To excel in the field of of finance, it is essential to have strong hold over analysis and smart decision making, combined with a blend of financial know-how. Students of Finance majors, however, are usually limited to their books and information learned in class.
Until 2015, students in Bangladesh did not have a platform to display their financial knowledge outside classrooms. North South University (NSU) Finance Club established ‘Blueprints’, targeting undergraduate students by providing them with the opportunity to get a taste of real-world finance. Participants were placed in the shoes of finance professionals. They were asked to evaluate company financial statements and also an entrepreneurial investment decision. Comprehensive workshops for every round were hosted by professionals from financial institutions. Candidates were taught how to approach the given cases. And the idea has only developed with time.
This year, NSU Finance Club has launched the third session of its national financial modelling competition in Bangladesh for the undergraduate students, 'Alliance Capital Presents BLUEPRINTS 3.0'. The competition is co-presented by IFIC Bank and VISA Centre.
The format of this competition is designed not only to assess but also to increase the knowledge of financial modelling, analysis and decision making among its participants, tapping into the vast potential of numerous aspiring finance professionals of the country.
The organisers believe that the inauguration of financial modelling is an inevitable skill for future finance professionals and a great way to teach this skill effectively by creating a challenging environment. The competition aims to enrich the future of the financial services industry with skilled and competent pool of professionals.
This is an inter-university competition divided into three rounds. There will be workshop before each phase of competition. These workshops, besides introducing participants to financial modelling, will also cover detailed instruction on how to utilise the resources provided - including templets to work on - and help to bring out the participants' analysing prowess.
Prize money of Tk 200,000 is to be awarded to the winning team of the competition. The first and second runners-up will get Tk 100,000 and Tk 50,000 respectively. The registration fee is Tk 1,200 only. The registration has already started and will remain open until November 23, 2017. Participants can register offline from booth at NSU or through affiliated clubs of different universities and online through bKash. The team must consist of three to four undergrad students of the same university.
To stay updated about the competition, readers may visit Facebook page: Alliance Capital Presents Blueprints 3.0.
The writer is currently studying at North South University, email: shafquat.jawad@northsouth.edu