The 2nd Ukrainian Local Level of CFA Institute Research Challenge has started

On October 7-8, 2011 at the Hall of Institute of Postgraduate Education CFA Ukraine Society gathered more than 90 students and faculty advisors from 20 Ukrainian universities in 10 major cities of Ukraine as well as mentors from leading investment and audit companies in Ukraine for the Kick Off Meeting of the 2nd CFA Institute Research Challenge in Ukraine.

*more photos here

The participants and guests of the Challenge were welcomed by Tatiana Nichosova, Chair of CFA Institute Research Challenge in Ukraine, who introduced the idea and goals of the Challenge in Ukraine and invited Segrey Glazunov, President of CFA Ukraine Society, to speak about the organizers of the competition: CFA Institute and CFA Ukraine Society. During his speech Mr. Glazunov outlined the essence of CFA program and underlined the role CFA designation in the investment profession. 

Special guest of the Challenge, Yuriy Vitrenko, General Director of AYA Capital gave an inspiring speech to the participants on “Research Challenge in Your Future Career”. As employer at the investment market, Mr. Vitrenko stressed on the high importance of ethics and professionalism that should be inherent to every person who work at the financial market. And Research Challenge is good opportunity for students to test and to further develop these merits.

On 7th October as a part of the Kick-Off meeting the series of skills seminars were held by leading experts of the related field: 

• Presentations skills by Volodymyr Vakhitov, Assistant professor, Kyiv School of Economics (KSE)/Senior Economist, Kyiv Economics Institute (KEI); 
• Ethical and Professional Standards by Hanna Murina, CFA, Financial Controller, SMART Holding; 
• How to write Research Report by Andrey Bespyatov, Ph.D, CFA, Managing Director, Research, Dragon Capital. 

After the short break participant had a meeting with the management of the Subject company. Sergey Trifonov, Investor Relations Officer at Milkiland presented the company and answered the questions of the future financial analysts.

Enriched by fresh knowledge students were invited to the dinner with their industry mentors.

The next day, on Saturday, October 8, 2011 CFA charterholders and candidates shared with the students their knowledge, experience and outlined the steps in developing their career. The students met and talked to: 

• Alexey Bochmanov, CFA, Associate Investment Officer at IFC; 
• Andriy Dmytrenko, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Sales and Retail Business Development at Dragon Capital; 
• Alexander Vedeneyev, Head of Fixed Income Research at AYA Capital; 
• Svetlana Samko, Investment Associate at ADM Capital. 

Success stories from investment professionals were followed by the not less successful story of the winners of the 1st CFA Institute Research Challenge in Ukraine. Students of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv: Roman Anzin, Taras Pasazhko, Nataliia Shpigotskaya and Anna Reshetova gave practical advices on what should be done and what should be avoided while managing the team, writing the research report and giving presentation to the expert panel of judges.

Filled by new information and impressions the participants had a chance to share their thoughts from the event with the peers during lunch. 

2 hard working months are ahead for the participants of the 2nd CFA Institute Research Challenge in Ukraine. The first class research reports should be prepared with the advice of industry mentor and help of faculty advisor to be among one of the first five teams that would have a chance to present their findings to the expert panel of judges on January 31, 2012.