Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ)
The Securities & Investment Institute (SII) and the Lebanese Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA), formally launched their specialist Islamic Finance Qualification (IFQ) - the first global benchmark examination covering Islamic Finance at an event at the Mansion House, in London, on 31st October.
A copy of the
Press Release is available in the Press link on the SII's website homepage.
The IFQ was was initiated by the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban) and was developed by an
Advisory Council for Islamic Finance (ACIF), a group of technical experts convened by SII in collobration with ESA. The original
announcement of the development of the qualification was made at a press conference on Friday 3rd June, 2005 hosted by the SII at its London offices.
A full
Factsheet and
Syllabus for the IFQ is available on the
IFQ qualification page in the
Qualifications & Exams section of the SII website for candidates interested in registering for the IFQ. The Syllabus and
Workbook (candidate learning materials) for the IFQ has been developed by the Advisory Council for Islamic Finance (ACIF). Additional information is contained in a
Questions & Answers (Q&A) on the Islamic Finance Qualification.
The qualification mainly targets professionals already working in the conventional and Islamic finance industries but is also available for candidates who are not yet in employment. The qualification will assure regulators, employers and consumer that candidates and employers can perform their role according to Islamic banking (Sharia) requirements. The IFQ is designed to equip staff with an understanding of the influence of Sharia in a business context and prepare them to hold key positions in the Islamic finance and Takaful (Islamic insurance) industries.
The IFQ is being offered initially to pilot candidates in the UK and Lebanon in December and January 2007 and will be available globally by Computer Based Testing
(CBT) from March 2007. Additional information for candidates is contained in the
IFQ Information sheet which contains details of registration, dates, booking examinations, training, costs and study material.
Management of the IFQ will be managed through an
IFQ Institute established by the partnership between the SII and Beirut based
Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA) .
Training institutions wishing to become accredited by the IFQ Institute to run courses for candidates studying for the IFQ can download the
Application Form and
Guidelines for UK ATP status or for overseas training providers, the
Guidelines for International ATP status, here.
Information in French and Arabic for candidates in the Gulf and Middle East can be found in the
Finance Islamique section of ESA's website. Candidates in Lebanon are recommended to sit their examination at the SII CBT Testing Centre at ESA which handles registration for the qualification and booking for the examinations in Lebanon directly. Please contact
Sandra Abboud by email: abboud.s@esa.edu.lb for details.
| Candidates who successfully pass the IFQ will be entitled to membership of the Securities & Investment Institute (SII). |  |
The SII and ESA can also be contacted by email at
IFQ mailbox at SII or the
IFQ mailbox at ESA
