Smart Education in Cyprus : Cyprus International Institute of Management Named Winner of Inaugural Local CFA Institute Research Challenge

CFA Society of Cyprus announced today that CIIM has won the local competition of the CFA Institute Research Challenge. In addition to the valuable experience, the winning team was also awarded a cash prize of €2,000 sponsored by the investment firm XM.com. The CIIM team consists of Elina Anastasiou, Riina Amalie Aab, Vruyr Gabrielyan and Panayiotis Stavrou. The following universities competed with CIIM at the CFA Institute Research Challenge in Cyprus: Cyprus University of Technology, European University of Cyprus, Neapolis University Paphos, University of Cyprus and University of Nicosia. Each university sent a team of three-to-five students to participate in the local challenge

The students presented their analysis and buy/sell/hold recommendations on Blue Island Plc. Their presentation was the culmination of months of research, interviews with company management, competitors, and clients; and presentation training. The Inaugural CFA Institute Research Challenge hosted by CFA Society of Cyprus was sponsored by XM.COM.

The Inaugural CFA Institute Research Challenge hosted by CFA Society of Cyprus was sponsored by XM.COM.

The President of the CFA Society of Cyprus, Ioannis Georgiou, CFA, congratulated the winning team, all participants and volunteers and remarked that this has been a very positive experience for all involved and the CFA Society of Cyprus will establish the Research Challenge as a permanent event.

Dr. George Theocharides, Associate Professor of Finance at the CIIM who acted as faculty advisor for the winning team said "This was an excellent initiative from the CFA Society of Cyprus and one of great benefit for our students and everyone else involved. Such events strengthen the collaboration between the CFA Institute and the local universities and give the chance to our students to be exposed and learn from practical, real-life problems, that complements their academic knowledge. "

Pambos Panayiotou, CFA Executive Director of XM.com congratulated the winning team and presented the awards. He confirmed his Company’s interest to keep supporting the CFA Society, Cyprus and the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

CFA Institute Research Challenge

The CFA Institute Research Challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally, and globally for an annual competition. In order to promote best practices in equity research and company analysis, student’s research, analyze, and report on a company as if they are practicing analysts. Local CFA member societies and other affiliated groups host local level competitions of the Research Challenge in conjunction with the participating universities. The universities assemble teams of three to five business and finance students who work directly with a company in researching and preparing a company analysis. The team’s final presentations are locally evaluated by high-profile panels of heads of research, portfolio managers, and chief investment officers from the world’s top firms. The local champions advance to regional competitions in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and then to the Global Final. Additional information on the Research Challenge is available on the CFA Institute website,

CFA Society of Cyprus

Established in 2003, CFA Society Cyprus is the local member society for CFA Charter holders dedicated to professional excellence, integrity, education, volunteer service and strength of community. CFA Society Cyprus has over 100 members representing all major banks and financial services institutions, who are working in various practice fields such as investment valuation, portfolio management, asset allocation, economic and market analysis.

CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has more than 113,000 members in 140 countries and territories, including 102,000 CFA charterholders, and 137 member societies. For more information,

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