IBP launches 'eLearning Management' portal

Taking another step towards modernisation of learning, Institute of Bankers Pakistan (IBP) has launched 'eLearning Management' portal to enhance the skills of bankers across the country. Addressing the launching ceremony of eILM, Hussain Lawai, Chief Executive of IBP said that IBP's eLearning Management (eILM) programme will provide a platform to all banks to train their resources with the globally accepted learning tools.
"Digital learning will help standardise training material for the banking sector. eLearning provides self-paced, scalable and consistent learning programme and the reach ability of digital learning will ensure that the same quality training is being imparted across the country," he added. Just a laptop or desktop and connectivity will be required for training anywhere in Pakistan. This will greatly help the banking staff located at far-flung and remote areas of Pakistan, he added.
Lawai said IBP has expedited its learning potentials exploring new dimensions of knowledge enhancement. Bringing in innovative and state-of-the-art learning methodologies making learning more interactive and useful for all levels from entry level to the senior management of the banking industry, he said.
"We are now meeting HR and learning heads of the banking industry on a quarterly basis to assess their training needs and evaluate the usefulness of the IBP training programs at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad," he maintained. The CE of IBP said that to meet the global standards and produce internationally competent workforce, the IBP has also invited international trainers from renowned reputable organisations to come and exchange knowledge with bankers in Pakistan.
Even cost-wise, it is much cheaper for the banking sector to train their senior and middle level staff right here in Pakistan than to send them for training abroad, he said and added that bringing international trainers to Pakistan is a challenge but the institute has managed to train 169 participants through 10 international trainings in 2015-16. "This year the numbers are set to increase further and we cover specialized subject of Risk Management, Business Continuity, Basel II and III, Digital Disruption, etc," he said.
The institute is also partnering with global institutions such as Omega, International Finance Co-operation, McKinsey Academy, Business Continuity Institute (BCI) and University of Bangor to bring international best practices into Pakistan through quality trainings, certifications and qualifications, the CE said.
In addition, he said that IBP has designed Islamic banking diploma and offers it to fresh graduates and the banks' staff who want to pursue their career in Islamic banking in Pakistan. "IBP has made all the arrangements for its formal launch and will offer this diploma from January 2017. The unique feature of this programme will be that staff pursuing excellence or specialization in specific area of Islamic banking including profit and loss distribution, credit risk management, treasury, etc," he added.
The institute is strategically moving forward to not only create excellence in all products and services offerings but ensure that all be the best in the market, he said and added, "We aim to be first preference of the financial sector when it comes to personal and professional trainings of human capital."
He said another initiative of the institute during the current year was well received by the banking fraternity was the Certified General Banker (CGB) programme under the flagship of The IBP School - (TIS). "This was a unique programme launched by the institute to train fresh graduates with the knowledge and skills of banking. The first batch of this programme is on the verge of passing out soon. Altogether, 135 candidates have been both personally and professionally trained and groomed under this programme," he added.
On a demand from the microfinance sector, Lawai said IBP will launch a separate batch of CGB for microfinance companies as their requirement for trained staff are different from the commercial banks. IBP will offer two months' training programme consisting of theoretical and practical training for entry level staff.
In order to provide a platform to interact with the alumni, fellows, financial industry and business school students, IBP has started holding monthly seminars on topics of current interest, such as challenges to Islamic banking, Pakistan signing OECD Convention on automatic exchange of tax information, changes in banking law and CPEC, he maintained.