AUS and HSBC launch high-tech Interactive Trading Floor, first of its kind in MENA region

SHARJAH, 12th February, 2016 (WAM) -- Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the American University of Sharjah, AUS, the university, in partnership with HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, yesterday launched the AUS Interactive Trading Floor, ITF, at the AUS School of Business Administration, SBA. The launch of the Trading Floor was attended by Dr. Bjorn Kjerfve, AUS Chancellor, and Abdulfattah Sharaf, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, senior AUS officials, HSBC executives and industry leaders. The first of its kind in the MENA region, the ITF is a sophisticated facility that incorporates live tools and software to extend theory into practice in a fast-paced, applied environment. It is a technologically advanced 24-seat learning space which is designed to be an exact duplicate of the trading floor found in banks, equipped with the same live feeds, industry software and analytical tools. Dr. Kjerfve expressed pride at having the ITF established at AUS. "Such a unique facility will position AUS as the leader in financial education and as a provider of both knowledge and practical skills in the field of business," he said during the opening ceremony. "The launch of this Interactive Trading Floor at the AUS School of Business Administration is a testimony to the university’s commitment to providing the best in education to prepare the future business leaders in the region," he said. He expressed his appreciation for HSBC’s support in engaging higher education to enhance innovation in response to current marketplace trends. The AUS ITF will also serve as a bridge between academia and the industry in improving the learning environment. HSBC’s funding of the Interactive Trading Floor at American University of Sharjah is part of a series of community investments being made globally to mark HSBC’s 150th anniversary. Overall, US$150 million of additional funding has been committed to community projects over three years (2015–2017) around the world. Abdulfattah Sharaf said, "HSBC is proud to support the establishment of the AUS Interactive Trading Floor, a first of its kind in the region, to help students experience the world of trading. There can often be a gap between theory and practice and we hope that students are able to acquire the insight, skills and broad industry knowledge needed to transition successfully into the workforce. "Senior management, traders and other financial experts will also provide their time to the students of AUS in the form of mentorship, guest lectures and sharing their career experiences," Sharaf added. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/general/1395291469520.html