A new course beginning this fall at York University will help prepare the next generation of risk management and insurance (RMI) professionals.
The Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) and the Faculty of Science – brought together by the Risk and Insurance Studies Centre (RISC) and supported by funding from the Spencer Educational Foundation and the Academic Innovation Fund – will offer ECON/MATH 1280 Principles of Risk Management and Insurance, a 1000-level, cross-listed course.
The new joint offering, led by RISC with the support of the Department of Economics and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, addresses widespread advancements in the field that have changed the ways companies assess potential risks and respond to customer needs. The course is designed to engage, inspire and spark interest in RMI for those enrolled in economics and math, as well as students studying law, health, business and humanities.
Students will benefit from a comprehensive, interactive introduction to RMI through its curriculum, networking opportunities, professional development workshops and hands-on components using virtual reality technology.
“This course is an excellent way for students to assess their interests in the financial and insurance sectors,” said Bakeeshan Kathirchelvan, teaching assistant and manager at Aviva Canada. “Many aspiring insurance professionals tend to move into the workforce without having a view of the bigger picture. For some, this comes naturally. For others, it needs to be fostered over a period of time. The course helps to build that understanding at an early stage in one’s education.”
Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the course can expect traditional lectures from experienced instructors and biweekly presentations from industry leaders. Each week, critical thinking and problem-solving capacities will be developed in relation to relevant topics – from financial, operational and environmental risks to insurance mechanisms, corporate infrastructures and a wide range of emerging industry trends.
“As an experienced insurance and financial services executive, I am excited to be part of this program,” said Barbara Bellissimo, course director and immediate past senior vice-president of Desjardins. “My personal goal is to inspire and energize the future leaders of this industry by demonstrating the incredible opportunities available to them. I can’t wait to begin.”
For more information on this course, contact Gina Pagiamtzis, consultant of academic programs, at gpagiamt@yorku.ca.