A feasibility study to identify the level of demand from students and employers for a Foundation Degree in Financial Services (FDFS) and also to establish key design criteria for the programme.

The feasibility study found that a well designed local foundation degree programme will precisely meet important needs of the finance sector in that it will provide local graduates with:

A sound understanding of :

• the financial services environment in Jersey;
  
• the ways in which the market operates and how firms compete;
  
• how firms operate and the interaction between functions;
  
• regulations and compliance , ethics and risk;
  
• customer focus and client management.
  

The following skills:

• communication (including report and letter writing) and general IT skills;
  
• ability to interpret a range of financial information;
  
• problem solving and team working;
  
• business awareness and acumen;research , analytical, summarising and synthesising skills;
  
• time management skills;
  
• learning review and reflection skills.
  
• the ability to apply this understanding and skills in the work place.
  
• the ability to develop existing skills and acquire new competencies that will enable them to assume greater responsibility within their organisation.
  

The feasibility study concluded that the local finance sector demand for graduates from this programme would be approximately 50 each year but employer enthusiasm may not be matched by similar enthusiasm from local students who will have to consider the ‘value’ of this new option against other university offers which are tried and tested, well known and well understood in terms of their reputation. As a result, the initial intake of students onto the FDFS programme may be small. It is also likely that they will not be the most academically able so they will require a significant amount of support to meet the standards expected of them by the industry.