CFA Institute and IAMAC to launch localized Investment Foundation Program in Chinese mainland

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has announced a strategic cooperation agreement with the Insurance Asset Management Association of China (IAMAC) to make available the localized Investment Foundation Program, providing candidates in the Chinese mainland with the essentials of finance, ethics, and investment roles, and a clear understanding of the global investment industry.

As the first such localization of CFA Institute learning programs in the Chinese mainland, IAMAC, a national self-regulatory organization of the Chinese insurance asset management industry, under the supervision of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, is expected to complete the localization project by the end of 2024 and launch the program in the Chinese mainland in 2025. The localization project will develop a domestic curriculum and certification in Mandarin Chinese, based on the global version of the Investment Foundations® Certificate, and also feature relevant content, including the regulatory landscape, market trends, and local case studies.

Paul Moody, Managing Director, Global Partnerships and Client Solutions, at CFA Institute, said: “This localization project is unique and demonstrates our commitment to providing educational materials to the Chinese mainland. Our aim is to help meet the strong demand for foundational investment knowledge in the Chinese mainland, especially from students and young professionals. The collaboration with IAMAC will enable the program to reflect the essential elements and evolution of the Chinese mainland’s financial regulatory environment along with an international perspective of the investment industry.”

“The global Investment Foundations Certificate honors the CFA Institute mission to lead the investment industry globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society,” Moody said. “Investing in financial literacy provides long-term benefits for both individuals and organizations, creating a workforce more equipped to make informed decisions, help clients, and drive economic growth.”

The global Investment Foundations Certificate is a self-paced online certificate-level program and includes foundational investment content plus teachings on the latest trends in the industry, such as decentralized finance, financial technology, ESG investing, diversity, equity and inclusion, and more. It draws on CFA Institute research, policies, and standards to inform the materials.

Completion of the program will help to establish a solid understanding of the industry. The program is designed for people in non-investment roles who work alongside investment teams, such as those in marketing, communications, sales, project management, human resources, IT, and legal roles, as well as students and young professionals. Leading organizations around the world are already accessing the global Investment Foundations Certificate to complement organizational learning agendas designed to help people work more effectively with global colleagues through a common industry understanding.