Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Bell and Farry open new Financial Innovation Laboratory at Ulster University Business School
Enterprise Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell and Employment and
Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry have officially opened the new CME
Group Financial Innovation Laboratory at Ulster University.
The laboratory, resulting from a strategic partnership between the Ulster
University Business School, CME Group Foundation (the charitable arm of the
CME Group) and Invest Northern Ireland, will house the most technologically
advanced software to provide students and visitors with hands-on experience
of a dynamic trading environment, comparable to an investment bank.
The total cost of the project is £237,000. CME Group Foundation will donate
US$175,000 over two years and Invest Northern Ireland has offered
assistance of £30,000 to the project over a three year period.
Welcoming the new financial innovation laboratory Jonathan Bell said: “The
establishment of the CME Group Financial Innovation Laboratory is a very
positive announcement for the Ulster University Business School and for
Northern Ireland’s fintech sector.
“Focusing on real world financial technology, the laboratory will provide
students with exposure to state of the art financial software and give them
access to the expertise of leading industry, which will help to produce
graduates with high level analytical skills. This will be extremely
valuable to the sector as a whole.
“The new laboratory is an excellent example of how universities, government
and the private sector can work together to develop solutions that will
meet the future needs of our existing businesses and potential investors.”
Dr Stephen Farry said: “The launch of the CME Group Financial Innovation
Laboratory is an excellent example of collaboration between business,
academia and government to meet the future skills requirements of our local
economy. I commend Ulster University Business School, CME Group Foundation
and Invest NI on their considerable contribution to the development of the
laboratory.
“The ‘fintech’ sector is key to the continued growth of our economy and I
will continue to ensure the skills needs of the sector are met. My
Department has recently launched a Financial Services Academy through the
Assured Skills initiative and the Ulster University Business School’s new
Laboratory will be central to the delivery of the Academy training
programme.”
The Ulster University Business School has been developing links and working
alongside CME Group since its establishment in Belfast in 2012. With its
focus on financial related technology CME Group experts have provided
invaluable advice and guidance on the set-up of the new laboratory. In
parallel the CME Group Foundation, which shares a strong community ethos
with the Business School with a particular interest in helping students to
prepare for careers in financial services industries, has provided
significant investment to create, support and progress the facility.
Jim Oliff, CME Group Foundation Chairman, said: “We are very pleased to
make CME Group Foundation’s first grant outside of the United States to
support the establishment and operation of a Financial Innovation Lab and
Financial Services Academy with the Ulster University Business School.
Innovation is a hallmark of CME Group Foundation, and this initiative will
help educate the next generation of innovative youth in Belfast to prepare
them to join the global financial services industry.”
Alison Hamilton, Head of CME Group’s Belfast office, said: “This
partnership is the latest example of CME Group’s commitment to the local
community and helps address a critical need for sustainable economic
opportunities in Northern Ireland. CME Group is an active employer in
Belfast. Through this Academy, we look forward to helping equip
participants with a recognisable qualification outside of their current
skillset, thereby continuing to develop local talent.”
Professor Paddy Nixon, Vice Chancellor of Ulster University said: "CME
Group is an influential international presence in the financial services
sector. Its role in this new centre and partnership with Ulster University
is an endorsement of our commitment to the development of industry ready
skills that deliver mutual benefits to students and a rapidly growing
global industry."