Mary O’Dea
CEO, IOB
With a worldwide reputation as a leading global financial services centre, professionals must stay ahead of the sector’s fast-paced changes through learning.
As Ireland is a significant player in the global financial landscape, it is perhaps no surprise that the leading Dublin-based institution IOB is pioneering a financial services standards-based national skills framework, boosting development and education in the sector.
Education and empowerment
IOB is a recognised college of the University College Dublin. It has a professional network of 33,000 people and 38 corporate members, including many of Ireland’s top banking funds and financial services organisations. “Our mission is to educate, enable and empower our professional community,” explains Chief Executive Officer, Mary O’Dea.
Education and upskilling are integral
to the success of the sector, which
continuously undergoes fast-paced change.
Initiative is released in phases
Their aim is to map the skills essential to financial services and allow individuals to explore related functions in the industry and then strengthen their skillset with the right education and training options. The first part of this initiative will launch in the latter part of June, focused on the retail banking sector, with more sub-sectors being added in the coming months.
“We are very excited because we think it will be an absolute game-changer both for education and professional development within the industry in Ireland,” adds O’Dea.
Tailoring courses to suit needs
IOB offers working professionals a wide range of degree-level study programmes available online, on demand and some in person. During 2023/2024, almost 7,000 people enrolled on its accredited programmes. “We support financial services professionals to gain in-demand skills and expertise with over 40 UCD accredited programmes,” says O’Dea.
Listening to members and tailoring courses to suit requirements means learners can choose to block out a week or two in their diaries for the executive education programmes, such as the Certified Bank Director programme and the Certified Investment Fund Director programme.
Currently trending courses
Education and upskilling are integral to the success of the sector, which continuously undergoes fast-paced change. For example, there is a huge on-demand need for learning modules around sustainable finance and artificial intelligence.
Last year, a bespoke and innovative programme was launched to support compliance professionals as they lead the adoption of sustainable finance. To meet the needs of the AI explosion, new on-demand courses have been introduced, including a detailed skills certificate in AI and, for more technical learning needs, there is a course on AI modelling.
