In the early summer of 2025, Dr. Paul C.D. Lei, Chairman of TABF, led a delegation to Frankfurt, Germany and Edinburgh, UK, to sign cooperation memoranda with the internationally renowned Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and the Chartered Banker Institute (CBI). These new bilateral strategic partnerships represent institutional cooperation and symbolize a new chapter of active integration by Taiwanese financial education with the international community, expanding training for an era of sustainability.
Ever since its post-war establishment, the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management has gradually transformed from a German banking school to a top international financial university, accumulating a solid foundation in fields such as artificial intelligence, digital finance, risk management, and sustainable finance, including both research and practice.
The TABF delegation arrived at the Frankfurt School on May 5 and was warmly welcomed by the school's senior leaders, including Fatma Dirkes, Andreas Emser and Jonas Fleer. Vice President Dirkes told the delegation that senior management education accounts for one-third of the school's total revenue, which shows the school's deep investment in the training needs of financial professionals. Chairman Lei emphasized that "financial education has no borders, and the cultivation of sustainability talent requires a global perspective and cross-border cooperation." Vice President Dirkes responded, "We have been looking for long-term cooperation in Asia, and TABF would be our ideal partner."
One of the priority collaborations will be the International Executive Campus course with the Frankfurt School from September 22-26, covering topics such as leadership, strategy, innovation, project management, sustainable management, and female leadership for a completion certificate. The flexible and practical curriculum will include industry lecturers and corporate visits, a valuable opportunity for further study by Taiwanese financial practitioners who are interested in expanding their international presence.
Next, the delegation went to Edinburgh, UK, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with CBI on May 7, continuing the partnership established in 1999. CEO Dr. Giles Cuthbert, Head of Professional Development Jennifer Prew, and other senior executives warmly welcomed the delegation.
CBI, the world's oldest banking professional ethics organization, is the only institution authorized by the Royal Charter to grant the Chartered Banker qualification. It has long been influential in professional certification, responsible banking and green finance. It has also cooperated with storied British universities such as the University of Cambridge and University of St Andrews to develop joint courses which combine theory with practice.
The Green and Sustainable Finance Certificate they jointly developed with the UK government is the world's first professional certification designed specifically for green finance. This course covers core topics such as climate risk management, sustainable financial product design, ESG information disclosure, and regulatory trends, helping current financial practitioners establish comprehensive knowledge and skills. This course has become an important reference for sustainable finance in various countries. For Taiwan, it helps to strengthen its international vision and professionalism, and serves as an important implementation tool for green finance actions and policy goals.
In addition to green finance certification, CBI joined hands with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in 2022 to jointly establish the Principles for Responsible Banking Academy, implementing the United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking.
Currently, CBI has launched six international online courses, covering climate and nature-related financial disclosures (TCFD/TNFD), sustainable financial governance, responsible banking, artificial intelligence and risk management, and ESG in customer relationships. This modular and systematic learning framework has been widely adopted by financial institutions in Europe and the British Commonwealth, becoming an important tool in the industry for internal training and career development.
Ms. Jennifer Prew, Head of Professional Development at CBI, emphasized: “These online courses are not only highly professional and accessible, but also strengthen the industry’s commitment to responsible banking.”
Chairman Lei said that the cooperation with CBI will help Taiwan align with the international principles of responsible banking and further enhance the professional ethics and ESG resilience of the financial industry. He also announced that the Leading Executive Appraisal Program (LEAP), which will enter its 15th year this year, will be held in London in September. One day will be co-organized with CBI.
Whether it is the Executive Campus course focusing on ESG and strategic innovation, or the responsible banking training emphasizing ethics and practice, these two partnerships will become key cornerstones for Taiwan's financial education. As said by Chairman Lei, "In the midst of global changes, financial professionals must have a sense of responsibility and international vision." This collaboration between with Europe add international energy to Taiwan's financial education and financial industry development, demonstrating TABF's commitment to “start with education and aim for sustainability.”
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