degree programme with the CFA curriculum will equip students with the expertise and real-world skills in investment analysis that will set them apart from other institutions and peers. “We encourage our students to pursue professional certification that distinguishes them in the market and enhances their job execution skills, innovation, and employability,” says Dr Keyser.

The CFA programme is an international postgraduate, globally recognised professional designation offered by the American-based CFA Institute to investment and financial professionals. To become a CFA charter holder, candidates are required to pass three exam levels covering the fundamentals of investments tools, valuing assets, portfolio management and wealth planning, and acceptable work experience to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation.

The CFA Institute is the world's largest association of investment professionals. Members attain the prestigious designation of 'Chartered Financial Analyst', and many hold prominent roles in leading investment firms in financial centres worldwide.

“Aligning our programme with the CFA code of ethics and standard of professional conduct sets us apart in terms of preparing graduates who are ethically grounded and ready to execute their duties in an ethical and professional manner, which is a major necessity in the financial analysis and investment field. The affiliation is part of our continued commitment to promoting the highest standards of ethics and professional excellence in our investment graduates, which is one of the tenets of the CFA curriculum in grounding investment professionals for better functioning capital markets,” adds Keyser.

News Archive

Moving towards creating a more accessible UFS for mobility-impaired students

2015-07-21

Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support’s logo for persons with mobility impairments.
Design: Karoo Republic

Hi, my name is Jackson, and I am a wheelchair user following an accident that left me paralysed.

We often take for granted the ability to navigate obstacles, and to move readily from place to place. Few people have to worry about mobility on campus, but for students with mobility impairments, it presents many challenges that few of us are aware of.

The biggest struggle for students with mobility impairments is often encountered in the lecture room/hall. Once they arrive at the class (often struggling to get there on time), their next challenge might be entering the classroom and finding a suitable place where they can sit comfortably. As it is, there are only a few loose tables in most lecture halls. Consequently, the students have to sit through the lecture taking notes and working with their laptops resting on their laps. Obviously, this is uncomfortable and not conducive to their learning process.

When students have limited hand function, the result is that they write more slowly and with difficulty. However, the UFS does offer assistance from scribes, adapted computer hardware/software, assistive devices, and/or modified furniture. Such adaptations can be arranged by the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS), which boasts an official test and examination venue where students with mobility impairments can proceed with their tests and exams if they prefer.

Students with Cerebral Palsy may experience difficulties with quick, sudden physical movements, and delayed processing of information. Stressful circumstances can result in their experiencing difficulty when having to write or process information quickly enough during test and examination situations. The Extra Time Panel, in collaboration with Student Counselling and Development, determines the time concession for those students with mobility impairments who have such needs.

The importance of accessible parking spaces exclusively designated for wheelchair users not only involves such places being closer to a building entrance but also wide enough for a wheelchair user to get in and out of a vehicle safely.

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