Joining Forces to Understand the Complex Financial Dynamics

During the last few decades the financial world has gone through a complete transformation. Deregulation of financial markets, spurred by dramatic technological evolutions, tore down the walls that had existed between domestic and international money and capital markets as well as between banks, insurance companies and stock brokers. Competition became the buzzword. World-wide financial service companies began restructuring their business lines and started developing new products and markets. In Europe, the introduction of a single currency further encouraged these developments.

Undoubtedly, the entire economy benefits from these evolutions. Unfortunately, for the financial intermediaries life becomes ever more complex. It is therefore no wonder that they are constantly in need of specialised people: economists who understand the mechanics of financial markets will always be scarce.

To accommodate this shortage the Department of Financial Economics of Ghent University introduced a Master in Banking and Finance in 1999. The aim of this Master is to provide the students with in-depth knowledge of the latest developments in finance and banking and a thorough understanding of the relevant academic literature. The target group consists of economists with previous education or working experience in the fields of finance or banking and some proficiency in statistics and econometrics.

The program 'Master in Banking and Finance' shows that the Department of Financial Economics at Ghent University is continuously following up evolutions of financial markets. By bringing together a group of motivated students and teachers, and by applying dynamic and multimedial teaching methods, the Department of Financial Economics is striving to increase understanding about and enthusiasm for financial developments.