Field project in financial markets and services

Course content

The course will involve:

Three introduction sessions: scope, group composition, topic allocation, planning, keynote lectures from invited experts (in February)
One session dedicated to the ALM business game: introduction, ALM simulations, guidelines for lessons learned report (in principle in March)
Group work leading to the submission of the topic group report (mid February - mid April) by mid April
Four to five interactive presentation and discussion sessions with fellow students and professors, starting mid April till mid May

The attendance to the sessions is compulsory

This course contributes to the Sustainable Finance pedagogical pathway of the Sustainable Development initiative that seek to provide an integrated training in sustainability.

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

The purpose of the Field Project is for the students to research, to analyse, to write a report on, to present and to discuss a specific topic relating to financial markets and services. Students are expected to connect with professionals in the financial industry as they would in a professional environment, such as in a corporation or in a consulting firm.

In addition, students will experiment the asset and liability management (ALM) of a bank using an ALM simulation business game.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The students will experiment managing a project as if they were operating within a company.

Together with the Professor and selected professionals per topic (the students' "clients"), the students will lead an initial discussion to define the scope of the field project and to set out the expectations in terms of both “end product” and interim deliverables, as well as the planning. Students will then have to organise themselves as part of a team to achieve these objectives by the set deadlines. As for any 5 credit course, students are expected to dedicate at least 120 hours each to the field project (ie 15 man-days).

The end product will have two components: the production of a final report and the presentation of this report to the entire class, like a business presentation in front of clients and colleagues. Students will therefore have to be ready for questions from other students as well from the Professor.

Students will work in teams, each of which on a different field project or on a different facet of a given project.

Contribution to the teaching profile

LO 1.1 Integrate sustainable development into problem analysis
LO 1.2 Identify and apply the relevant analytical tools and scientific knowledge to analyse an economic problem in depth
LO 1.3 Articulate key macro and sector-specific facts and economic trends and their drivers in terms of business practice
LO 1.4 Thorough and critical understanding of the workings, benefits and limits of markets, as well as regulatory approaches.
LO 2.1 Adopt a scientific approach to data collection, research and analysis and communicate results with clear, structured and sophisticated arguments.
LO 2.2 Display critical thinking and develop autonomous learning strategies and techniques LG3 Analytical skills
LO 3.1 Apply quantitative and qualitative techniques to support analysis using data with standard office and statistical software
LO 4.1 Work and communicate effectively as part of a team in an international and multicultural environment
LO 4.2 Demonstrate a strong work ethic

Other information

Contacts

Bernard Nicolay
Bernard Nicolay | LinkedIn

bernard.nicolay@ulb.be

0473 71 47 87

Campus

Solbosch

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

Other

Other

Students will have to demonstrate their analysis, synthesis and presentation skills in formulating and presenting a topic. In their report and presentation, they have to cover current and expected regulations, market oportunities and threats, options available and recommendations (e.g., overview of the literature with a view to identifying relevant options and criteria for selection between the various options).

Students are expected to attend all sessions and contribute to the collective learning.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Students will be graded on:

the quality and timeliness of their field project report, on their presentation and on their interaction with others, like a performance evaluation in a professional environment (80%)
their performance and reporting relating to the ALM business game (20%)

Language(s) of evaluation

english