Empowering Students and Fostering Diversity: Our Work with Anglia Ruskin University

In late 2020, Citisoft launched the EMEA Insights Programme with the goal of familiarising university students with the investment industry through research projects. This initiative was our response to the industry-wide push for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Over the last three years, we have provided opportunities for over 80 undergraduate students, who may not have been previously familiar with the asset management field, to explore potential careers in this sector.

This autumn, we were honoured to deliver a series of lectures to almost 60 undergraduate and postgraduate students at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) on the "Fundamentals of Investment Management."

This lecture series was part of the ARU Certificate for Professional Development programme.

The Fundamentals of Investment Management

From Enterprise Technology and Operations to Data Management and ESG, each session was led by a Citisoft expert and focused on building knowledge around specific domains as well as topics effecting change across the industry. Our sessions were designed so that students could gain exposure to real-world scenarios and industry practices. Running alongside these sessions was a research project, where groups were tasked with "managing £1 million investment over the course of four weeks."

The elements of the module, coupled with learning directly from Citisoft experts, empowered students to bridge the gap between theory and practice, a skill essential for a successful career in the financial services sector.

Dr Daniel Berger, the Deputy Dean for Education in the Faculty of Business and Law, emphasised the importance of supporting students' skills development. He stated, "Our ARUCPD programme is tailor-made to prepare students for the workplace even before they graduate, across a range of fields. We're dedicated to designing modules that not only expand students' knowledge beyond their core curriculum but also help them develop essential technical and baseline skills and knowledge needed in the professional world. That's why modules covering specialised topics like Investment Management are integral to our approach."

Expanding on this, Kate Summally, the ARU Certificate for Professional Development Lead, said, "In the Faculty of Business and Law, we see a strong interest among our students in the competitive finance and investment sector. Having Citisoft experts running the ARUCPD module lectures was extremely valuable and was met with a very enthusiastic response from the students. This unique opportunity allowed them to directly connect their learning to their future careers, engage with experts, including Citisoft senior management, and foster meaningful networking opportunities.

The module proved to be a hit among students pursuing Accounting, Finance, MBA/MBA Fintech courses, as well as fields like Law, International Business, and Supply Chain Management. Through collaborative group work, students formed diverse teams, addressing investment challenges and drawing upon each other's expertise to develop and present investment strategies, mirroring the dynamics of a professional workplace.

Kate also shared that the feedback received from students so far has been overwhelmingly supportive, with participants citing the module's positive impact on their skillset and the significant value it brought to their CVs. Students pointed out that they enjoyed working in groups and learning from real-life examples that Citisoft experts brought into the virtual classroom.

Our partnership with ARU is an example of how industry and academia can come together to benefit students, strengthen diversity and inclusion, and create a bridge between classroom education and real-world practice. Through the EMEA Insights Programme and Citisoft Scholars Program, we're proud to support educational access and to help foster diversity in financial services.

About Citisoft

Citisoft is a global consulting firm dedicated to servicing the investment management industry. Our staff and management bring credibility and hands-on knowledge to every facet of our client relationships, backed by a history of successful partnerships with leading investment management firms and industry service providers. With our deep understanding of all aspects of the investment management process, our clients benefit from our ability to identify industry trends and accurately assess their effects. Through our Advisory and Delivery services, we offer a full complement of consulting capabilities ranging from strategy formation through guiding and implementing successful business change.

About Anglia Ruskin University

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

ARU's research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK's Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world-leading.

We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK's leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

In 2021, we were awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for our world-leading music therapy work, and in particular for how our research has directly enhanced care for people living with dementia.

For more press information from ARU, please contact:

Jon Green on t: +44 7766 070 693, e: jon.green@aru.ac.uk

Jamie Forsyth on t: +44 7766 070 751, e: jamie.forsyth@aru.ac.uk