Business and finance students at Singapore’s Nanyang Polytechnic can acquire the internationally recognised Investment Administration Qualification following the recent strategic partnership between NYP and London-based Securities & Investment Institute, the organisations said.

The deal comes at a time when there remains a continuing shortage, in sectors such as wealth management, for skilled staff in the financial sector, notwithstanding the current financial turmoil.

Under this education collaboration, NYP will promote the qualification. Other SII qualifications available to NYP students under this agreement are the International Certificate in Investment Management and International Investment Administration Qualification.

SII IAQ modules like Global Securities Operations, Asset Servicing and Operational Risk will be covered in NYP’s new Diploma in Fund Management & Administration to be launched for the Academic Year 2009 and its current Diploma in Banking & Finance and Specialist Diploma in Fund Management & Administration.

“SII is the largest and most widely respected professional body for those who work in the securities and investment industry in the UK. It is the leading and progressive examining, training and membership body for the industry. NYP’s collaboration with SII ensures that we produce not only industry ready but also internationally recognized graduates. Such talent will be sought after by Singapore’s financial industry,” said Mr Chiang Kah Kee, Director of NYP’s School of Business Management.

Simon Culhane, chief executive of SII said: "I am very pleased that we are partnering with one of Singapore' s leading polytechnics to offer NYP graduates the opportunity to combine an academic award of excellence, with a highly regarded global vocational award from SII, which will increase their value and attraction to future employers. This is the first time in Asia, where a local Institution of Higher Learning has included a professional qualification as part of its core academic syllabus, responding to the needs of the industry for a job-ready pool of talents, and I congratulate NYP on its proactive market response.”