Fresh graduates with no work experience can be at a disadvantage in a tough economic environment, where jobs are at a premium. That is what Vivian Wong Wing-hang thought when she came back from Canada last summer, armed with a bachelor degree in commerce and economics. But she need not have worried. Less than a year later her career is well on track, thanks to an introductory banking course she took as a summer trainee with Standard Chartered Bank. She signed up for the course, launched last September, because she saw it as an opportunity to determine if she was genuinely interested in the banking industry. 'I learnt all the practical and useful things about the local banking industry, and the instructors' inspiring stories and experiences increased my interest in the field,' said Ms Wong, who was offered a contract position in consumer banking on completing the course. Within months, the position was extended to a permanent role. She is now channel development officer, strategy, with the consumer banking section. 'The past nine months have been really amazing,' she enthused. 'The course was very useful and interesting. It helped to confirm my career interest, and at the same time it equipped me with the know-how. My job is challenging, but the workplace culture is warm and friendly. Everything is encouraging and positive.' The Financial Career Institute, the academic arm of Standard Chartered Bank, is committed to helping people equip themselves with the essentials for embarking on a career in the financial industry. The institute is open to the public. The courses are designed to support a few key positions, including that of relationship manager in consumer and corporate banking. Topics include an introduction to the banking industry, specific career preparation programmes for targeted positions and soft skills development courses. 'Hong Kong is an international financial centre with a status on a par with New York and London. It should have a recognised standard for the industry,' said Katherine Tsang King-suen, chief executive of SC Learning, a fully owned subsidiary of the bank and holding company of the Financial Career Institute. 'After the Asian financial crisis, our economy has developed into a knowledge economy. Society needs knowledgeable people, and in our industry we need more people who are well trained in banking and finance. 'As our group chief executive, Mervyn Davies, has pointed out, you have to be continuously and consistently learning in order to be a world-class leader.' The institute was set up last year after a thorough reorganisation of training functions at Standard Chartered. 'The bank's learning and development function was reorganised in 2001,' Ms Tsang said. 'It was a very successful exercise. We reduced the training cost by 57 per cent and the manpower cost by another 40 per cent.' Standard Chartered research revealed a need in the community for comprehensive training services. The bank, which has an outstanding track record in training, decided to roll out an institute designed to serve not only internal needs but also those of the general public. 'The reasons for setting up the institute were genuine drivers, not just nice-sounding cliches,' Ms Tsang said. 'The entire industry needs a continuous flow of good professionals. We believe this service will benefit the industry and the community.' Drawing on the bank's long history and a well-equipped learning and development team, the institute is striving to be innovative in its planning and management. It has hired a branding and marketing expert, Sheila Wong Shue-ngar, to run operations. Ms Wong is now head of the institute. The institute has adopted an inviting, customer-driven approach that is reflected in a number of details, from logo and decor to promotional materials. It has also adopted new ways to address the needs and concerns of its students. 'We want to offer training in a very different way,' Ms Wong said. The institute uses a 'total quality management' approach to develop a 'total learning experience', which will be trademarked at a later stage. 'Before the actual course dates, we will conduct information seminars and, upon course completion, we will organise evaluation and feedback sessions to ensure that individuals can apply what they have learned in their work and daily life. Everything comes as a real benefit to the person,' Ms Wong said. Another institute speciality is providing courses in the sequence of a career road map. 'We offer courses in line with different stages of the students' careers,' Ms Tsang said. 'As a banking practitioner, we know what they need and what fits them. This is different from the traditional knowledge and information-sharing approach of universities.'
