Belgium – Feb 20, 2023 – WAIFC Young Academic Award 2023 – the annual Young Academic Award, hosted by The World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), launches for its second year, inviting young academics to submit papers or essays on the future of a sustainable and inclusive financial sector.
The global financial sector continues to evolve rapidly with new technology, artificial intelligence, digitization of money, and a greater focus on financing SMEs and financial inclusion. With a long-term transition toward a sustainable financial industry and the need to support the economic recovery following the pandemic, innovative ideas and contributions from the next generation now will help shape their future and the future of the industry.
WAIFC invites young academics to submit papers or essays addressing one of the following topics:
· The future of financial literacy and education in International Financial Centers (IFCs), and how IFCs can support people of all ages.
· How do the financial centers support talent development and re-skilling, particularly regarding sustainability and fintech? How can the financial sector remain an attractive employer for young talent?
· The role of IFCs in promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in finance.
· The role of IFCs in financing the circular economy.
· How can IFCs foster gender diversity in the financial industry?
· What role can IFCs play in promoting financial inclusion and accessibility?
Papers on topics that are relevant to the work of international financial centers but not listed above are also welcome.
To find out more about the competition and for terms and conditions see here.
The top three finalists will have the privilege of presenting their research at WAIFC’s Annual General Meeting in New York City in October 2023. The WAIFC Chair will announce the winner of the best paper and award a prize of €3,000. The runners-up will be awarded prizes of €2,000 (2nd place) and €1,000 (3rd place).
Applications must be submitted no later than 15 May 2023 with final papers or essays being submitted no later than 15 June 2023.
The 2022 cohort concluded in Casablanca, Morocco in October after receiving 49 applications from 26 countries and 45 academic institutions. Leaders from financial centers judged that the winner of this cohort was Tristan Caballero-Montes from Belgium, with his paper – “Integrating Market Conditions into Regulatory Decisions on Microfinance Interest Rates: Does Competition Matter?”
Second place were Harshini Moonisamy from Mauritius and Paul Momtaz from Germany, and third place was Victor Saint-Jean from France. Harshini also won the WAIFC social media award. Please read about the finalists and their papers here.
Commenting on the launch of the second year, Keiichi Aritomo, Chair of the WAIFC said:
“Last year we were impressed with the response of the academic community around the world receiving nearly 50 applications from 45 academic institutions worldwide. A core objective of the WAIFC is to work with knowledge partners in the communities in which we operate and this project, run by our members helps them with outreach and engagement within their communities. In an industry that is focused around inclusion, we want to continue to create a platform for young academics to be able to demonstrate their ideas but also shape the future of our industry. We look forward to seeing the next cohort of submissions and hope to build on the engagement with the academic community globally further in 2023”.
About the WAIFC
The World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) is a non-profit association registered in Belgium, representing 27 leading international financial centers across five continents. WAIFC members are government agencies, associations, and similar institutions developing and promoting their financial centers. WAIFC facilitates cooperation between its members, exchanging best practices and communication with the general public.
Media Contact
Company Name: World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC)
Contact Person: Abdulrahim Osman, WAIFC Press Officer
Email: Send Email
Phone: +971565498434
Country: Belgium
Website: https://waifc.finance/about/