As they say, data is the new oil. Thus, companies are now launching their respective programs to prepare their workforce how to maximize the power of data.
Recently, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), SAS Philippines, and De La Salle University-Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business (DLSU RVR-COB) formed a troika to unveil a pioneering academe-industry program that aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to become future risk managers and data analysts.
“Through this program, BPI intends to share our best practices and thought leadership to future bankers and risk managers. Even if the MOU assumes an initial 12-month term, we hope to make this a sustainable academic investment for the long term,” BPI senior vice president and chief risk officer Ed Madrilejo said in a press statement.
Considered as a pioneering initiative in the Philippine banking industry, the Risk Management and Data Analytics Academy, or RMDA program, aims to keep students and professionals up-to-date, train, and enable them to manage various financial risks and to analyze relevant risk and financial data.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was recently signed at DLSU’s Henry Sy Sr. Hall, Taft Manila campus, by the three parties to formally announce the launching of the RMDA.
“SAS values the importance of education. As a company, we contribute in nation-building through analytics skills development of Filipino students and professors. We look forward to the success of this partnership with BPI and DLSU as we develop our country’s next generation data scientists,” Andy Zook, SAS VP and head for Asean said in a press statement.
RVR-COB dean Brian Gozun, who represented DLSU president Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC, said the university sees opportunities in the strategic partnership.
“As the financial industry is continually evolving, it is imperative that both DLSU students and faculty remain abreast with the trends in the profession. Teaming up with BPI and SAS, both leaders in their fields in this endeavor, facilitates the seamless transition of our students from the university to the real world. May this be the beginning of a successful partnership,” he said.
As the finance discipline continues to evolve into more risk-oriented with data-driven decision-making and focus, the RMDA program aims to facilitate a series of learning activities that will help promote awareness on bank risk management and data analytics for both students and faculty alike.
These activities include the SAS Enablement Workshop (for DLSU RVR-COB faculty), career talk/roadshows, and the BPI-SAS Risk and Data Analytics Certification Program (for DLSU students). Other activities for the rest of the year will comprise the BPI-SAS Research Paper Competition and the Risk Management and Data Analytics Summit.
