Continuing Education
Interview with François Duc and Frédéric Ruiz, co-directors of the new HEG-ISFB continuing education program.
Last September, the HEG Management Board and the ISFB Management Board announced the joint launch of a comprehensive continuing education program in banking and finance. Find out more about the first certificate program (CAS), which starts next March, in an interview with the program's co-directors.
Last September, the ISFB and HEG-Geneva signed a strategic partnership agreement to set up a comprehensive training program for banks in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. As co-directors of this program, can you tell us more about it?
François Duc: This strategic partnership between HEG-Genève and ISFB marks a significant step forward in the evolution of continuing education in the banking sector. The HEG-Geneva, recognized as a key player in applied management, notably through its Bachelor HES Banking & Finance Orientation, unique in French-speaking Switzerland, has joined forces with the ISFB, the Competence and Career Center for banks in French-speaking Switzerland, to offer a portfolio of high-level programs, comprising 4 CAS and 2 DAS, aligned to meet current requirements and anticipate future developments in the financial marketplace.
Frédéric Ruiz: The public-private partnership between HEG-Geneva and ISFB fuses academic expertise with the relevance and applicability of training delivered by professionals who are leading experts in their field. Our programs target banking professionals aspiring to develop their skills and responsibilities, both vertically and horizontally. Each CAS explores a specific area of the banking sector, from internal organization (CAS in Operations Management in Financial Services) and strategic resource management (CAS in Strategic Management in Financial Services), to external relations (CAS in Marketing and Communication in Financial Services), to the financial product itself (CAS in Finance and Investments). Together, these courses offer a global and integrated vision, adapted to the evolving needs of the financial marketplace.
The CAS in Operations Management in Financial Services starts in March. What topics will be covered and how long will the program last?
François Duc: The program, which lasts 12 days of face-to-face classes enriched by in-depth personal work, offers an immersion in the management and internal organization of banks. It covers a wide range of topics, including risk management, operational efficiency, the integration of advanced technologies and strategic issues.
Frédéric Ruiz: This CAS offers an in-depth exploration of the internal workings of banks. It covers fundamental topics such as risk management and financial planning, while incorporating innovative and current themes. The latter include emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, as well as strategic aspects such as digital decision analysis and innovation. The program also covers topics specific to banking operations, such as outsourcing and information security, enabling a holistic and contemporary perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the financial services sector.
What's so special about this program?
Frédéric Ruiz: A major asset of this program is its teaching staff, made up of experts in the field who are both active and senior in their specialist fields. This approach ensures that each course is not only theoretical but also directly applicable in a professional context. Participants benefit from concrete perspectives and practical tools to meet the current challenges of the banking sector. This program is complementary to ISFB's continuing education offering, and is designed for experts aiming for managerial positions. It is also characterized by a greater personal workload than the short continuing education courses offered at our Institute. This course is an excellent complement for holders of the ISFB Private Banking Certificate or the ISFB Retail & Corporate Banking Certificate.
François Duc: Indeed, a key element of our training courses lies in the emphasis placed on interaction between participants and lecturers, but also in the diversity of participants' professional profiles, including holders of Bachelor HES, university and/or ISFB Certificates in Private Banking or Retail & Corporate Banking. The alternation of training locations enriches the learning experience and offers immersion in the HEG-Geneva and ISFB ecosystems. Above all, this program draws its strength from the academic excellence and innovation of HEG-Geneva, a member of HES-SO, Switzerland's largest university of applied sciences, combined with the distinctive professional roots of ISFB's banking courses and the strength of its network throughout French-speaking Switzerland.
HEG - ISFB continuing education program
"A key element of our training courses lies in the emphasis on interaction between participants and lecturers, but also in the diversity of the participants' professional profiles, including holders of Bachelor HES, university and/or ISFB Certificates in Private Banking or Retail & Corporate Banking."
"Our programs target banking professionals aspiring to develop their skills and responsibilities, both vertically and horizontally."
Frédéric Ruiz, ISFBStrategic Business Area 4
Network reach
As a professional association, the ISFB operates within an ecosystem made up of numerous stakeholders: on the one hand, member institutions, their employees and the general public interested in banking and finance; and on the other, public and private players, training centers and universities, involved in initial or continuing training, career development and advice. What they all have in common is that they are active in the management of banking and financial skills.