IFSA Network
The IFSA Network (previously known as the International Finance Students Association[1]) is a global non-profit organization entirely run by students. Its main aim is to give students in the fields of finance, economics, management and engineering, a path to enter the professional world of finance by providing them with lectures, workshops, competitions and connecting them through a global network.
History
The IFSA Network was founded in 2014 in Rotterdam,[2] at the Rotterdam School of Management. Its first focus was to regroup people studying Finance, and connect them both between themselves and established financial actors. It quickly spread across Europe and Asia, before opening chapters in South Africa and the Americas.
Concept
The IFSA Network is composed of different chapters throughout the world. The concept is to have semi-independent units,[3] each composed of their own board & active members and to create synergy between these in order to provide the best opportunities to their members. The objective of the association is to build a comprehensive network that connects finance students across the globe and enable them to interact and communicate with each other.
Hierarchy
Each chapter has a board, composed of at least a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasure and General Secretary. This board manages day to day operations locally and supervises its regional activities. Chapters also typically have departments (Finance, Marketing, Events), with a department head managing the analysts. Chairmen also regularly connect to establish international strategies and overview national operations.
Current Chapters
As of 2017, The IFSA Network has the following chapters:
Europe
Netherlands
Rotterdam School of Management
United Kingdom
Oxford University
Cambridge University
University College London
London School of Economics
Warwick University
Imperial College, London
France
Ecole Polytechnique
HEC Paris
ESSEC[4]
Ecole Centrale Paris
Supelec University
ENSAE
Sciences Po University
Ecole des Ponts
Ecole des Mines
Dauphine University
Telecom University
ESCP Europe.
Italy
University of Pavia
Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
Russia
New Economic School[6]
Germany
Technical University
Ludwig Maximilian University
Goethe University
Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Americas
United States of America
Harvard University
Columbia University
Brazil
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Africa
South Africa
University of Cape Town
Asia
Japan
Kyoto University
China
Chinese University of Hong-Kong
India
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies
St Stephen's College, Delhi
Hansraj College, Delhi
Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi
Events
Traders' Cup
The IFSA Trader’s Cup is the world’s largest student run trading challenge .[7] All people studying in a recognised university are free to participate. The competition relies on securities trading, and aims to give students an opportunity to distinguish themselves from the competition. The competition is held once per academic year, starting in spring of 2016. For the second edition of the competition, students from more than 35 universities, located in 28 countries on 6 continents competed.
Global Case Competition at Harvard
The Global Case Competition at Harvard[8] is the world’s most prestigious case competition organized by students.[9] Its goal is to regroup the best students in finance & economics throughout the world for the length of a few days, in order to test their knowledge and skills and offer them a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded students, world leading institutions,[10] and renowned guests.[11] The competition is a unique opportunity for participants, connecting the worlds smartest academics[11] from the U.S.A.,[12] Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Taking part in this event is also a great moment in which people can interact with the invited companies , financial institutions, guests and partners.[13] For the first two editions this event was organized with the Harvard Extension Business Society, an official Harvard Club.[14] During the first edition, a team from HEC Paris,[15] a leading French university, won the challenge.[16] The second edition was won by the London Business School.[17]
Local Venues
The various IFSA Network chapters try to offer their communities various local events to connect with the professional world.[18] Often, an industry professional will come to the IFSA Network events and meet students. The purpose of those venues is to give students a taste of the professional world, share tips and knowledge, and give an opportunity to network.
Boston Consulting Group Case Competition
In 2018, the IFSA Network in cooperation with the Boston Consulting Group and InvestSoc, organised the first, three-week long International Cape Town Case Competition. The competition has a unique format where teams consisting of 2 to 4 participants, propose solutions for crises that are presented to them. In their solutions, participants are able to showcase their knowledge, creativity and problem-solving skills on a current macroeconomic issue. A jury picks the 15 best international teams and the best local teams, from Cape Town. The selected teams arrive in Cape Town, South Africa, to participate in the second round, and present in front of a select panel of distinguished professors and practitioners. The winning team is awarded a cash prize of 5000 South African Rand.
Network Creation
The IFSA Network is very selective when it comes to opening chapters and selecting board members. Striving for excellency, it will only open chapters in elite universities, and hires only the most ambitious and brightest students. The purpose of this is to ensure smooth operations and maintain a high-level of execution in all of the organisation’s activities. Ultimately, the goal is to have establishments around the world, regrouping all major academic institutions.
Citations
References
- "IFSA Network Website". IFSA Network. WordPress. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "IFSA Network: Letter to Stakeholders". IFSA Network: Letter to Stakeholders. WordPress. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "IFSA Network: Who Are We". IFSA Network: Who Are We. WordPress. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "IFSA Network: ESSEC". International Finance Student Association: ESSEC. ESSEC. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "IFSA Network: University of Geneva". AFU. L’Association Faîtière de l’Université de Genève (AFU). Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "IFSA Network: New Economic School". NES Suits and Securities. NES Suits and Securities. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "IFSA Traders' Cup". IFSA Network. WordPress. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "Global Case Competition Harvard". University of Minnesota Crookston. University of Minnesota Crookston. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "IFSA Harvard Case Competition". IFSA Harvard Case Competition. Harvard Case Competition. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- "Fredrique Constant". Fredrique Constant. Fredrique Constant. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "Global Case Competition". Harvard University. President and Fellows of Harvard College. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "Business Students Competing in Harvard Global Case Competition". WN. WN. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "Business Students travel to 2017 Harvard Global Case Competition". University of Minnesota Crookston. University of Minnesota Crookston. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "Harvard Extension Business Society". Harvard Extension Business Society. Harvard Extension Business Society. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "HEC Paris". HEC Paris. HEC Paris. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "HEC Paris wins Global Case Competitions". HEC Paris. HEC Paris. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "MiF Students from LBS Win Harvard Global Case Competition". ONE YEAR MBA. ONE YEAR MBA. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- "Geneva students are hungry and getting prepared to face the challenges !". NOTZ STUCKI. NOTZ STUCKI. Retrieved 15 November 2018.