Partners

As a world-leading financial centre, Switzerland has the ambition to house a world-leading research and training center in banking and finance. In pursuit of this ambition the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) has invested in the creation of the Swiss Finance Institute, a foundation with the sole purpose of achieving excellence in banking and finance continuing education and research.

SFI’s global academic network and its proximity to the industry place it in a unique position from which to combine thought leadership and industry experience:

• SFI attracts leading minds in finance research to Swiss universities, uniting outstanding professors and doctoral students to form Switzerland’s largest finance research group, making top research easily accessible to the industry.
• Through its continuing education programs, SFI nurtures a highly qualified talent pool in banking and finance. From programs for industry ‘high-potentials’ and senior executives to doctoral training, SFI raises the level of financial competencies in Switzerland.
• In an ongoing dialogue between experienced practitioners and researchers, SFI fosters interaction and stimulates thought leadership, which directly impact the future of finance.

Activities

• Research
• PhD Program
• Knowldge Transfer
• Continuing Education

The Center for Risk Management at Lausanne (CRML) based at HEC Lausanne within UNIL focuses on risk management and quantitative methods. The main objective of the Center is to carry out internationally competitive research and to translate breakthroughs into ideas that are implemented in the local and global industry as well as by the regulator and central banks.

The Center needs support for the improvement of this website and the methodologies behind it. We seek partnerships with the financial industry, the regulators, or the media to further promote risk measurement. 

For the moment, the Center focuses on systemic risk measures in the banking industry, but it plans to diversify toward new fields.

The center facilitates the creation of startups in financial technology (Fintech). It brings together faculty from the Department of Finance, students in the MSc in Finance programs at HEC Lausanne, industry experts, and venture capitalists. It was created in 2017 as part of the reorganization of the MSc in Finance. It measures its success by the entrepreneurial spirit and startup activity created by our students through the interaction of various players in the Swiss VC sphere. The INFINTY center is located in the Extranef building.

Le CEDIF est un centre de documentation informatisé qui offre à la communauté universitaire (UNIL) et à ses utilisateurs de nombreux instruments permettant de se familiariser avec les données économiques et financières. Il donne accès à des bases de données économiques et financières parmi les plus répandues sur les marchés financiers. 

Avec une pratique de plus de 27 ans, le CEDIF est devenu une ressource indispensable pour les chercheurs et étudiants d’HEC.

Les données économiques et financières proviennent des bases de données les plus répandues telles que Datastream, Compustat et Thomson-Reuters. Depuis le début 2009, il est possible d’accéder, selon certaines restrictions, à des bases de données supplémentaires à travers Wharton Research Data Services. Ces données sont mises à disposition des étudiants et des chercheurs d’HEC.

HEC Lausanne MSc in Finance has been recognized by CFA Institute as CFA Program Partner. Being a CFA Program partner gives a strong indication of the close ties between HEC Lausanne and the industry. This CFA Program Partnership emphasises the quality of our MScF specialized in financial engineering and risk management and its relevance to business.

CFA Program is highly recognised and sets the standards by which investment professionals are measured. Despite challenging economic conditions, more than 44,000 individuals around the world took the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) Program Level I exam in December 2009 and 34% of the candidates were successful. The exam was offered at 92 test centers in 55 cities in 31 countries worldwide including in Zurich. This data both illustrates the desirability to earn the CFA Charter and the lack of preparation of the failing candidates. Candidates who do not devote sufficient time to prepare the exams and who neglect the importance of the Learning Objectives, outlined for each chapter in the CFA readings, are asking to fail.

The CFA certification requires candidates to self-study the program that combines a broad and general investment management curriculum. Candidates must pass the three levels to earn the CFA Charter. Level 1 focuses on the basics of financial knowledge and is entirely based on multiple choice questions. Level 2 concentrates more on analysis and valuation whilst level 3 is more focused on synthesis, i.e. portfolio management. 

The curriculum changes each year to meet the dynamic nature and complexity of the global investment profession. On average, successful CFA candidates take four years to pass the three required exams. Level I exams are held in June and December. Levels II and III are only held in June.

Through the CFA Program Partnership with CFA Institute HEC Lausanne is in a position to offer five scholarships per year to MScF students. Students interested in sitting level 1 are required to fill out the Scholarship Verification Form that must be signed by the program director and returned to CFA Institute. Enrolment fees are waived and scholarship students will only pay a portion of the exam registration. Applicants can also apply for scholarship from their respective country's CFA society.

The presentation ended on a bright note with the students getting many valuable tips to prepare for the CFA exams and a much more detailed insight about the certification.

Further information on CFA Institute can be found here

The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association (CAIA) is an independent, not-for-profit global organization committed to education and professionalism in the field of alternative investments. Founded in 2002, the Association is the sponsoring body for the CAIA designation. Recognized worldwide, the designation certifies one's mastery of the concepts, tools, and practices essential for understanding alternative investments and promotes adherence to high standards of professional conduct.

From Switzerland to San Francisco, from London to Hong Kong, CAIA designees are sharing their expertise with the world. As charter holders, CAIA members have demonstrated a mastery of alternative investments by achieving the only globally recognized designation for AI expertise.

The CAIA Association currently has 12 global chapters that meet regularly to discuss industry developments and strengthen connections among AI professionals. Today, CAIA members represent more than 4,200 individuals from 67 countries throughout the world.

The Association recently established the CAIA Academic Partnership Program. In September 2010, HEC Lausanne became the first European academic partner (second wordwide). HEC Lausanne was selected for its academic programs’ relevance. The partnership recognizes in particular the MScF program which incorporates at least 60% of the CAIA curriculum. This partnership reflects the commitment from the school to best prepare its students for a career in the rapidly changing financial industry and to address the industry’s growing demand in the area of alternative investments.

The CAIA curriculum provides investment industry participants with an understanding of the risk-return attributes of alternative investments and their role in the asset allocation process. It is designed to teach candidates how to analyze and evaluate investments in hedge funds, private equity, real estate, managed futures, and real assets, and how to construct portfolios comprised of both traditional and alternative assets. Under the CAIA Academic Partnership Program, academic partners are required to cover at least 60 percent of the CAIA curriculum. Students interested in earning the CAIA designation will be required to sit for the CAIA Level I and Level II examinations.

Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)

GARP is a not-for-profit global membership organization dedicated to preparing professionals and organizations to make better-informed risk decisions. Membership represents more than 150,000 professionals from banks, investment management firms, government agencies and academic institutions. GARP administers the Financial Risk Manager (FRM®) and Energy Risk Professional (ERP®) exams; certifications recognized by risk professionals worldwide. HEC Lausanne is registered with GARP as an Approved Provider of continuing professional education credits for FRMs and ERPs. Visit: Academic partnerships at garp

The FRM Exam, offered by the Global Association of Risk Professional (GARP), is a practice-oriented exam designed to assess a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the skills necessary to function effectively as a financial risk manager.  The FRM Exam is updated annually and designed by a group of distinguished risk professionals and academics with diverse backgrounds.  In preparing for the FRM Exam, you will gain the practical knowledge necessary to succeed as a financial risk manager.

Achieving FRM certification provides you with a career-long way to expand your professional opportunities.  You will become part of a network of FRMs in over 100 countries.  Moreover, employers know that FRMs have the relevant knowledge with which to anticipate, respond and adapt to critical issues, providing them with an edge in their career and professional development.