Signing of MoU

FTKMC Partners with IGNOU to Promote Education in Financial Markets

Collaboration with the Open University is a nationwide initiative to spread knowledge on financial markets

In a step towards addressing the growing needs of the financial markets, FTKMC has entered into an alliance with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in promoting nationwide education in financial markets.

To this effect, an MoU was signed between FTKMC and IGNOU in Mumbai to conduct a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Markets Practice through its distance education programme. The MOU was signed by Mr Jignesh Shah, Chairman and Group CEO, Financial Technologies (India) Limited, and Mr Udai Singh Tolia, Registrar IGNOU, in the presence of Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU.

This diploma is a unique programme that provides a rich combination of knowledge and practice in financial markets, covering major market segments such as equities, derivatives, commodities, currencies, and bonds. The programme will focus on practical aspects and is geared to equip the students with increased opportunities for employment and professional enrichment.

FTKMC will be the content provider for the course, and IGNOU will deliver the programme through face mode coupled with Open Distance Learning (ODL) component. The programme will commence in January 2010. It has five courses: Equity Markets, Derivative Markets, Commodity Markets, Currency and Bond Markets, and Professional Practice in Financial Markets. This diploma programme is designed by a group of experts drawn from FTKMC, IGNOU, Institute of Financial Market Research (Chennai), Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore), Religare Securities, and independent professionals.

The MoU Signing event was held at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, on May 4, 2009. Dr Bandi Ram Prasad, President, FTKMC, gave the introductory speech. Other dignitaries included Dr S. Narayan, Former Secretary, Finance, Government of India, who spoke on the Importance of Financial Education; Mr Joseph Massey, Managing Director, MCX, who briefed on New Generation Exchanges and Promotion of Financial Education; Mr Udai Singh Tolia, Registrar, IGNOU, who gave a synopsis on IGNOU and Innovations in Distance Education; Prof Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, who was the chief guest, summarized the Importance of Financial Education in India; and Mr Jignesh Shah. Group Chairman and CEO, Financial Technologies, gave a detailed description on FT Group’s Knowledge Initiatives and Innovations in Developing Financial Markets.

Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, said, “IGNOU is pleased to collaborate with the Financial Technologies Group to spread education and knowledge on financial markets through our nationwide network. The coming together of the two institutions will mark a major step in expanding the reach and access of the education and knowledge on financial markets to scores of students and professionals across the country in an effective and affordable manner. Given the rapid growth of the financial sector in India, this endeavour would be of great significance in developing expertise and skill-sets that would further strengthen and sustain its pace of growth.”

Jignesh Shah, Chairman and Group CEO, Financial Technologies (India) Limited, said, “The Financial Technologies Group has strong commitment to develop education and knowledge on financial markets nationwide and provide easy and affordable access to students and professionals across the country. In this endeavour, we are happy and privileged to partner with IGNOU, which enjoys the unique distinction of being a pioneering facility for distance education in the world.”

For details, please contact: knowledgeformarkets@ftkmc.com