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The Cayman Islands Financial Services Institute (FSI) had it first graduation ceremony during the Spectrum financial services conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on 10th October.

11 students graduated from the Cayman Islands Compliance Diploma (CCD) and the International Financial Services Diploma (IFSD) programmes. The courses offer graduates a recognised qualification in financial services to greatly enhance career prospects in this dynamic industry.

FSI students were presented on stage with their diplomas by Dr Aleza Beverly, Dean of ICCI and Mrs Cindy Scotland, Managing Director of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

Two students, Krystle Kadesha Ebanks-Miller and Jennifer Ann Steinberg, were also presented with Academic Excellence Awards for their outstanding academic performance in the CCD and IFSD programmes, respectively.

The FSI which offers opportunities for training and education for those working in the financial services industry is the brainchild of local economist and financial services professional Paul Byles.

Byles founded the FSI two years ago and after securing academic two partnerships with one local university and one international university, launched the two diploma programmes in 2023. The FSI is also a registered Post Compulsory Education Institution, approved by the Cayman Islands Government, Ministry of Education, Education Council.

“Witnessing the graduation of our first 11 students who worked hard over the past 12 months learning about our finance services industry in the financial services diploma and gaining practical skills in our compliance diploma was a very proud moment”, said Byles.

The diploma courses give each student a unique opportunity to learn in a very direct manner about international financial services and its regulation. The courses are unique, in that they focus on the specific aspects of the financial services industry in Cayman. Both courses are taught by current industry and compliance experts which gives the students very practical insights into each subject.

This type of upskilling helps Caymanians to gain a comprehensive introduction which, in turn, helps them to better understand the context in which they carry out their current jobs or future jobs.

“We have received a lot of positive feedback from the first group of students about how the diploma programmes have helped them”, he added.

Cayman Compliance Diploma graduate, Gabrielle Myles said of her experience, “The FSI compliance diploma has been life changing for me. I went from a minimum wage job to working in one of the best corporate law firms on the island before I even finished the programme.”

The FSI’s current 2024 diploma programmes start on 21st October for registered students. New students interested in joining either diploma course can now enroll at any time as the courses will be available as fully online learning programmes.