CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals with highest standards of ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. CFA Institute has more than 120,000 members in 143 countries, including more than 115,000 CFA charterholders, and 143 member societies.
With CFA Institute’s goal to create a strong global community of investment professionals, CFA Institute conducted a yearly competition… The CFA Institute Research Challenge.
CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training and financial analysis where students gain real-world experience as they assume the role of a research analyst and being tested on their ability to value a stock, write an initiation-of-coverage reporase, and present recommendations. All participants were observed to practice ethics and professional standards. Points were awarded to teams on the based on their investment case, poise and ability to answer judges’ questions.
This year, with more than 3,700 students from over 800 universities, our representative, University of the Philippines Diliman, bagged the top spot with their chosen subject entry “MERALCO” for the CFA Institute Research Challenge Global Final, beating out other strong finalists like Politecnico di Milano Italy (representing Europe, Middle East and Africa) and University of Missouri, Kansas City(representing USA).
Winning the CFA Institute Research Challenge Global Final this year gave UP Diliman distinction of the only university to win the Global Final twice. UP Diliman already won the Global Final in 2010. The UP Diliman team was awarded USD$10,000 grant for the university and each team member receives a scholarship for the CFA Program.
“We are very honored to share this achievement with the Philippine finance community. Our rigorous preparation every step of the way has helped us learn what it takes to excel in the finance profession. Financial skills are important, but so too is adherence to the highest ethical standards,” says Professor Daniel Vincent Borja.
“The UP Diliman team has proven again to be solid representatives of the future of our industry,” says April Lynn Tan, CFA, president of CFA Society Philippines. “The team’s victory is an impressive feat as over 800 universities worldwide vied to make it to the finals and brings great honor to our country. We thank the team’s mentor and teachers who guided the team toward success. These aspiring financial professionals are the agents of the next era of finance – one of integrity, stewardship, and professional excellence. Through their strong leadership, knowledge, and ethics, we can move closer toward a more trustworthy finance industry.”
Mr. Hans B. Sicat, President and CEO of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) said, “The PSE is committed to providing continuing education to market participants and investors. As such, it commends the CFA Institute for its efforts in supporting the development of the next generation of financial professionals through the Research Challenge. The future of investment research looks even better when students are exposed to the excellence and ethical standards observed by CFA charterholders, and the team from the UP Diliman is to be congratulated for being the best in the field.”
CONGRATULATIONS UP DILIMAN TEAM for winning the CFA Institute Research Challenge Global!
UP Team: Geoffrey Archangel Bautista, Diego Mikhail Ocampo, Corrine Francesca Reyes, Nigel Williamson Lee and Miguel Alfonso Solidum.
For more information about CFA Institute and CFA Research Institute Research Challenge , please visit www.cfainstitute.org, www.cfainstitute.org/community/challenge/about/Pages/index.aspx
