From climate risks to digital financial inclusion

Frankfurt School’s International Advisory Services (IAS) once again hosted their Summer Academy. In the week from 11 July, 90 finance professionals from emerging and European markets met at the Frankfurt campus and discussed the key industry trends with the business school’s professors and researchers. In addition, the academy was attended by students enrolled in the Diploma in Green Finance and the Diploma in Financial Inclusion – the Summer Academy is the capstone in the one-year programmes.

Alexander Lehmann, Head of IAS Sustainable World Academy: “Our Summer Academy is a unique practitioner platform designed to provide tangible take-home value. Participants can apply straight away in their own organisation what they have learned at the academy. In addition, learning from each other is an integral part of the IAS training philosophy, and the Summer Academy is an ideal opportunity to stretch personal networks all around the globe.”

Financial services providers across the globe are undergoing rapid change. Many institutions face increasing competition, stricter regulation or embrace new market segments and digital technologies. The Summer Academy came at a critical juncture, as the global credit cycle turns and inflationary pressures result in additional risks.

This year, Frankfurt School’s Summer Academy offered a unique format of five specialist tracks:

1. Delegates in the risk management track covered the foundations of a risk framework and specialist topics such as corporate turnaround or the management of climate risks.
2. In the Digital and Inclusive Finance track, participants discussed the ongoing adoption of new technologies, approaches in regulation and case studies of digital financial inclusion strategies.
3. The discussions on agri-finance covered the implications of the global food price shock and opportunities in adaptation finance for exposed rural communities.
4. Discussions on sustainable finance centred on how the climate challenge can be integrated in the management of a financial institution, addressing increasing risks and opportunities.
5. A track on strategic management issues for senior banking executives covered the key emerging challenges for financial institutions.

Keynote lectures and panels with market practitioners and thought leaders from abroad and the Frankfurt financial community completed the week’s agenda. A highlight was the concluding panel with three leading development organisations: KfW and DEG-Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft from Germany, and the International Finance Corporation.