Students from across the country were invited to develop and present their most innovative ideas for modern banking to local firm, J.P. Morgan; with the 鈥淭he People鈥檚 Bank鈥� (TPB) team being awarded winners at the end of the week-long schedule of events.
听
The popular summer school, which ran in BU鈥檚 Fusion building, saw around forty 17 and 18 year olds working in groups to come up with concepts and plans for banks 25 years into the future, including work around the increased use of online marketplaces, with BU鈥檚 Cyber Security Unit running workshops with the students to look at how to combat online vulnerabilities and cyber-crime.
听
Phil Paige, Vice President for Schools & College Engagement at J.P. Morgan, said: 鈥淭he students spend a week with us 鈥� it鈥檚 a very simple concept. We want them to throughout the week learn what it takes to run a major international services firm. There are loads of preconceptions and misconceptions around what our industry is about and who is involved, so this week has enabled the students to find that out for themselves - it鈥檚 not just a week of us talking to them.
听
鈥淲e do some one-hour sessions on some specific topics, but the vast majority of time, it鈥檚 the students in their groups doing research, creating their scenario: 鈥�25 years into the future鈥�, and ending up building a theoretical firm that would exist and thrive in those kinds of conditions.
听
鈥淭his is the third year we鈥檝e held the school now and It鈥檚 been a great partnership with BU - 听they鈥檝e got some fantastic facilities, they鈥檙e very accommodating of us coming in, particularly the Cyber Security team on-site who do some really interesting interactive sessions which I think the guys have really enjoyed.
听
He added: 鈥淭his was also the first year that we鈥檝e done two repeat sessions because we鈥檝e seen some really positive outcomes from it in terms of students completing the programme here and going on to the graduate programme with us. From our point of view as a business, there鈥檚 a tangible return as well as a philanthropic one.鈥�
听
Head of Regional Community Partnerships at BU, Ian Jones, said: 鈥淭he students, from all across the country, take part in a week鈥檚 course, which gives them a real understanding of the ways in which modern banking contributes to the global economy, and about how banks are often at the forefront of technology, e-commerce and industry.
听
听鈥淭he students spend a week enjoying our campus, facilities, and really get a sense of what it鈥檚 like to be a student at a university like BU, where the concept of fusion combining inspirational teaching, world-class research and the latest thinking gives rise to the next generation of industry professionals.鈥�
听
He added: 鈥淭he cyber security unit at BU has also been able to equip the students with an insight to the ways in which an increasingly sophisticated new type of cyber-criminal is always on the lookout for system vulnerabilities, creating a whole new type of threat to banking security.鈥�
听
听鈥淲orking in partnership with companies like J.P. Morgan enables us to share our teaching and learning, while building closer relationships with key local employers and community contributors.鈥�
At the end of the week the students had to present their ideas and take part in a Q&A with a panel of experts from JP Morgan, resulting in a win for "The People's Bank" (TPB). Judges remarked upon how well thought through the team鈥檚 concept was and how well it was presented.
听
TPB Team member Dhihran said: 鈥淚鈥檇 never been to Bournemouth before, but it was really good. It was good fun working with J.P. Morgan, a great experience and really worth it. We got a good insight into the industry despite good competition from the teams, it was good to network and meet new friends.鈥澨�
