SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University has been named an academic partner of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®) Association. Through this partnership, students and faculty have the opportunity to earn the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation from the world’s leading organization and join a network of more than 10,000 finance professionals who work with alternative investments such as hedge funds, real assets, private equity, commodities, and managed futures.

“In this fast-changing world of financial technology, artificial intelligence, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, being part of this high-tech Alternative Investments Association will be very beneficial for our students.”

Committed to preparing its Finance students to sit for – and pass – the two CAIA Charterholder exams, Bryant integrates CAIA’s curriculum into classroom teaching and offers students an in-depth view of AI strategies and practice through relevant industry developments and the latest academic research.

CAIA also provides 12 annual scholarships (eight for students and four for faculty members) to cover the cost of exam fees for qualified individuals; a complimentary license to the CISDM Hedge Fund Database, which is an invaluable resource for Finance faculty conducting research; networking; and more.

“In today’s fast-changing world of financial technology, artificial intelligence, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, being part of this high-tech Alternative Investments Association will be very beneficial for our students,” says Finance Professor A. Can Inci, who led the application process with support from Department Chair Peter Nigro, Professor of Finance and Sarkisian Chair in Financial Services.

The partnership with CAIA demonstrates the University’s Finance curriculum is aligned with the industry’s accepted professional practices and fully prepares graduates to sit for the CAIA Charterholder exams. Individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree or have a minimum of four years of professional full-time experience in the regulatory, banking, financial, or related fields are eligible to take the exams.

“We are very proud of this relationship with Bryant University, College of Business,” says CAIA Program Director Hossein Kazemi, Ph.D., CFA. “We believe it represents a major step in our efforts to promote our core mission, which is to contribute to the education of investment professionals in the area of alternative investments.”

In addition to the CAIA exams, Finance students at Bryant University also have the opportunity to prepare to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) exams upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

Faculty and students interested in taking the CAIA exams should contact A. Can Inci at ainci@bryant.edu.

About the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) ^® Association

CAIA® is the globally-recognized credential for professionals who manage, analyze, distribute, or regulate alternative investments. Individuals who successfully complete two rigorous CAIA exams and joining the CAIA Association become CAIA Charterholders, joining an elite group of more than 9,000 finance professionals worldwide. Colleges and universities meeting CAIA criteria – accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or comparable accrediting organizations with exceptional curriculum that address integral elements of the CAIA Level I and Level II exams­ – become CAIA Academic Partners to promote education and professionalism in the alternative investment industry at the earliest career stage. For more information, visit caia.org.

About Bryant University

Bryant University, in Smithfield, R.I., is a leading private university offering an innovative and uniquely integrated business and liberal arts education. The University’s 3,700 undergraduate and postgraduate students study in an intensive and immersive learning environment that has been purpose-built for high achievement. Bryant’s groundbreaking academic programs have been nationally recognized by organizations including the Davis Educational Foundation and Hanover Research. Founded in 1863, Bryant is recognized as a leader in international education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News & World Report, College Factual/U.S.A. Today, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, and Barron’s.