UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, MAURITIUS AND BOURSE AFRICA LAUNCH A VIRTUAL TRADING SIMULATION LABORATORY

The Bourse Africa Trading Simulation Laboratory will allow students of University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM) to enhance their practical financial market knowledge and develop trading skills in commodity and currency derivatives.

With the objective of fostering financial talent and further development of Mauritian financial markets, Bourse Africa launched a virtual trading simulation laboratory in collaboration with The University of Technology, Mauritius. The virtual laboratory, situated at the university premises, was inaugurated by Mr. Rinsy Ansalam, Managing Director & CEO of Bourse Africa Limited in the presence of Dr. Hemant B. Chittoo (CMILT), Ag. Director General of University of Technology, Mauritius.

The setting up of this laboratory will allow UTM students to trade on a virtual simulated environment that would replicate the actual market. Bourse Africa will be conducting periodic workshops to train the students on the technology, trade execution and various other aspects pertaining to financial markets. The tech centric trading simulation laboratory hosts world class trading technology that will allow participants to understand the role of technology in democratizing markets by creating awareness and enhancing market access.

“As a university committed towards providing students with an innovation driven learning environment that matches global standards, we are glad to invite Bourse Africa for setting up this state of the art laboratory. Our students will get a practical understanding of trading and will also understand the dynamics of global financial markets – which I strongly believe will enhance their competitiveness.” said Dr. Hemant B. Chittoo, CMILT, Ag. Director General, University of Technology, Mauritius.

Mr. Rinsy Ansalam, MD & CEO of Bourse Africa said, “We highly appreciate University of Technology, Mauritius for its approach towards capacity building and bridging the gap between theory and practice for its students. Mauritius is geared towards becoming the Investment Banking hub for Africa and we need to foster capable leaders in the financial market domain to take the growth story forward. With the trading simulation laboratory, we reiterate our commitment towards the development of financial market talent in Mauritius and Africa. The lab will allow students to get a real time experience of the markets and gain the ability to understand the role of trading, investing and risk management.”

Collaboration between UTM and Bourse Africa

The collaboration between UTM and Bourse Africa started with an academic workshop on the “Art of Trading” which was held at the Bourse Africa office in Ebene. The workshop was attended by full time academicians from the different schools. Thereafter, a series of workshops on financial markets were organized for UTM’s students having a background in accounting, banking, economics and finance with the objective of exposing students to the functioning of exchange markets and initiate them to trading.

The following major activities have already been successfully conducted in 2013: Bourse Africa conducted a Training for UTM academics on ‘art of trading’; Series of workshop for undergraduate students on Trading and Investing that proved to be a grand success as it was a real insertion for the around 200 students into the world of financial markets; A more specialised workshop on derivatives was organised in October 2013 for MBA finance students

About BOURSE AFRICA (www.bourseafrica.com)

BOURSE AFRICA LIMITED (Bourse Africa) is the first international multi-asset class exchange from Mauritius that currently offers trading on three market segments viz., commodities, currencies and equities.

The exchange offers participants, from across the globe, access to a tech centric market that is regulated, liquid and transparent with efficient clearing and settlement systems. Bourse Africa’s state of the art infrastructure provides a world class platform for risk management, trading and investment on global and African products. The exchange is licensed and regulated by Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mauritius to offer trading in commodity derivatives, currency derivatives, equity cash and equity derivatives.

BOURSE AFRICA CLEAR LTD is the designated Clearing House of Bourse Africa and acts as the counterparty to its Clearing Members. The clearing house is an independent entity which is licensed by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius.

Bourse Africa is promoted by the Financial Technologies Group (www.ftindia.com), a global leader in setting up and operating tech-centric next generation exchanges in the emerging but fast growing economies from Africa to Asia and Middle East to South-East Asia. For all the Press Releases and Media Coverage on Bourse Africa, please visitwww.bourseafrica.com/media

About University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM)

The University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM) was created in year 2000 by Act of Parliament as the Government implemented its plan to have a second University which would focus towards development of oriented sectors in particular. Two state institutions namely the Mauritius Institute of Public Administration and Management (MIPAM) and the State Information Training Centre (SITRAC Ltd) were merged to form the University of Technology, Mauritius. This historic step in the field of higher education was prompted mainly by the need to cater more vigorously for the increasing demand for ICT and Management professionals in a country which is seriously committed to accelerate, by all means, the realization of its ambition to become a major service provider in the field of Information Technology, Management and Finance, Sustainable Development and allied areas. The University started operation by the end of year 2000.

About The School of Accounting, Finance and Economics (SAFE)

The School of Accounting, Finance and Economics is a new School and it aims at better preparing its students to face the realities of the job market. The School is dedicated to delivering highest level of training teaching, and learning, Research & Development  and consultancy services in broad spheres of accounting, banking, finance, economics, procurement, and policy analysis at national and regional levels as well as internationally. The School presently offers a good range of industry recognised undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the specialized field of accounting, finance (or more precisely banking and financial services), and economics. The integration of the above areas of study under the School has been thought wise marked by the rapidly expanding student population coupled with increasing job prospects in the advent a service-driven economy.