Forging a shared commitment to developing tomorrow’s finance professionals.
October 8, 2025 - HKU Business School and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, the global professional body for the alternative investment industry, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), one that underscores HKU Business School's and CAIA Association’s unwavering commitment to equipping students with the most relevant, cutting-edge knowledge and skills demanded by the evolving global financial landscape.
As the investing world rapidly changes and transforms, new alternative investments in private equity, hedge funds, and digital assets play an increasingly critical role. The academic partnership with CAIA Association is specifically designed to provide an unparalleled environment for HKU Business School students' personal and professional growth.
Through this partnership, students will gain direct access to CAIA Association's rigorous curriculum, thought leadership, and resources. Additionally, new scholarships will be available for eligible students, helping them attain the prestigious CAIA Charter. This training offers a significant competitive advantage for students entering the job market. Furthermore, access to CAIA Association events will connect students with industry practitioners and thought leaders, fostering invaluable professional relationships within the alternative investment industry.
To launch the partnership, representatives from both organisations convened at HKU iCube in Central, Hong Kong. Following the MoU signing ceremony, a panel session was held on the topic, Future Trends and Opportunities of Alternative Investments.
“Partnership with HKU Business School reinforces our commitment to building a deep bench of talent across the APAC region, where demand for alternative investment expertise is growing rapidly,” said Mr. Nick Pollard, Managing Director, APAC, CAIA Association. “The CAIA Charter is not just a credential. It’s a globally recognised standard of professionalism in alternatives. By aligning with leading academic institutions, we are helping students gain not only technical knowledge, but also the ethical foundation required to thrive in a complex and rapidly shifting investment landscape,” Mr. Pollard added.
Prof. Derek Chan, Associate Dean at HKU Business School, said, “Today marks a pivotal milestone. This partnership with CAIA Association, a global leader in alternative investment education, is a strategic alignment of vision and values. It underscores our unwavering commitment at HKU Business School to equip our students with the most relevant, cutting-edge knowledge and skills demanded by the fast-evolving financial landscape.” Then, speaking on the sponsorship opportunities, he added that this would “make earning the CAIA Charter more accessible. By lowering these barriers, we empower our students to distinguish themselves in a competitive industry through enhanced expertise and credentials.”
Photo Caption
HKU Business School and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding to forge a shared commitment to developing tomorrow’s finance professionals.
###
For media enquiries, please contact:
HKU Business School | |
Viva LIU Manager Communications and Public Relations Tel: +852 3910 3307 Email: changlbs@hku.hk | Ran Elfassy Manager Communications and Public Relations Tel: +852 3917 0714 Email: relfassy@hku.hk |
CAIA Association |
Megan Au, Associate Director of Marketing Academic Partnerships and Chapter Relations, Asia Pacific CAIA Association |
About HKU Business School
Established in 2001, HKU Business School is one of the youngest and most dynamic members of The University of Hong Kong (HKU). The School strives to nurture first-class business leaders and foster academic and relevant research to serve the needs of Hong Kong, China and the rest of the world in the new Asia-led economy. As a top international business school in Asia, the School engages leading scholars from all corners of the globe and they instil in students global knowledge with an Asian perspective. The School attracts top students from Hong Kong and beyond.
HKU Business School offers a full spectrum of business education, and has achieved remarkable growth in faculty strength and research capability in the last two decades. The School ranks world’s 13th and Asia’s No.1 in Financial Times’ Aggregated Research Ranking in 2024; Asia’s No.1 in UTD Research Rankings from 2020 to 2024; its full-time MBA has been ranked Asia’s no. 1 in the World MBA Rankings released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for 10 times and Hong Kong’s no.1 in QS Global MBA Rankings for 5 consecutive years. The School has well-established and strategic partnerships with world-renowned universities and corporate partners, providing market-oriented content, superior learning and instrumental resources for our students.
To better serve our students and alumni in various cities and regions and facilitate collaboration opportunities with business communities around the globe, HKU Business School has established a unique international network that extends to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ho Chi Minh City, Tel Aviv and Barcelona. The School is well-positioned to be a leading, globally impactful academic institution of business and economics.
HKU Business School is fully accredited by the European Quality Improvement Systems (EQUIS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Visit us at https://www.hkubs.hku.hk/
About CAIA Association
CAIA Association is a global network of forward-thinking investment professionals, redefining the future of capital allocation in a world where traditional and alternative converge. United by a commitment to improving investment outcomes, we lead with authority, educate to inspire, and connect people who turn insight into action. To learn more about the CAIA Association and how to become part of the most energized professional network shaping the future of investing, please visit us at https://www.caia.org/.
