Degree Wins High Level Support

A University of Ulster degree tailored to specialist needs in financial services has been given a stamp of approval by First Derivatives plc, a leading Northern Ireland software and consultancy provider to global financial institutions.

Academics say the innovative BSc Financial Engineering course is "a classic mix of technology and business skills" that are required by firms offering specialised products and consultancy to worldwide capital markets.

First Derivatives, which last month announced a major expansion plan at its Newry headquarters, has been so impressed with the new degree's focused skills provision that closer involvement in the course's development may be on the cards.

Following meetings that were facilitated by Professor Gerard Parr, Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Ulster, First Derivatives has just announced it will sponsor a number of prizes for students who excel in aspects of the programme and discussions are underway on possible further collaboration with the course.

That could open up opportunities for student industrial placements, student projects, course sponsorship and job opportunities for graduates of the Financial Engineering programme.

Martin McKinney, Head of the School of Computing and Information Engineering at the Coleraine campus, said: "This is a niche undergraduate course that is directly relevant to the needs of industry and the local economy.

"In the context of Northern Ireland, there are approximately one thousand graduate job opportunities and there is a real need to develop University courses that respond directly to the specialist skills required by the industry going forward.

"We are particularly encouraged by the efforts of Invest Northern Ireland to grow this sector as evidenced by the continued success and expansion of local companies such as First Derivatives," he continued.

Shane Mulholland, Business Development Manager at First Derivatives in Newry stated: "It is important that we become more closely involved with Universities such as Ulster in identifying and advising them of the skills we require to grow our business.

"The blend of topics on this course is very closely aligned to our existing and future skills needs. As such, we are delighted to be able to reward excellence within the course through these student prizes.

"Indeed, we see this as the first step in becoming more closely involved in the development and promotion of this course for our mutual benefit."

(BMcC/GK)