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Executive Diploma in Finance (EDFIN)
 
This program has been included in the list of reimbursement courses for CEF purposes. (Course Code: 23L01631-2)
   
Program Director: Prof. Leslie Young, D. Phil. (Oxon)
Program Manager: Miss. Sandi Chan, BA (CityU), LL.B. (London)
Project Coordinator: Mr. Eric Yu, BEng
 
 

Message from Prof. Leslie Young, Program Director and Executive Director, APIB

The Asia-Pacific Institute of Business (APIB) was established in 1990 as the external arm of the Faculty of Business Administration at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). APIB’s mission is to provide education programs, research and consultancy services to assist managers and companies in meeting business challenges in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region.  APIB has offered a wide range of diplomas in all functional areas of business since 1991.

To reflect our specialization in executive education, APIB also offers a range of Executive Diplomas. More than 83 percent of those entering our Executive Diplomas have already held university degrees, including Master degrees with First Class Honours and Ph.Ds. For APIB diploma graduates, diplomas are more than a “second chance” for university education. Our diplomas have become a pathway for high-level university graduates to cross over into a second career or to expand their skill set. Such graduates provide important stimuli to both teachers and classmates.

The most distinguished professors of The Chinese University of Hong Kong shall be showcased in a special executive seminar series customized for our Executive Diplomas.

To further implement the APIB Ladder of Learning, our Executive Diploma graduates can gain accelerated entry into an International MBA program by The Victoria University of Wellington, the top management school in New Zealand. This opportunity should remain available for future graduates.

At The Chinese University of Hong Kong, we are committed to ensuring that our programs meet the high standards that you are entitled to expect from the leading business faculty in Hong Kong.

 

 
 

Objectives
The Executive Diploma in Finance provides executives with advanced professional training in finance. It is designed for middle and senior level managers who plan to specialize in finance or require financial expertise to carry out their duties effectively. The program will equip graduates with:

  • A thorough understanding of the financial system and international role of Hong Kong;
  • Modern analytical techniques for making sound investment decisions; and
  • The background and concepts to take the lead in meeting challenging problems of financial management within their organizations.
 
 

Unique Features

APIB Executive Seminar Series: The most distinguished professors of CUHK will be showcased in a special executive seminar series customized for our Executive Diplomas. We were honored to have Prof. Sir James Mirrlees, Nobel Laureate in Economics, and other leading professors to share their insights with our participants at the previous seminars.
 
     
 
A Full-day Team-Building Workshop: designed and run by a leading management consultant of APIB.
 
 
     
   
APIB Ladder of Learning: In addition to the BA Faculty's well-established Master Degree programs, APIB provides outstanding graduates with a progression path to an overseas International MBA program.
 
 
   
 
 

Program Structure

Module
Hours
Pre-Term Program
 
  Full-day Team Building Workshop
8
   A. Foundations
 
  Financial Statement Analysis
12
  Financial Management
16
  Economic Environment
18
  Examination
 2
B. Financial Markets, Institutions and Regulations
 
  Debt Markets
 20
  Equities and Derivatives
 24
  Banking & Financial Institutions
 16
  Examination
2
   C. Investment Analysis
 
  Statistical Analysis
 8
  Asset Pricing and Portfolio Choice
 12
  Portfolio Management and Evaluation
 8
  Financial Market Efficiency & Anomalies
 8
  Examination
2
D. Advanced Topics
 
  International Finance
12
  Examination
2
E. APIB Executive Seminar Series
8
Total
178
 
 

Exemption Policy
Participants may be exempted from no more than two topics from the foundations module provided that in the past three years they have completed courses equivalent in content at a recognized tertiary institution or relevant papers in professional examinations with good grades. Application forms for exemption will be sent to successful applicants upon request. Supporting documentation including course descriptions must be returned before the program commences. An administrative charge will be levied for applications for exemptions. Exemption is at the discretion of the Program Director.

 
 

Method and Medium of Instruction
Instruction will be in English and Cantonese. Lectures and case studies will be used throughout the program, supplemented by seminars on current issues in the financial environments.

 
 

Time and Venue

The program will run from September 2008 to August 2009. Classes will meet every Saturday (except public holidays) from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Lectures will be held on CUHK campus.

The team-building workshop will be held on either Saturday or Sunday on campus one week before the first lecture commences.

 
 

Grading and Graduation Requirements
Participants shall be evaluated mainly on the basis of their performance in course examinations and assignments. Other modes of evaluation may be chosen by individual instructors. The grading system is as follows:

To be awarded the Executive Diploma in Finance, participants must:

  1. have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0 (C);
  2. have no more than one grade of "F"; and
  3. have attended at least 80% of the lectures.

Special awards will be presented to graduates who achieve distinction.

 
 

Admission Requirements
Enrolment in this program is limited and applicants are selected on a competitive basis. Applicants should have the following qualifications:

  1. A degree or equivalent professional qualification, with at least one year's working experience; or
  2. A diploma from CUHK or equivalent from a recognized university-level institution, plus at least three years' working experience; and
  3. Be proficient in Chinese and English.

Applicants will normally be selected for direct enrolment based on (1) working experience in the related industry; (2) academic achievements/professional qualifications; and (3) letter of recommendation. Under special circumstances applicants may be invited to attend a selection interview on campus with notice in advance.

 

 

Application Procedure and Tuition Fees
The tuition fee for the entire program is HK $27,000, to be paid within ten days after official notice of admission is issued. Fees paid are neither refundable nor transferable. Full tuition fee must be paid regardless of the number of subjects taken. EDFIN is under the reimbursable course list of the Continuing Education Fund.

Online application is available at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/apib/onlineapplication.htm

An application form can also be downloaded from
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/apib/apib_download.htm

A completed application form must be accompanied by the following documents and reach APIB Admissions Office:

  • An application fee of HK$150;
  • Copies of academic certificates / transcripts and professional qualifications;
  • A copy of Hong Kong identity card or passport;
  • 1 recent photograph in size of 1.5 X 2 inches;
  • A copy of testimonial or other evidence of your current and past working experience and job responsibilities;
  • Confidential recommendation form posted directly from the referee(s); and
  • Optional: The program director welcomes all applicants to submit a one-page essay to illustrate his/her motivations for enrolment, academic or career plans and potential contributions to the program

 

 

Financial Arrangements
Participants are invited to consider the following options by the Government
(for HK residents and one-way permit holders):

  • The Continuing Education Fund
  • Non-means tested loan scheme

Internally, APIB has arranged with Hang Seng Bank to offer financial assistance to all our participants:

  • Hang Sang Bank Study Loan
  • Interest-free payment of program fee by installments using Hang Seng Bank Credit Card. APIB will bear the interest on behalf of the participants. (Not applicable to applicants enjoying other discounts.)
 

Enquiry
The Asia-Pacific Institute of Business (Ms. Lorinda Leung / Mr. Eric Yu)
Telephone No.: 2609-7423 / 2609-8772 / 2603-5119
Fax No.: 2603-5136
E-mail : exdip@cuhk.edu.hk

 

Course Descriptions of Executive Diploma in Finance
 
Team Building Workshop (Pre-term)
 
  • Early in the program, participants of all Executive Diplomas will be required to attend a full-day executive training workshop designed by an APIB management consultant. Students will be grouped into teams and exposed to a variety of management games or cases to foster team spirit. Upon completing this workshop, students will be equipped to think strategically about developing their careers in today's business environment.
  •  
    Foundations
     
  • Financial Statement Analysis: using financial ratios, liquidity and working capital, inventory turnover and accounts receivable, analysis and measures of debt, debt ratio, coverage ratio, profitability (gross profit margin, operating profit margin, net profit margin, return on assets, return on equity, earnings per share, p/e ratio).
  •  
  • Financial Management: investment decisions, analysis of risk, financial planning, dividend policy, working capital management, corporate finance, agency problems and corporate governance.
  •  
  • Economic Environment: measuring GDP, aggregate expenditure model, aggregate demand and aggregate supply, fiscal policy, money, banking and monetary policy, inflation/unemployment trade-off, the long-run economy, the New Economy, international trade and investment, exchange rates.
  •  
    Financial Markets, Institutions and Regulation
     
  • Debt Markets: major international money and capital markets, Hong Kong dollar debt market: Exchange Fund Paper, Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation paper and regulatory framework.
  •  
  • Equities and Derivatives: institutions and regulations of the Hong Kong markets for equities, futures (including index futures, stock futures, interest rate futures) and options, the GEM market, IPOs, international equities, international clearing and settlement.
  •  
  • Banking and Financial Institutions: management problems and strategies for financial institutions, organizational structure of financial institutions, risk/return trade-off and the acquisition/use of funds by financial institutions, role and operation of commercial banks in Hong Kong, bank financial statements, recent policy and regulatory changes.
  •  
    Investment Analysis
     
  • Statistical Analysis: mean, variance, correlation, normal distribution, hypothesis testing, statistical significance; regressions.
  •  
  • Asset Pricing and Portfolio Choice: risk and return, portfolio diversification, optimal portfolio choice, the capital asset pricing model, arbitrage pricing, indexing, mutual funds.
  •  
  • Portfolio Management and Evaluation: risk-adjusted returns, benchmarking, asset allocation, market timing, active portfolio management.
  •  
  • Financial Market Efficiency and Anomalies: stock valuation models, forms of informational efficiency, January, weekend, and size effects on stock returns.
  •  
    Advanced Topics
     
  • International Finance: functions and organization of foreign exchange market, Purchasing Power Parity, Fisher Open Equation, forward exchange market, forward rate parity, exchange rate determination and forecasting, technical analysis of exchange rate movements, international portfolio analysis and international asset allocation, emerging securities markets, international asset pricing model.
  •  
    APIB Executive Seminar Series
     
  • A series of seminars by top CUHK professors will be organized. Distinguished experts will be invited. Participants of the Executive Diplomas will be assigned to attend four seminars and write a report.
  •  
    Remark
     
  • Examination: Teachers may choose to assess their modules partially by take-home assignments and classroom assessment. But to preserve the integrity of the grades, every module shall be subject to regular examination as well.
  •  
     

     
     
    This page contains information on EDF as of March 2008.