The Hong Kong Securities Institute (HKSI) has established a partnership with UK’s Securities & Investment Institute (SII) to promote the globally-recognised SII Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ) to those working within the global and Hong Kong’s finance and investment industry.
“The move is in response to the manpower gap in operations identified in a HKSI research study published in June,” says Mr Gary Cheung, Chief Executive, HKSI. “The gap is a structural issue that needs to be addressed.”
“We are delighted to partner with HKSI on this project. HKSI and SII have a long history of collaboration and our IAQ complements the HKSI offerings to front office practitioners, enabling candidates to access a complete package of professional qualifications,” says Mr Simon Culhane FSI, Chief Executive, SII.
The provision of IAQ in Hong Kong complements the HKSI Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries (LE) and Professional Certificate Programmes that are currently offered for those in front-office advisory positions.
To attain the qualification, candidates are required to take a combination of three units out of the generic and technical units provided by the SII.
Hong Kong based candidates enjoy the option of combining two IAQ units with the HKSI LE Paper 1 which is a regulatory paper or the HKSI Certificate in Business Support Management (BSM) to achieve the International IAQ – an international version of the IAQ for candidates outside UK.
HKSI is the strategic partner of SII in promoting the latter’s International Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ) within Hong Kong and China. The two organisations signed an agreement on 1 November 2008. HKSI is also accredited as an SII Accredited Training Provider to offer training in Hong Kong for the International IAQ candidates who would like to attend face-to-face training programme.
Mr John Williamson, HKSI Business Support Committee Chairman says, “Business support qualifications, like the IAQ, help provide individuals with an overview of the financial services industry and its regulatory environment. The training modules within the programme cover a good range of highly relevant topics. This type of education is of enormous benefit to both new entrants to the industry and to existing participants who need to improve their understanding of the operational and administrative functions.”
“The business support training initiative has received a tremendous response from the industry. Both qualifications, the International IAQ and the BSM Certificate, are now supported by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing,” adds Mr Cheung.