CAIA Association Announces Three New Academic Partnerships

Students at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, and American University’s Kogod School of Business now have special access to CAIA’s programs and curriculum AMHERST, MASS. (October 24, 2018) – The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, the global leader in alternative investment education, is today celebrating the launch of three new academic partnerships. Students at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, Ohio State University’s Max M. Fisher College of Business, and American University’s Kogod School of Business will now have access to the CAIA Association's curriculum and events and will also be eligible to apply for scholarships to earn the prestigious CAIA Charter. "We are thrilled to be partnering with each of these fine schools,” said William J. Kelly, CEO of the CAIA Association. “We’ve had the chance to visit each of them in recent weeks to meet with the respective administrations, faculty and students, and I can tell we are all already well on our way to helping a fantastic new generation of alternative investment leaders build their knowledge base and prepare for an exciting future." CAIA’s Academic Partnership Program includes some of the most prestigious universities in the world that incorporate alternative investments into their courses as represented by the topics covered in the CAIA Level I and Level II curriculum. UNC, The Ohio State University and American join dozens of internationally top-ranked business schools in partnering with the CAIA Association, including highly-rated programs in the Americas, Europe and Asia. UNC Kenan-Flagler “Partnering with the global leader in alternative investment education is an exciting opportunity for students and faculty at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business, said Riccardo Colacito, associate professor of finance. “Working with CAIA will better position our students for successful careers in the alternative investment field, a rapidly growing segment of our economy.” Undergraduate and MBA students focus on investment management at UNC Kenan-Flagler. They have many opportunities to apply their studies before they graduate, including managing $12 million in equity investments managed by the students across either funds and hosting the annual Alpha Challenge, the premier competition for top MBA programs. Ohio State University Fisher College of Business “We are delighted to collaborate with the CAIA Association to offer our students opportunities to differentiate themselves as dynamic leaders in the finance industry,” said Anil K. Makhija, dean and John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business at Fisher. “By partnering with the association, Fisher joins an illustrious list of institutions dedicated to fostering education and thought leadership in finance. The partnership also underscores our commitment to our SMF program, which continues to meet the needs and interests of prospective and current students at The Ohio State University.” American University’s Kogod School of Business "This is huge honor and achievement for our program and school. This will bring more exposure to our finance program, better job opportunities for our graduates, and will help our students better prepare for the CAIA program exams,” says Randy Nordby, program director of Kogod’s master of science in finance program. The CAIA Charter program is a rigorous, self-directed education for finance professionals seeking deep knowledge and expertise in alternative investing including hedge funds, private equity, structured products, commodities, and real assets. The CAIA designation, which is granted upon successfully passing Level I and Level II exams and meeting membership requirements, is valued by top employers and recognized globally as the highest standard of achievement in alternative investment education. The Association supports 30 global Chapters in financial centers in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America, as well as a Virtual Chapter that brings together Members from far-flung locations in more than 60 countries. CAIA sponsors more than 250 educational and networking events each year and has over 60 academic and association partnerships in the Americas, EMEA, and the Asia Pacific region. In 2018 alone, in addition to expanding its relationships with academia, CAIA has announced two important new initiatives: the launch of the Chartered Alternative Data Analyst Institute, which will focus on the future of investment analysis and decision making in an increasingly digitized financial services world; and an innovative pilot program with the CFA Institute that will allow a select number of CFA members to move directly to Level II of the rigorous CAIA exam program. About the CAIA Association The CAIA Association is the world leader in alternative investment education, offering the only education pro-gram uniquely designed for individuals specializing in institutional-quality alternative investments. The Association is best known for the CAIA Charter, an internationally-recognized credential granted upon successful completion of a rigorous two-level exam series, combined with relevant work experience. Earning the CAIA Charter is the gateway to becoming a Member of the CAIA Association, a global network of more than 9,000 alternative investment professionals located in more than 90 countries. CAIA also offers the Fundamentals of Alternative Investments certificate program (”Fundamentals”), an introductory-level online course, designed to provide a foundation in the core concepts in alternative investing. This program represents a natural extension of CAIA’s mission to provide solutions to specific market needs for alternative investment education. To learn more about the CAIA Association, contact Deborah McLean +1 (413) 253-7373. For more information on the CAIA Charter, please visit caia.org. About the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School Consistently ranked one of the world's best business schools, UNC Kenan-Flagler offers a broad range of programs – Undergraduate, MBA and Master of Accounting, PhD and Executive Development – and extraordinary, real-life learning experiences. Faculty demonstrate unparalleled dedication to students’ learning and a commitment to world-class research that addresses critical business challenges. Contributing to the School’s thought leadership is the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, which promotes innovative, market-based solutions to vital economic issues. UNC Kenan-Flagler’s collaborative culture is rooted in core values that date back to its founding in 1919, and graduates are renowned as effective, principled leaders with the technical knowledge and leadership skills to deliver results in the global business environment. About The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business provides tomorrow’s business leaders with the foundation needed to succeed in business today. Led by world-class faculty, Fisher students experience an academically rigorous learning environment that fosters the development of an entrepreneurial spirit, global awareness and principled leadership skills. Organizations from around the globe thrive under the leadership of Fisher alumni, who are positively impacting their communities and the world. About American University American University’s Kogod School of Business, established in Washington, DC, more than sixty years ago, equips and empowers its community to use business as a force for meaningful change. Kogod graduates are leaders on Wall Street and in the corporate world, but also work for non-profits, government agencies and social-service organizations. Washington, DC, serves as a laboratory for learning through work, internships, and other forms of experiential education.