CFA Institute Hosts its First Finance Industry Network Roundtable in Hyderabad to Strengthen Academia–Industry Collaboration

Hyderabad, 06 August 2026: CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, recently hosted its first Finance Industry Network (FIN) Roundtable in Hyderabad, bringing together academic leaders and finance educators from leading universities across the city to discuss strengthening alignment between finance education and the evolving needs of the global investment profession.

The FIN Roundtable served as an orientation-cum-discussion session designed to introduce CFA Institute’s university engagement initiatives, facilitate the exchange of perspectives on finance education, and explore opportunities to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.

The session provided an overview of the CFA Program®, its globally recognised, practitioner-driven curriculum, and its relevance for undergraduate and postgraduate finance education. Discussions also highlighted CFA Institute’s broader portfolio of learning pathways and initiatives that support students and educators in developing industry-relevant knowledge, ethical decision-making capabilities, and practical skills for careers in finance.

Speaking at the roundtable, Saim Fakih, Manager, University Relations–India, CFA Institute, said: “The Hyderabad FIN Roundtable marked an important milestone in our efforts to deepen engagement with academic institutions across India. The discussions highlighted the shared commitment of educators and industry stakeholders to preparing students for an increasingly dynamic and global financial ecosystem. A notable theme that emerged from the discussions was the growing number of students securing placements in Global Capability Centers (GCCs), reflecting Hyderabad’s emergence as a major hub for the financial services. With several multinational organizations establishing and expanding their presence in the city, Hyderabad appears well positioned for continued growth and offers a promising future for aspiring finance professionals.”

The roundtable brought together representatives from leading institutions across Hyderabad, including IMT Hyderabad, Woxsen University, NMIMS Hyderabad, GITAM University, University of Hyderabad, and St. Joseph’s Degree & PG College, among others.

Deepak Singh Parihar, Professor of Practice at Woxen University commented: “It was great joining the FIN Roundtable by CFA Institute along with academicians from other institutions – we talked about how we can make students more industry ready and how the CFA Program fits into their journey. We also discussed the different avenues where students can develop their skills, how we can increase our curriculum relevance, manage emerging industry expectations, employability, and opportunities for deeper institutional collaboration through faculty engagement and student-focused initiatives. The session concluded with an interactive exchange of ideas on strengthening industry-academia partnerships and enhancing student readiness for careers in the investment profession.”

Sarath Babu, Associate Professor & Area Chair – Finance & Accounting, IMT Hyderabad, added: “It was great to be invited by CFA Institute for their first Finance Industry Network roundtable in Hyderabad. We had productive discussions about finance and how the finance industry is shaping up. We also discussed how the CFA Program is helping students to keep abreast what’s happening in investment management space.”