November 27, 2018
The student-run investment program showcases a community partnership between University of Victoria, BCI, and the CFA Society of Victoria.
Victoria, BC – Gaining real-world experience is crucial in the rapidly-changing world of management education, and the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria is leading the way with its student-run Applied Portfolio Management Program, with over $1 million in investment funds.
The Applied Portfolio Management Program is a collaboration between the University of Victoria, the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Victoria (CFASV), and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI). The program is centered around education, responsible investing, and experiential learning. As part of the program, students are responsible for managing a pool of money (with close industry and academic support, and oversight) while building tangible investment experience.
Since its inception last year, the program has grown rapidly through the generosity of Gustavson donors and the UVic Foundation. In addition, with the support of a client, BCI has allocated $500,000 for the students to manage within the client’s investment policy statement guidelines. The student portfolio managers, under the direction of the program’s Investment Advisory Committee, comprised of industry professionals and faculty members, now manage just over $1.1 million in investment funds.
“We are grateful for the support the program has received from the university and the financial community; and, together, we are excited to advance the program over the coming years”, said Jordie Hutchinson, program director. “Our goal is to provide students with investment education, hands-on experience and industry exposure, while simultaneously advancing the interests of our donors, our mentors, and the investment community.”
The CFASV and the CFA Institute (CFAI) provided initial funding and ongoing financial support to fund operating costs of the program during its initial critical years.
“CFASV and UVic have partnered to support this valuable initiative from idea to realization by launching the Applied Portfolio Management Program; building the Fund’s framework; and donating both time and financial support to ensure its continued success,” said Johann Kuntze, past president, CFASV. “We appreciate the collaborative efforts by UVic and the funding support by CFAI.”
Gustavson School of Business attributes the success of the program to community support.
“The remarkable expansion of the program has been possible due to the overwhelming support from our community partners, CFASV, our mentors, advisory committee, and donors.”, says Pat Elemans, assistant dean of the Gustavson School of Business. “We are lucky to have partners who identify with our philosophy of incorporating responsible investing into investment decisions.”
The collaboration with BCI and the CFASV is a logical continuation of the work Gustavson has been doing with its corporate and community partners for many years. The Gustavson leadership team ensures students are equipped with real-world industry experience they will need to succeed in the business world.
For more information, visit www.uvic.ca/gustavson.
About The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business
The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria is dedicated to providing a non-traditional business education and a dynamic learning environment that develops principled managers and leaders who can drive innovation and social change. Located in Victoria, BC at the University of Victoria, Gustavson is among the fewer than 0.5% of the world’s business schools that hold full accreditations from both AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System). The Gustavson School of Business offers BCom, MBA, MGB and PhD programs, has 95 international exchange partners, and celebrated its 25th birthday in 2015. For more information, visit www.uvic.ca/gustavson.
Media contacts:
Deepa Pillay, Beattie Tartan | 250-592-3838 or 250-619-7110 | deepa.pillay@beattiegroup.com
Krista Boehnert, Gustavson School of Business | 250-721-6630 | boehnert@uvic.ca