China Financial Futures Exchange Program

From the Februrary 13th press release (http://newsroom.depaul.edu/newsreleases/showNews.aspx?NID=2416)

DePaul University Offers Program for Chinese Financial Futures Executives

DePaul University’s College of Business is partnering with the China Financial Futures Exchange (CFFEX) in Shanghai to provide an innovative financial markets program to train their executives and mid-level managers about financial markets, including derivatives trading, risk management and regulation.

As part of the 12-week program, about a dozen executives will travel to DePaul’s well-respected business school in downtown Chicago, near the city’s financial district, to study finance from March to May 2012. The program is expected to strengthen ties between the state of Illinois and China and heighten Chinese awareness of Illinois as a place to do business.

“This program is another example of DePaul’s long history of serving international business professionals through educational programs that focus on practical engagement and the needs of the market,” said Ali Fatemi, chair of the finance department in the College of Business. “Programs like these are possible because of DePaul’s extensive global connections in the financial world. DePaul plans to explore additional ambitious initiatives, including degree-granting programs.”

The program will prepare graduates to participate in the future growth of China’s domestic and international financial and derivatives markets. Class content will integrate theory and practice, with more than half of the course consisting of presentations by leading professionals in the trading and risk management industry.

Program participants will gain a thorough knowledge of how the U.S. financial markets function, including the opportunity to view markets in real time. Program content will include coursework in capital markets, trading, foreign exchange, risk management and financial engineering, financial market regulation, U.S. macroeconomic factors, exchange operations, and applied finance.

On-site visits to Chicago securities exchanges and financial institutions will complement classroom lecture and discussion. Classes will take place at DePaul’s Loop Campus as well as Chicago Board Options Exchange, the CME Group, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and various Chicago financial institutions.

Ray Whittington, dean of the College of Business, said, “Over the years, DePaul’s College of Business has become a force in international finance education by providing a wide variety of tailored programs for finance officials as well as degree programs with international academic and corporate partners.

“DePaul prepares graduates and professionals to work, succeed and contribute to the global community. Its foundation of respected academics and real-world knowledge is balanced with the urban and multicultural experiences of Chicago,” Whittington said.

DePaul has a number of existing and proposed programs with China throughout the institution, including study abroad, faculty exchange, Chinese language studies, moot court competitions and conferences held in China. Many recent alumni of the Chinese studies program currently live in China, while 349 students of Chinese descent are studying at DePaul’s College of Business.

“Given DePaul’s expertise in educating international professionals in the theory and practice of risk management, and the fact that China is a rising power in the risk management and futures market, it makes sense to make our expertise available to CFFEX,” said J.D. Bindenagel, vice president of the Office of Community, Government and International Affairs at DePaul University.