Growth in Lebanese economy fuels demand for best practice in financial markets and an increase in international standards and ethics
Lebanon, 8th July 2010- - CFA Institute, the global association for investment professionals that awards the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, is pleased to announce a CFA Program Partnership with the American University of Beirut (AUB). There are currently 122 CFA Program Partners in the world and AUB becomes only the second partner in the Middle East and the first in Lebanon and the Levant.
The CFA Program Partnership aligns the B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration) with Emphasis in Finance AUB course with the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge™ curriculum, allowing students to complete their studies and prepare for the CFA Program at the same time. This combination places successful students in an advantageous position when seeking to enter the finance industry or enhance their careers.
CFA Institute administers the CFA and CIPM curriculum and exam programs worldwide, publishes research, conducts professional development programs and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Institute has more than 100,000 members in 135 countries and territories, as well as 135 affiliated professional societies. The Lebanese CFA Society, established back in 2001, was the first CFA society to be founded in the region and is now one of seven CFA societies in the Middle East. It is an association of local investment professionals consisting of portfolio managers, investment advisors, educators and other financial professionals, and promotes ethical and professional standards within the investment industry.
Commenting on the new partnership, Dr. Assem Safieddine, President of the Lebanese CFA Society, said: "With the continued recovery of the Lebanese economy we are seeing a corresponding growth in the demand for the best international qualifications that reflect best practice in the financial and investment markets. Becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst is a mark of distinction that is globally recognized by employers, investment professionals and investors as the definitive standard - the gold standard - by which to measure serious investment professionals".
He adds: "This is the first formal partnership that CFA Institute has made with any university in Lebanon or the Levant, reflecting AUB's prestigious reputation and the value associated with the CFA Program."
Professor Lina Tannir, CFA, Director of CFA program at Olayan School of Business at AUB, said: "We are very proud that our university has been chosen by CFA Institute as a CFA Program Partner. We are committed to offering our students high professional and ethical standards and strongly believe that this partnership will further enhance the professional knowledge and skills needed to work in the finance industry ".
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About Lebanese CFA Society
The Lebanese CFA Society is an association of local investment professionals. Consisting of portfolio managers, investment advisors, educators and other financial professionals, which promotes ethical and professional standards within the investment industry, encourage professional development through the CFA Program and continuing education, facilitate the exchange of information and opinions among people within the local investment community and beyond, and work to further the public's understanding of the CFA designation and investment industry. More information may be found at www.membersocieties.org/lebanon/
About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association for the investment profession. It administers the CFA and CIPM curriculum and exam programs worldwide; publishes research; conducts professional development programs; and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Institute has nearly 100,000 members, who include the world's more than 86,000 CFA charterholders, in 135 countries and territories, as well as 135 affiliated professional societies in 58 countries and territories. More information may be found at www.cfainstitute.org
About American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut (AUB) was founded in 1866 as a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher learning, functioning under a charter from the State of New York. AUB has grown from 16 students in a rented house to a major university with over 7,572 students located on a 73-acre campus overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The University is governed by an autonomous Board of Trustees comprised of international leaders in business, education, diplomacy, engineering, philanthropy, science and medicine. More information may be found at http://www.aub.edu.lb/
For and on behalf of CFA Institute in the Middle East
Marcus Pepperell/Vadia Rai @ FD
T: +971 4 332 8832
Marcus.pepperell@fd.com / vadia.rai@fd.com
Steve Wellard / Sarah-Jane Purvis (Europe, Middle East, Africa)
T: +44 (20) 7531-0755 / 0766
steve.wellard@cfainstitute.org / sarahjane.purvis@cfainstitute.org
© Press Release 2010
