BNP Paribas and French academic institute HEC Business School have established a BNP Paribas Hedge Fund Centre. The centre will offer a varied programme of courses: three days of continuous training for investors and executives, a course on alternative investment management as part of the MBA and a course as part of the Master in Finance. The HEC Centre will also organise seminars and symposiums at which the results of research and discussions between executives and academics will be presented to a broader public. Earlier, BNP Paribas set up similar centres at the London Business School in 2001 and at the Singapore Management University in 2006. The roles of the three hedge fund centres vary depending on their host universities and their researchers. In London, the centre focuses on fundamental research in pricing and investment strategies. In Singapore, the centre carries out more specific studies on industry, the role and features of Asian hedge funds. Finally in Paris, the centre will focus on the business model of hedge funds, their management structure and the strategic issues affecting them. Alain Papiasse, manager of the BNP Paribas Asset Management and Services division, said: "Our loyal support for BNP Paribas Hedge Fund Centres underlines the growing involvement of several AMS business lines in the operation of hedge funds, ranging from BNP Paribas Investment Partners to BNP Paribas Securities Services, including of course Private Banking. Furthermore, given that we already support HEC in other areas, we considered it the best location for setting up this Centre."