More than 100 guests from the financial services industry joined Seneca College at Stock Market Place in Toronto this morning for a breakfast event that launched Seneca’s new Bachelor of Applied Business degree and introduced the industry to Seneca’s new Centre for Financial Services facility, scheduled to open September 2002.

The Bachelor of Applied Business – Financial Services Management, is the only program of its kind. The program, which will begin this fall, addresses the need for degree-level graduates with specialized skills for the banking, insurance and securities sectors.

Seventy students are expected to begin the program that will prepare graduates for careers in such areas as marketing, administration, compliance, operations and wealth management. Students will be also be prepared to complete the designations of Associate, Institute of Canadian Bankers and Fellow, Life Management Institute.

The Centre for Financial Services will see its new facility open in September. It will work closely with key financial services partners to anticipate and fulfill rapidly changing industry needs by developing quality education integrated with the newest technology.

“Today’s financial service providers are hearing experts paint a picture of massive restructuring and constant threats to the industry,” says Seneca College President, Dr. Rick Miner. “Seneca is able to provide the industry with the tools — the foresight, expertise, customized workplace training and job-ready graduates — needed to withstand and succeed in these times.”