Postgraduate Courses
FOFB
Family Office and Family Business
- FOFB 5100Family Governance[2-0-0:2]DescriptionThe course equips students with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to address the increasing complexity faced by family businesses and family offices in managing wealth, family relationships and family legacy across generations. Students will learn the key elements of effective family governance, analyze influencing factors, and develop competencies to establish robust governance frameworks. The course prepares students to serve as trusted advisors/family professionals and support/drive the smooth generational transitions for wealthy families.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the reason for setting up family governance and the role of family governance.
- 2.Understand the key elements of the family governance structure.
- 3.Understand how cultural differences influence the design of family governance.
- 4.Understand how family governance could preserve family harmony and family values throughout generations.
- 5.Develop the skills to design and implement an effective family governance structure.
- 6.Understand the differences and relationships among family governance, corporate governance and family office governance.
- FOFB 5120Managing and Transferring Wealth for Sustainable Growth:Overview of Structures,Tools and Regulations[2-0-0:2]DescriptionThis course provides students with knowledge of the legal structures (including family office, family investment funds and family trusts) used for wealth management, succession planning and tax planning. It also discusses governance issues of these structures, philanthropic structures and other succession planning tools, and relevant trust laws, financial regulations and tax rules.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand different types of legal structuring options available in setting up family office, family investment funds and family trusts.
- 2.Understand legal structuring options for philanthropic purposes and other succession planning tools.
- 3.Identify governance and internal compliance issues related to such structures and explain the factors that contribute to best practices.
- 4.Acquire basic knowledge in relevant trust laws, financial regulations and tax rules.
- 5.Apply the knowledge learnt in complex cross-border planning situations.
- FOFB 5200Impact Investment and Family Philanthropy[2-0-0:2]DescriptionThis course describes the wide spectrum of investment strategies, ranging from those focusing on financial returns and others focusing on social returns. It provides students with knowledge of the current trend in impact investing and philanthropy, how it influences firms and the society, and the challenges faced by firms and the financial industry, with a focus on family office.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the definition and importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance).
- 2.Understand the tradeoff between financial and social returns in the context of family office.
- 3.Describe the trends in the asset management industry, family office, impact investing, and philanthropy.
- 4.Identify the channels through which impact investing and philanthropy improve sustainability.
- 5.Explain the relationship between ESG, impact investing and philanthropy, and firms’ performance.
- FOFB 5210Family Wealth Management[2-0-0:2]Prerequisite(s)FINA 5120DescriptionThis course offers a comprehensive exploration of wealth management, encompassing strategies and techniques. Students will delve into advanced topics in financial planning, investment management, risk assessment, and estate planning from asset owners’ perspectives. Special focus will be placed on mastering the framework and practical skills required to develop effective asset allocations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate proficiency in executing the complete wealth management process, encompassing personal profiling, risk profiling, goal setting, designing and implementing asset allocations, and effectively managing portfolios.
- 2.Deeply understand and carry out long-term strategic asset allocation and portfolio management, and internalize the concept of diversification in wealth and asset management, understanding its significance and application within the field.
- 3.Exhibit competence in initiating and maintaining client communications, while comprehensively understanding the Know Your Customer (KYC) process.
- 4.Develop a routine of monitoring and updating critical macroeconomic data, enabling the formulation of informed opinions on major economic trends so they are well-prepared for investment roles.
- FOFB 5510Preserving Harmony: Dispute Resolution in Theory and Practice[2-0-0:2]DescriptionThis course is intended to introduce students to the legal and regulatory issues surrounding alternative methods of dispute resolution aside from litigation. Specifically, the course focuses on the practical factors relevant to selecting appropriate dispute resolution methods in resolving conflicts in distinct circumstances, within family businesses.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand the concepts and theories of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
- 2.Understand the emotional, legal, financial complexities as well as cultural and generational differences that disputes bring to the family setting.
- 3.Understand the factors that influence family members to resolve disputes in a harmonious manner.
- 4.Develop the soft skills to preserve relationships, protecting reputational risks, ensuring business continuity and above all ensuring compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.
- 5.Draft appropriate dispute resolution clauses/agreements to cater for different scenarios.
- FOFB 5520Managing Generational Family Dynamics[2-0-0:2]DescriptionThis course explores the complexities of relationship dynamics and conflict resolution in family businesses and family offices. Students will develop awareness and sensitivity to intra-generational and trans-generational relationship dynamics, acquire practical conflict resolution skills, and enhance self-awareness to manage interpersonal challenges effectively. The course integrates theoretical frameworks with practical tools and strategies, enabling students to navigate complex family relationships while fostering harmony and collaboration.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Demonstrate an understanding of intra-generational and trans-generational relationship dynamics in family businesses.
- 2.Integrate conflict resolution theories into analyzing and addressing interpersonal and generational conflicts.
- 3.Design and implement practical strategies to resolve family conflicts and foster collaboration.
- 4.Reflect on personal conflict styles and develop emotional intelligence to manage conflicts effectively.
- 5.Exhibit ethical and responsible decision-making in managing family relationships.
- 6.Communicate effectively and collaborate across generational and stakeholder groups.
- FOFB 5570Leading a Family Business in a Changing World[2-0-0:2]DescriptionThe goal of this course is to provide students with understanding and insight into a set of leadership challenges facing all businesses and organizations in the world today. This course will identify how privately-held family businesses may need to understand and address these challenges differently from other types of business organizations.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Understand key themes in responsible and ethical leadership that leaders of family-run businesses should appreciate for effective leadership of their organizations.
- 2.Gain insight into the latest research on how concepts of ethical leadership are less well-embedded in family-run businesses today.
- 3.Learn key approaches to Individual Leadership that are important for generating performance in organizations and potentially challenging in the culture of a family-owned business.
- 4.Learn key approaches to Leadership of Teams that are important for generating performance in teams and potentially challenging in the culture of a family-owned business.
- FOFB 5610Overview of Alternative Investments[2-0-0:2]DescriptionThis course aims to provide students with a holistic introduction to the alternative investment ecosystem, covering sectors such as private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure, private credit, hedge funds, secondaries, royalties, and others.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Describe the overall Alternative Investment (AI) ecosystem, including the various market participants and investment strategies.
- 2.Develop an Investment Policy Statement from the perspective of the different asset owners, including family offices.
- 3.Compare and contrast across the different AI strategies in terms of the relative risk and return profiles, strengths and weaknesses, and relevance for different market participants.
- 4.Describe the different methods for accessing, evaluating, and selecting different AI strategies and investment opportunities.
- 5.Develop, prepare, and present marketing materials for different investment strategies and products.
- 6.Promote a better understanding of the AI environment through case studies and other relevant real-life examples.
- FOFB 6110Family Office and Family Business Project[2-4 credits]DescriptionThis course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the unique dynamics and challenges faced by family offices and family businesses. It offers a deep dive into the intricacies of managing and operating these specialized entities while emphasizing the importance of effective project management and problem-solving skills. It will be delivered through a combination of interactive discussions, data analysis, and hands-on project work. Students will gain practical experience by actively participating in planning and executing a real business project.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Gain a comprehensive understanding of family office and family business dynamics.
- 2.Apply theoretical knowledge and skills to analyze and solve real-life complex problems.
- 3.Identify opportunities and analyze operational challenges within family business and formulate effective strategies for improvement, considering the unique characteristics and complexities of family businesses.
- 4.Enhance project management capabilities in managing project timelines, resources and stakeholders.
- 5.Develop strong collaboration and teamwork skills to work with diverse perspectives effectively.
- FOFB 6120Family Office and Family Business Practicum[2 credits]DescriptionThis course is a unique opportunity for students in the MSc in Family Office and Family Business program to gain practical experience and apply their knowledge in a professional setting. By completing the Practicum, students will be equipped with practical experience, enhanced professional skills, and a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges of family office and family business management. Grade P or F.Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- 1.Apply theoretical knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program to real-world family office and family business scenarios.
- 2.Demonstrate effective problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills in a professional setting.
- 3.Understand the complexities and challenges faced in family offices and family businesses and develop strategies to address them.
- 4.Reflect on their internship experiences and identify areas of personal and professional growth.
- 5.Integrate academic knowledge with practical experiences in real family office and family business scenarios.