...Partnership to Offer Licensing Pathway, Global Qualifications for MSc Finance Students
Fanaka International University College has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Investment and Securities Institute (GISI) to align its Master of Science in Finance programme with professional and global capital market standards.
The MoU, described as a deliberate strategic fusion of academic excellence and marketplace reality, was signed at a ceremony at Fanaka International University College, bringing together leadership of both institutions, faculty, and members of the media.
Rector of Fanaka International University College, Prof. Samuel Agyei-Ampomah, said the partnership signals the end of the era of the isolated ivory tower in higher education.
"For a long time, higher education globally, not only in Ghana, and indeed within our own subregion, has faced a persistent critique: the perceived gap between the ivory tower of academia and the fast-paced terrain of industry," Prof. Agyei-Ampomah said.
"Critics often argue that universities produce graduates who are rich in textbook theories, but unequipped for the immediate demands of the trade floor, the boardroom, or the regulatory desk. Today at Fanaka, we declare that the era of the isolated ivory tower is officially over."
He stated that Fanaka's institutional commitment is to build a bridge over that gap, with academic excellence measured by market readiness.
"Our institutional commitment is clear. We believe that true academic excellence must be measured by market readiness, and that a postgraduate degree should not merely be a credential on a wall, but a powerful catalyst for career development," he emphasized.
Three-fold Value
Prof. Agyei-Ampomah explained that GISI is not just any professional association but the elite training arm of Ghana's capital markets, backed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Ghana Stock Exchange, the Central Securities Depository, and the Ghana Securities Industry Association.
He said anchoring Fanaka's MSc in Finance to GISI elevates the degree in three distinct ways.
First, the partnership provides graduates with a pathway to statutory licensing. Through curriculum alignment with GISI's rigorous standards, MSc students will receive preparation and possible exemptions, positioning them to step into licensed practice upon graduation.
Second, it unlocks international mobility through GISI's collaboration with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) in the United Kingdom.
"Through GISI's robust collaboration with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments in the UK, our students are being plugged into a global qualification network. The competencies they acquire here will be recognized not just in Accra, but in financial hubs worldwide, from London to New York, Hong Kong, Johannesburg," Prof. Agyei-Ampomah said.
Third, the partnership future-proofs the curriculum, giving students and faculty direct access to cutting-edge insights on modern asset classes, corporate governance, and digital financial frameworks.
He expressed gratitude to the leadership of GISI led by Mr. Ekow Afedzie and CEO Alexander Williams, noting that building a resilient national economy requires co-creation of human capital.
"To our prospective finance students, the ball is now in your court. The doors of opportunity have been flung wide open... Seize it with both hands," he urged, adding that the MoU is more than ink on paper but "a shared covenant to champion excellence, to fuel innovation and to train the next generation of financial leaders who will steer the economic destiny of Ghana and the continent."
Alexander Williams, said GISI is now a professional body certified on 3rd December, 2025, after previously operating as a company limited by shares with shareholders being the SEC, Ghana Stock Exchange, Central Securities Depository and Ghana Securities Industry Association.
Its mandate, he said, remains to train professionals, conduct research and educate the public on securities and investments.
Mr. Williams explained that formal training of professionals in the capital market started in 2020 with two streams: the GISI Professional Pathway, a requirement to obtain a Representative License from the SEC, and the GISI-CISI Qualification Pathway, designed to meet the requirements of the CISI UK.
"Both pathways are recognized by the SEC," he noted, describing CISI as a global professional body whose objective as an educational charity is to promote the advancement of knowledge in securities and investment and develop high ethical standards for practitioners.
He said the CISI programme is disciplined and strict, with online examinations where progression depends on passing each level.
According to him, the MoU establishes a structured academic-professional collaboration for the MSc Finance programme at Fanaka, intended to promote curriculum benchmarking, professional pathway orientation, practitioner engagement, student professional development, research dialogue and securities market capacity building.
"An important aspect of this programme for the MSc in Finance student is that professional development and choice of career pathway in the GISI. And the key advantage with the GISI-CISI pathway is the fact that when you finish the programme, you get what we call a portable certificate," Mr. Williams said.
"That certificate is embossed with both GISI and CISI logos, showing that you've qualified from both worlds. The portability makes you eligible to practice in any country where the CISI has a branch... you should see yourself as a global citizen made from Ghana."
He added that both as student members and practitioners, beneficiaries will have access to unlimited resources and opportunities on the CISI portal.
Mr. Williams commended Fanaka for the initiative, expressing confidence that the collaboration will benefit both institutions and the nation at large.
Present at the ceremony were the President of the Governing Council of GISI, Mr. Paul, members of the Governing Councils and management of GISI and Fanaka, faculty members and staff.
