Innovation and Excellence Grants celebrate their success in practice - Volume 4

When AI, ESG and regulation meet: the new era of financial education

The increasing complexity of financial services, the emergence of new technology players, and the need to navigate a rapidly evolving regulatory environment are requiring significant changes in the education of financial professionals. Today, the financial sector demands not only a deep knowledge of traditional economic theory and analytical skills, but also the ability to understand modern tools - including artificial intelligence, ESG reporting and the digitisation and automation of accounting.

For several years now, the Master's programme in Finance at ECON MUNI has been responding to these challenges by innovating and delivering superior quality teaching. In addition to subjects such as AI in Finance or ICT in Accounting, which have become a firm part of the curriculum, other significant changes have been implemented in the last two years to reflect the needs of practice and regulatory developments.

One of the most prominent examples of the modernisation of teaching at the Department of Finance is the Financial Derivatives course, which has undergone a complete revision in order to introduce students to the complex world of derivative instruments in a modern, interactive way. Teachers have developed new teaching materials in the Quarto environment that allow students to work with derivative positions through simulations, dynamic visualizations and instant feedback. "Videos, animations and interactive calculations help us better understand the complex structures and risks of derivative products. Learning in this hands-on way really makes a difference," shares the experience of a second-year student in the follow-up Master's degree.

The upgrade was also followed by the Securities Analysis course, where new case studies were created focusing on the valuation of companies using a combination of traditional financial data and non-financial indicators such as sustainability, diversity or innovation capacity. Here, students link quantitative models with qualitative valuation, using tools commonly used in the practice of investment analysts. In doing so, they acquire the skills necessary for investment decision-making in a world where the market value of companies depends not only on numbers but also on their ability to adapt to the challenges of the day.

The course Regulation and Supervision of Financial Markets also responds to the development of financial market regulation, with a new block focused on the regulation of artificial intelligence in finance. Students are introduced to current European Union legislation, in particular the new AI Act. The course helps them to understand not only the opportunities and risks associated with the use of AI methods in financial services, but also the requirements and constraints arising from the legal framework that regulates these technologies.

The International Financial Reporting course has also been transformed with the addition of a thematic unit on ESG reporting, an area that has become a key part of both European regulation and investment decision-making in recent years. The teaching here is based on the CSRD and ESRB standards, drawing not only on theoretical background but also on the practical experience of practitioners directly involved in the production and evaluation of non-financial statements in companies.

The positive reactions of students to the newly introduced teaching elements confirm the correctness of the chosen direction. "It was very practical. We are learning exactly what companies and the market expect from graduates today," evaluates a student of the Securities Analysis course. Another adds: "The combination of

of regulation, ESG and data analysis really prepares us for the real world. This is what teaching at university should look like."

The changes in the curriculum and ECON MUNI's approach show that combining traditional academic teaching with digital tools, AI regulation and sustainable finance are not just buzzwords, but real preparation for practice. "In order to maintain its uniqueness on a national and Central European level, the follow-up Master's programme in Finance must constantly anticipate and respond to market developments. These innovations are proof that our students are receiving the best possible education," summarises Dagmar Vágnerová Linnertová, Head of the Department of Finance. The project director doc. Eva Vávrová adds that this "confirms Masaryk University's role as a leader in financial education, linking academic depth with the current challenges of practice."

Author. Mgr. Ing. Filip Hampl, Ph.D., LL.M. - ECON MUNI, Department of Finance