Experienced industry mentors to broaden Lingnan University students' exposure to the insurance industry

19 Sep 2014

 
 

In order to give Risk and Insurance Management (RIM) undergraduate students more exposure to the insurance industry and to equip them with enhanced skill-sets for future career challenges, Lingnan University launched the AR Mentorship Programme yesterday.

The AR Mentorship Programme is organised by the Department of Finance and Insurance of Lingnan University and supported by the AR Charitable Foundation Scholarship Scheme. It aims to enable students to understand the operations of the risk management and insurance industry, and to develop relevant work skills to fulfill the requirements of employers in the industry. It also facilitates students’ career planning and preparation for joining the insurance industry, and develops their self-motivation to communicate with insurance professionals and explore opportunities in the industry.

At the Programme’s launch ceremony held yesterday, Prof Shalendra Sharma, Acting Vice President of Lingnan University, acknowledged the generous support from the AR Charitable Foundation, from which outstanding RIM students can benefit financially to pursue studies at the bachelor or even master degree levels. The mentoring scheme gives all RIM students the opportunity to link up with experts in the insurance profession through regular dialogue and meetings.

During the one-year mentoring period in 2014-2015, 29 RIM student mentees from Lingnan University will be involved in a diverse range of professional development and career counseling activities in insurance including sharing sessions, guest talks, career advising dinner, career training workshops and recruitment talks.

Eight experts and senior executives in the insurance sector will participate in the programme as mentors. At the launch ceremony, Appreciation Certificates were presented to the mentors by Prof Sharma and Mr Jason Wu, Director of AR Charitable Foundation Limited in recognition of their invaluable contributions to the programme.

In his address, Mr Wu said “the AR Charitable Foundation has been set up to market the insurance industry better. Part of its effort is through the Scholarship Scheme, and part is through the Mentorship Programme. The AR Charitable Foundation has found a perfect partner in Lingnan University. Lingnan University, being a liberal arts institution, has produced well-rounded young men and women who are ready for every challenge.”

Prof Michael Firth, Head of Lingnan University’s Department of Finance and Insurance, gave a brief summary of the recent re-accreditation of its RIM degree by the major professional insurance bodies. These accreditations allow its graduates to ‘fast-track’ their progress towards earning professional qualifications in risk and insurance management.

Lingnan University established the “AR Charitable Foundation Scholarship Scheme” with an earmarked donation of at least HK$10 million early this year. An awardee can receive more than HK$570,000 in scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

The scheme also includes internship opportunities for students. During their summer internships this year, students did research on Hong Kong’s health protection system and helped evaluate insurance proposals for products such as mobile phones. Student Cheng Yan-chung said, “After two years of studies and the internship, I’ve realised that insurance-related work covers a lot more than selling policies. For example, we had to use our knowledge and judgement to evaluate and analyse new insurance products.” He added that graduates of the RIM programme at Lingnan could get credit exemptions for exams for many professional qualifications.

About AR Charitable Foundation
AR Charitable Foundation is a privately funded foundation established by local Hong Kong entrepreneurs in 2011. To give back to the community from where the founders made their way to success, the Foundation endeavours to support community welfare, education, training and social innovation. Its goal is to foster the development of talents and capabilities of members of the community for the benefit of our society as a whole.

About AR Charitable Foundation Scholarship Scheme
The AR Charitable Foundation Scholarship Scheme is one of the most comprehensive scholarship schemes for RIM students in Hong Kong, providing partial or full coverage of tuition and hostel fees on an annual basis. Up to HK$450,000 can be offered to each final year RIM student who has successfully applied to the Master in Science programme in Insurance at the CASS Business School, City University London.

About Lingnan University’s Risk and Insurance Management Stream
The Risk and Insurance Management Stream equips students with fundamental knowledge in insurance and risk management that meets the needs of the banking and insurance industry, as well as general business management. Graduates are well prepared for managerial positions in insurance companies, banks, and related financial institutions, such as insurance underwriters, claim officers, bankers, insurance product developers, insurance brokers, insurance and financial instrument executives and non-insurance-related administrators. Completion of RIM courses will give exemptions from and credits toward the examinations of the major professional insurance bodies. For more information about the programme, please go to: http://www.ln.edu.hk/fin_ins/prog/prog-overview.php