Blog contributor: Carlos Baeta*
The IPED commons has witnessed a flurry of activity with the arrival of 21 South Africans from the 2017 cohort that are currently partaking in IPED’s flagship Advanced certificate in Emerging Markets and Country Risk Analysis program. This study tour is sponsored by the Fordham University’s Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development (IPED) and is held at the Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx.
This year’s cohort includes top performing economics students from the University of Pretoria as well as employees of the National Treasury, The South African Reserve Bank and the Public Investment Corporation, amongst others. Whilst in New York, the students will partake in two courses, namely; Strategic Financial Management and Political Risk Analysis. Besides having the opportunity to meet with a number of faculty members, the students also have the opportunity to visit several international institutions, investment houses and major banks in New York and Washington DC respectively. This provides those involved with the unique opportunity to apply what they have learnt in class and simultaneously engage with business leaders and policy makers within the United States.
After five weeks in New York, the students will return to South Africa alongside Fordham IPED and Economics graduate students in order to complete the Emerging Markets course presented by Professors Henry Schwalbenberg and Booi Themeli at the University of Pretoria in the country’s capital city. This is the eight year in which Fordham has welcomed South Africans to our Rose Hill campus. That said, 2017 represents the tenth year in which IPED has sent its students to South Africa in what has become a highly successful academic and cultural exchange immersion experience. The program’s growth is highlighted by the fact that it offers students the opportunity to develop the political, economic, and financial analytical skills that are needed to evaluate the potential rewards and risks associated with analyzing and investing in emerging markets. The programs continued growth in stature is emphasized by the successes of alumni of the program that have gone on to represent leadership positions in both the public and private sector across Africa and the world.
*Carlos Baeta is a proud South African and was part of the 5th cohort of South Africans participating in the Emerging Markets program. He is currently completing his MA IPED degree and will be pursuing his second MA in Economics at Fordham beginning Fall 2017.