The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, sponsor of the only globally recognised designation for alternative investment expertise, has entered an academic partnership with Cass Business School, which is part of City University London to prepare graduate students for careers encompassing alternative investments.
Through the partnership, Cass MSc in Investment Management students will have access to courses that cover 60 percent of the material required to earn the CAIA designation. In addition, students and faculty will have the opportunity to apply for CAIA exam scholarships.
"Cass Business School’s partnership with the CAIA Association is a great advantage to our students as they prepare for careers in the finance industry," says Steve Haberman (pictured), Director and Deputy Dean, Cass Business School. "The program of study gives them a firm grounding in alternative investments, which helps students distinguish themselves with recruiters."
Dr Nick Motson, Cass faculty sponsor of the academic partnership, says the coursework also allows students to start the process of earning the globally recognised professional designation before they graduate. "Since Cass covers 60 percent of the CAIA curriculum in its Investment Management classes, study time is reduced for students who want to prepare for the CAIA Level I exam," he says.
Caroline Bault, Managing Director of Global Business Development, CAIA Association, says: "Cass Business School and the CAIA Association share a commitment to the highest standards in education. As the sponsor of the only educational standard uniquely designed for individuals specialising in alternative investments, we are pleased to partner with Cass, one of the elite business schools not just in the UK, but in the world."
Cass holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).
The CAIA curriculum covers five core areas of alternative investments: hedge funds, managed futures, private equity, commodities, and real assets. To earn the CAIA designation, qualified candidates must pass the rigorous CAIA Level I and Level II exams, which are given twice a year, in March and September, at proctored centers across the globe. Through the CAIA Academic Partnership Program, Cass professors who have earned the CAIA designation may nominate students for Level I exam scholarships. A separate CAIA scholarship program is also available for Cass professors.
Founded in 2002, the CAIA Association is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated exclusively to excellence in alternative investments, and is the sponsoring body for the only globally-recognised designation for alternative investment expertise. The CAIA designation demonstrates mastery of alternative investment concepts, tools, and practices, and promotes adherence to the highest standards of professional conduct.
Sir John Cass Business School, City University London, is based in the heart of London’s financial district where many Cass students move on to positions in firms every year. The school offers 17 masters programs, including full-time and part-time study options, and attracts students from more than 100 countries worldwide.
The primary link with the CAIA Association is with the specialist MSc in Investment Management, which covers 60% of the CAIA curriculum. Students acquire a sound knowledge of the theoretical foundations that underpin modern investment and risk management techniques. The practical aspect is delivered with extensive input from City of London institutions. Over a 12-month period students cover the traditional syllabus of a general master’s degree in finance and develop extensive expertise in a range of specialised areas such as the management of equity and bond portfolios; trading techniques; asset-liability management; risk management; alternative investments; and venture capital and management of foreign exchange.
