The Experience Paradox: CFA Institute and AmplifyME partner to help university students gain practical finance experience

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has announced a new initiative with AmplifyME to help university students gain practical, job-ready experience for careers in finance.

The AmplifyME initiative is offered to the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program network of leading finance faculties around the world. It will provide students at participating universities with access to immersive financial simulations and real-world analytics experiences, including trading, portfolio management, markets and applied data exercises. The programme is designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry application at a time when employers increasingly expect graduates to arrive with practical experience.

For students seeking to enter the finance sector, this expectation creates a difficult paradox. Employers want candidates who can demonstrate applied skills, commercial awareness and confidence in real-world scenarios, but many students struggle to secure the internships or work placements that would allow them to build that experience. With demand for internships far exceeding supply, students are often expected to have practical experience before they have been given a realistic opportunity to acquire it.

Peter Watkins, Senior Director, University Relations at CFA Institute, said:

“Students looking to build careers in finance are facing a real experience gap. Employers understandably want graduates who can apply what they have learned, demonstrate technical skills and show that they understand how markets work in practice. But the route to gaining that experience is often too narrow. There simply are not enough internships or placements available to meet the level of demand.”

“That creates a paradox: every employer wants practical experience, but too often assumes another employer will provide it. The result is that talented students can find themselves locked out of opportunity because they have not yet had the chance to prove what they can do. Through this partnership with AmplifyME, we want to help universities give students access to practical, applied experiences that build confidence, strengthen employability and make careers in finance more accessible.”

Piers Curran, COO, AmplifyME, said:

“The shortage of internships means too many students are left trying to enter the finance profession without the practical experience employers expect. Our simulations are designed to change that. They give students the chance to step into realistic market environments, make decisions under pressure, apply technical knowledge and understand how the industry works beyond the textbook.”

“By working with CFA Institute and its university network, we can help more students develop the skills, confidence and evidence of practical experience they need to compete for roles in finance. This partnership is about democratising access to the kinds of applied learning opportunities that have traditionally been available only to a small number of students through internships. A student completing the full Pathways programme will leave with practical experience in markets, banking or quant roles, and the evidence of applied skills that employers are increasingly looking for at entry level.”

CFA Institute and AmplifyME share a common mission to demystify and democratise access to careers in finance. The partnership will also help universities strengthen their employability offer by giving students a differentiated learning experience that connects academic study with the realities of professional practice.