UTAR and AICB sign MoU

From left: Prof Ewe, Prof Chuah, Tay, and Kristine

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 23 March 2016.

Signing on behalf of the parties were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik and AICB Chief Executive Officer Tay Kay Luan. It was witnessed by UTAR Vice-President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat and AICB Head of Marketing and Communications Kristine Anne Williams.

The MoU established a base for UTAR and AICB to have future collaborations in sharing leading practices, knowledge in banking trends, and developments through industry surveys, publications, and talks at conferences and seminars. Other future collaborations that were agreed on include sharing of experience in research, teaching applications and pedagogical materials. Besides, there will be exchange of information, through thought leadership activities such as forums and seminars.

The MoU showcased UTAR’s continuing effort to collaborate with industry partners so that its students are qualified and well trained to become employable talent upon graduation. Banking and Finance degree graduates with a GPA of 3.0 and above will have the opportunity to attain professional membership with the Executive Banker certification awarded by AICB. This is the first level of the Chartered Banker qualification.

Both parties will map out the syllabus for Banking and Finance degree to identify exemptions for UTAR’s students. Depending on the outcome of the mapping, students may be exempted from taking all three modules in the Professional Banker level or only need to complete one or two modules and sit for the examinations by AICB.

“I hope this will be a meaningful and active collaboration with AICB. We will help each other to ensure students are well trained for the banking and finance industry. We also envision that this MoU will serve as the platform where intellectual discussions and new breakthroughs and ways of doing things may be discovered and tested,” said Prof Chuah.

Tay said, “We advocate for high quality in education and the sharing of intellectual properties in the banking and financial services industry. As the professional body of choice for bankers, we aim to assist universities such as UTAR to produce graduates with quality exposure that are ready for employment. We look forward to a meaningful partnership not only in intellectual development but also in other areas which include research and transfer of knowledge. Together, we can promote high standards of education excellence in the banking and financial services industry.”

Furthermore, AICB has generously agreed to sponsor the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers Industry Award to top students of Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) Banking and Finance at the convocation ceremony of UTAR, in recognition of their achievements.