The bachelor’s programs in Accounting and Auditing, Business Administration, and Information Systems and Management Control at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Chile (FEN U. de Chile) have been accepted into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. This milestone gives students a globally recognized seal in finance and investment, access to CFA exam scholarships, and a clearer pathway to compete in labor markets both within Chile and internationally.
From now on, FEN students in these three degrees are enrolled in programs formally recognized by the CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals that sets the technical and ethical standards for the financial industry and awards the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation—one of the world’s most demanding and respected credentials in finance and investment.
In practical terms, the curriculum for these degrees is now aligned with the CFA Program syllabus, positioning FEN within the University Affiliation Program—a network of more than 850 universities and finance programs worldwide whose academic offerings cover a substantial portion of the content evaluated in the CFA exams.
This global network includes leading institutions such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, New York University, University of Toronto, National University of Singapore, and the University of Melbourne, among others. Joining this group signals that FEN’s academic training meets the knowledge and competency standards demanded by today’s global financial markets.
For Professor Jaime Miranda, Director of the School of Information Systems and Auditing (ESIA), this approval “represents an international endorsement of the quality, depth, and rigor of our undergraduate programs.” The fact that three degrees simultaneously meet the CFA Institute’s curricular standards, he explains, “demonstrates the broad academic strength of FEN and confirms that the education we provide is aligned with global best practices in finance and accounting, exposing our students early on to internationally benchmarked content, approaches, and methodologies.”
Miranda emphasizes the tangible impact for students. “The benefits are concrete and significant: access to CFA Program scholarships for those wishing to sit for the first certification exam; official access to the CFA curriculum, allowing us to strengthen courses, exercises, and teaching methodologies with the same material used by CFA candidates; and greater international visibility and recognition, as affiliated universities appear highlighted globally,” he says. “In short, our students gain a real advantage in their technical preparation and employability.”
The news is also relevant for recent graduates and those nearing completion of their degrees. According to Miranda, “CFA Institute approval reinforces the prestige of the FEN profile in highly competitive job markets.” For alumni, this endorsement becomes “an external validation of their academic training, backed by the leading global reference in finance and accounting; greater credibility with recruiters in banking, consulting, asset management, private equity, and capital markets; and stronger preparation to take on international roles through a curriculum aligned with global standards.” This approval, he adds, “strengthens the career trajectory of our students and graduates, expanding their opportunities both in Chile and abroad.”
The achievement also aligns with ongoing changes in FEN’s undergraduate curriculum. “The new degree structures enhance precisely the components evaluated by the CFA Institute: early integration of business analytics, deeper training in finance and accounting, specialized electives, and a more applied approach to ethics and financial decision-making,” says Miranda. He also notes that the Faculty is developing a new Minor in Financial Analysis and Investments, designed to provide students with the foundational tools needed to succeed in the first level of the CFA exam and further reinforce training in finance and accounting.
Miranda highlights the teamwork behind this accreditation process: “I want to especially acknowledge the work of faculty members Harold Contreras and Francisco Marcet, and alumna Constanza Zamorano, a graduate of the Accounting and Auditing program. For more than a year, we worked together as a strong team, leading the preparation of the application for all programs. Their dedication was key to submitting a rigorous proposal that truly reflects FEN’s academic quality.”