Mumbai institute to offer US-type financial courses

The Asian Institute of Communication and Research (AICAR), a Mumbai-based business school promoted by former Leo-Burnett Chairman Walter Saldhana, has struck a membership agreement with the prestigious Life Office Management Association (LOMA) of the US.

This will enable the AICAR Business School to offer two of LOMA's internationally-acclaimed courses on insurance and financial services management to its students.

According to the institute, these courses will involve both class room sessions and self-study packages.

On completion of the course, the participants will receive a certificate entitling them to appear for LOMA's examinations to be conducted through the institute.

Successful students will earn the Fellow of Life Management Institute (FLMI) and Fellow of Financial Services Institute (FFSI).

While FLMI covers insurance areas like health, life and annuity, FFSI covers subjects in financial services like banking and mutual funds.

"Our unique course is based on LOMA's text materials, relevant for students and industry professionals seeking to make a career in a broad array of financial services markets and firms," said S Kutty, head (insurance and financial services), AICAR.

AICAR will conduct the course both as part of its two-year PGBDA programme and as a stand-alone programme.

LOMA's programmes have been popular not only among professionals in insurance companies but also in related enterprises like infotech and business process outsourcing firms.

AICAR was set up in 2001 and offers a two-year, full-time PGDBA programme designed to provide hands-on experience in areas of marketing, communications, human resources, insurance and financial services.

"We believe in constantly upgrading our course structure to keep it in line with industry needs. LOMA's education programme will give both students and professionals a unique blend of theory and practice in insurance and financial services, which would lead to a job-specific and customised learning experience," said Kutty.