MSc Banking and Risk Student Conference | Professional Development

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6 March 2017

The inaugural conference played host to high-ranking and well-known guest speakers. Their presentations were both informative and inspiring.

The conference, titled MSc Banking and Risk Conference: How Technology Will Change (even more) the Financial Sector, took place on 24 February. The number of registered external delegates from the financial sector was 93 (including three guest speakers). Although this fell slightly short of the goal of 100 registered practitioners, this turnout can be considered satisfactory by all accounts. Despite being held for the first time, the conference played host to high-ranking and well-known guest speakers. Their presentations were informative and inspiring.

The above factors were undoubtedly an integral part of why this conference was successful. The aim was primarily to promote engagement among students on the MSc Banking and Risk programme and practitioners from the financial sector, while also facilitating a meaningful discussion about technology and innovation in finance. The conference organising committee, of which the undersigned is a member, came up with numerous ways to promote the aforementioned engagement. This included keywords on students’ badges to indicate their areas of interest, and a quiz for practitioners that could only be completed with the help of students, which facilitated discussion and networking. The funding from Santander was crucial for both of these methods of engagement to work.

It is my belief that the conference will have a lasting positive effect for the attending students, including myself. Furthermore, it increased the exposure of the University of Edinburgh Business School and further established it as an academic institution that actively engages professionals for the benefit of students, professionals, and society as a whole.

Andri Dan Traustason is a MSc Banking and Risk student who recently attended and helped organise the Banking and Risk Conference: 'How Technology Will Change (even more) the Financial Sector', supported by funding from the Business School’s Santander initiative. Find more information about Santander funding under Opportunities.