WATERLOO, ON, March 28, 2013 /CNW/ - The School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) at the University of Waterloo held their 2nd annual Equity Research Challenge (ERC) on March 22th, 2013 sponsored by Computershare, CNW Group, and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The competition consisted of 22 student groups each presenting their research findings to the following industry panelists: Gisella Agusta - Director of Human Resources at ITG, Michelle Heaphy - Director, Relationship Manager - Corporate Banking at Scotiabank, Gordon Kim - Senior Portfolio Analyst at Mawer Investment Management, Dan Lavric - Portfolio Manager, Credit at Equitable Life Insurance, Michael Newallo - Prime Brokerage and Electronic Trading Executive, Anne Peiris - Principal, Mercer's Human Capital Group, Dax Philbert - Founder and Managing Director at iComply Consulting, Ren Plastina - Managing Director, North American Energy & Infrastructure Group at BNP Paribas (NY).
The winning group, consisting of Usman Chaudhry, Andrew George-Parkin, Ying Wu, and Helen Xiangxiang Zhang, presented their investment recommendation on Intact Financial. The winning team received a $1,000 prize provided by Computershare, with media coverage supplied by CNW Group. The students, judges, and SAF reprentatives joined Steven Mills, Regional Head, TSX Company Services, and Lauren Grant, Manager, New Business Development, CNW Group, to open the market on March 28, 2013.
As described by the team, "The Equity Research Challenge taught us valuable investment analysis techniques, presentation skills, and how to work productively with a team. We are grateful to the University of Waterloo for their extremely helpful finance and actuarial science faculty members, who shared with us their knowledge of the investment and insurance industries."
The SAF extends a special thank-you to ERC coordinator Patrizia Ferrarese, PF Group Inc., for organizing another experiential engagement opportunity that combines industry experts and student enthusiasm to produce a truly unique learning outcome.
The ERC is the final evaluation step in the School's Equity Investments course taught by Professor Craig Geoffrey. The ERC is patterned after the CFA Institute Research Challenge, for which Mr. Geoffrey acts as the faculty advisor. The University of Waterloo won the Toronto round of the CFA Institute Research Challenge for the past two years, advancing to the final and semi-final round of the Americas Regional competition in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Student success in applied valuation work is an example of the SAF's distinctive focus on the integration of accounting and finance.
"Our students have performed well over the years and fill many leadership roles in financial management. The four winning students are fine examples of the caliber of engaged students who have demonstrated their abilities to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world through their insightful analysis and presentation of their findings," states Dr. Tom Scott, Director of the School of Accounting and Finance.
About the School of Accounting and Finance, University of Waterloo
The School of Accounting and Finance is the largest professional school of its kind in English-speaking Canada. Established in 1981, the School offers undergraduate and graduate programs designed to provide students with the competencies, professionalism and practical experience they need to excel in their chosen careers. The School offers undergraduate co-op programs in accounting, finance and computing and financial management. It also offers masters programs in accounting and taxation and a PhD program in accounting. For more details, go to http://saf.uwaterloo.ca.
About the University of Waterloo
In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's Technology Triangle, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 30,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For further details, visit www.uwaterloo.ca.
Image with caption: "The School of Accounting and Finance at the University of Waterloo announces the winners of the 2nd Annual Equity Research Challenge (CNW Group/University of Waterloo)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130328_C9326_PHOTO_EN_24923.jpg
SOURCE: University of Waterloo
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