The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) has teamed up with the CISI to develop a new Islamic Finance Pathway
The pathway is designed to introduce two new levels of qualifications around the existing CISI Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) Level 3. The first qualification in the pathway offers a foundation level (Level 2) qualification, the Fundamentals of Islamic Finance Certificate, as an entry point for those wishing to develop the essential knowledge related to Islamic finance before progressing to the IFQ Level 3.
After achieving the IFQ level 3 the pathway provides practitioners with the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge through specialist diploma level qualifications which can ultimately lead to the Diploma in Islamic Finance or Advanced Diploma in Islamic Finance. The aim is to develop qualifications at Level 4 in four specialist areas. These will be created in line with the industry’s demand.
BIBF Director Solveig Nicklos said: "The IFQ has gained an admirable reputation among industry practitioners in both the Islamic banking and traditional banking industry. The BIBF and CISI are collaborating to build pathways around this qualification, by providing clear progressive paths with varying levels of depth and specialisation.”
CISI Global Business Development Director Kevin Moore, Chartered MCSI, said: “Since 2007 when we launched the IFQ, 4,000 examinations have been sat in over 50 countries. This new Islamic Finance Qualifications Pathway has been developed with BIBF to provide a progressive study path for practitioners to support career development. Students will also obtain free CISI student membership, which means they can become associated from the outset with a Chartered, professional body working all over the world.”
Matthew Cowan ACSI, CISI Regional Director for the Middle East added: “We are both confident that the new Islamic Finance Pathway provides tangible value to market practitioners and will increase their knowledge, skills and professionalism”.
Pictured from left are BIBF Deputy Director Dr. Ahmed Al Shaikh, BIBF Director Solveig Nicklos, Matthew Cowan ACSI, CISI Regional Director for the Middle East and BIBF’s Head of Centre for Banking & Finance,and Accounting Deen Jayah