SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY (SBU) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) signed a partnership to facilitate the launch of a comprehensive financial literacy and stock market program for the Bedan community at the Pamanang Bedista last July 15.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SBU and the PSE covers two major phases spanning several academic years.
The first phase, the Investor Education Initiative, will take effect from 2025 to 2027, focusing on foundational financial literacy programs such as seminars, webinars, stock trading games, and exchange visits aimed at enhancing students’ practical understanding of the capital market.
The second phase, from 2027 to 2029, will introduce the Certified Securities Specialist Course (CSSC), a specialized certification program offered to students, alumni, and participants from other institutions to “deepen their expertise in capital market operations.”
Under this partnership, students will gain access to PSE Equip Premium, a platform that provides hands-on exposure to real-time trading, while the Business Clinic—an outreach initiative—will enable Financial Management and business students to teach financial literacy to the University’s partner communities.
The agreement also opens internship opportunities for qualified Bedan students within the PSE.
Prof. Edilberto B. Viray Jr., Chairperson of the Department of Financial Management, said that reigniting ties with the national bourse has been a priority since he assumed leadership of the program.
“It’s been quite a few years since we had the presence of the Philippine Stock Exchange across all our platforms, in all our discussions, and of course, in education. Because back then, the market education program of the PSE was run [by] a Bedan,” he explained.
He added that the renewed partnership aims to “bring market education back into the heart of Bedan business instruction.”
Atty. Roel A. Refran, PSE Chief Operating Officer (COO), underscored the shared mission of the PSE and SBU.
“The signing is really to institutionalize that we are like-minded institutions. We look at you as enablers of change,” he said in his keynote address.
“I can only imagine what we can achieve with this together moving forward. So to us, we really value partnerships. It’s not just one of many for us. Each partner will have a different requirement. But here, talagang excited kami only because we feel that we are very aligned in [our] values,” added Refran.
The signing ceremony was attended by key university officials, including Prof. Edilberto B. Viray Jr., MAE; Dr. Jackqui R. Moreno, Chairperson of the Department of Accountancy and Taxation; and Assistant Professor Rulina B. Viloria, Chairperson of the Department of Economics and Public Policy.
Representing the PSE were Atty, Refran, Capital Markets Development Division Head Mark Frederick V. Visda, and Market Education Associate Christina Mikelle K. Aguiluz.
(with Benedict Asher Ugaddan)