Western Sydney University offers online CPD courses for finance professionals

Western Sydney University’s School of Business has partnered with online learning platform provider, OpenLearning to develop Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses catering to latest requirements of the financial services sector.

Dean of School of Business at the university, Amir Mahmood said the courses on offer on this online learning platform are designed to not only enhance knowledge and skills for these professionals, but also to meet the latest Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) requirements.

FASEA was established in April 2017 with the goal of setting the education, training and ethical standards of licensed financial advisers in Australia. FASEA launched a new Code of Ethics on January 1, 2020, with all financial advisers required to adhere to the Code.

Mahmood said, “Since January 2019, all financial advisers are required to participate in development programs to maintain and extend their professional capabilities, knowledge and skills.”

This requirement was established as part of the findings from the recent Royal Commission into the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry and this development has led the university to develop courses that offer up-to-the minute regulatory, technical and ethics training that are an integral part of professional financial advice.

Each course developed by OpenLearning and Western Sydney University is designed to enhance knowledge and skills within all CPD activity areas in order to meet FASEA’s Continuing Professional Development requirements – covering all the CPD activity areas which include technical competence, care and practice, regulatory compliance and consumer protection, and professionalism and ethics.

These CPD units are available through online learning which provides the flexibility for the learners.

He added that by working closely with OpenLearning, the university is now able to deliver these essential tools seamlessly.

Commenting on this newly cemented partnership, CEO of OpenLearning, Adam Brimo said, “We are very pleased to partner with Western Sdyney University on the design and development of these CPD courses. These courses set the benchmark for CPD within the sector with engaging, real-life scenarios, and established community of practice.”

Brimo added that these courses set the benchmark for CPD within the sector with engaging, real-life scenarios, and established community of practice.

This partnership echoes the wave of digitalisation, where traditional institutions of higher learning are seen to be evolving further away from full classroom delivery and transitioning to apply more modern modes of delivery.

Working professionals are increasingly opting out of traditional long-term degree courses to upskill themselves. Rather, these professionals are opting for universities that now offer short-term courses through blended or online learning platforms – which allow individuals with professional qualifications to meet developing industry requirements without the added time-investment.