About the Programme
Brief on the Degree
The B.Sc in Banking and Finance provides
exposure to banking and finance concepts, knowledge and skills
that allow for practical application in the workplace, in a
highly competitive and rapidly changing sector. The programme
seeks to develop a formally trained cadre of banking and finance
industry Caribbean professionals, specifically targeting persons
who desire formal academic qualifications to bolster their work
experience and advance their technical competencies.
At a time when the financial services
industry is becoming one of the most dynamic in the Caribbean,
the programme has been developed to provide regional
professionals with a relevant Caribbean-based alternative that
is equivalent to those offered by international banking
institutes.
Aims and objectives
- To develop well-rounded professionals
who have a sound and comprehensive knowledge of critical
issues important in the banking and financial services
sector and the business environment in general.
- To expose students to the fundamental
components of the banking and financial services sector.
- To enable students to develop
knowledge and skills in specialist areas related to the
banking and financial services sector.
- To enhance the technological culture
of the financial community in the Caribbean.
Duration of the Programme
Currently, distance students are governed
by the University’s regulations for part-time students.
Accordingly, an average distance student is expected to complete
one academic year of full-time study in two academic years.
Requirements for the Award of the Degree
In order to qualify for the award
of the degree, a student must complete a minimum of 90 credits
(normally equivalent to 30 courses), of which:
- A minimum of 30 credits are from Level
1 courses, and must include six credits of Foundation
courses.
- A minimum of 60 credits are from
Levels 2 and 3 courses.
Students are required to pass each
component of FOUN 1001 (i.e. coursework and final examination)
in order to qualify for a pass overall.
Trailing lower level courses into the level above
Normally, the Faculty will allow you to
trail no more than two Level 1 courses into Level 2, provided
that the courses you are trailing are not prerequisites for the
courses for which you have registered for Level 2. You may also
be allowed to commence Level 3 courses and trail no more than
two Level 2 courses, provided you have satisfied the
prerequisites for the Level 3 courses.
Students can trail Foundation Courses. This
means, for example, that even though FOUN 1001 is a Level 1
Foundation Course, you do not have to complete it before going
on to Level 2 and you can take it during your second year.
However, you should note that trailing might add to your course
load and create additional strain on your time resources.
Number of credit hours for which you can register
As a part-time distance student, you will
be allowed to register for a maximum of 21 credits or a minimum
of 12 credits over a period of two semesters. In your first
semester, we suggest you register for 2 three-credit courses and
no more than 3 courses in any semester.
Course delivery
ECIB and UWIDEC will partner for course delivery. ECIB’s courses
will be delivered via videoconferencing (VC - delivery) while
UWIDEC’s courses will use the blended learning approach
(BL
- Bended Learning delivery).
The Videoconferencing delivery mode (VC)
The videoconferencing delivery courses are supervised by UWIDEC
and ECIB appointed course coordinators and assisted by ECIB
appointed course tutors supervised by UWIDEC staff.
The videoconferencing will take place
at ECIBs' appointed Centres throughout the region.
The blended learning approach (BL)
The blended learning approach uses the
Learning Management System “Moodle”. The intention is to place
greater emphasis on the asynchronous dimensions of
delivery and reduce emphasis on the synchronous
dimensions. In other words, UWIDEC is focusing more on using
technologies that allow students to study anywhere and at any
time, and less on those technologies that require students to be
present at a particular place at a particular time. The
self-study print-based instructional package remains a
significant component of this approach.
In this web-based learning environment,
students are monitored by e-tutors, and, depending on the
course, engage in any of the following activities:
- Participate in an online discussion
forum
- Undertake practice exercises also
known as self-assessment exercises (SAE’s)
- Do multiple-choice questions (MCQ’s)
- Engage in some limited research
activity using links to other web sites
- Comment on articles or any other
material selected by the course coordinator
- Engage in other activities that the
course coordinator may decide on
What you need for this Programme
- A Username and a Password (supplied by UWIDEC) to log into the blended learning courses
- A computer with CD-Rom drive
- Access to the Internet, preferably with a connection speed of greater than 56 kbps
- A full-featured browser, e.g. Netscape Navigator version 4.5x or higher, or Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Anti-virus software
- An email account
The following three (3) manuals have been included in your
course package and were prepared by UWIDEC to assist you in
adapting to an online environment as well as functioning
effectively as lifelong learners:
- Orientation to Online Learning (2006)
This manual is intended to prepare you for UWIDEC courses with
an online component and help you familiarize yourself with
Moodle.
- Improving Your Study Skills (2006)
This manual is intended to assist you to become aware of your learning styles and to identify and use study strategies
appropriate to your style.
Assist you to develop strategies for effective time management
Enhance your capability for interacting meaningfully and productively with reading material
Provide opportunity for you to strengthen your higher order thinking skills
- Managing Your Learning Offline And Online (2006-2007)
This guide is intended to assist you in managing key areas of your study, with special emphasis on the tasks that you are
required to perform in the study of a typical course. While a lot of it focuses on your study online, it also pays attention
to your offline activities, since the two are interdependent.
Whereas it is not compulsory that you read these manuals, we do
recommend that you at least get acquainted with the content and
that you refer to the relevant sections throughout your course
of study.
Most importantly.... What you will need to successfully complete
your course of study is:
-
A commitment to spend at least 8 hours per week on work and
related interaction for each course undertaken in the
programme
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