The winners of the first CISI Global Education Trust Awards have been flown to London for a week’s work experience.

The four winning students from Sri Lanka, India, Spain and Singapore will be spending one week this month working in the heart of London as part of a new global CISI initiative aiming to support diversification and employability in the financial services profession.

The winners went through a vigorous selection process that included interviews, presentations, a personal statement and an 800-word essay.

The four successful candidates were:
• Tan Hui Ying from Temasek Polytechnic (Singapore)
• Vivek Premnath of Jain University (Bangalore)
• Xavier Ysarn Pelaez of Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona)
• Nilukshi Jayawardena from the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Tan Hui Ying is currently undertaking a diploma in Financial Business and Informatics. Her work experience will be with wealth management firm Quilter.

Bangalore-based student Vivek Premnath has completed the CISI introduction to investment exam and is currently aiming to complete the CISI Investment Operations Certificate. Like Tan Hui Ying, Vivek will be having a one-week placement with Quilter.

Xavier Ysarn Pelaez of Barcelona will be working with the London Stock Exchange’s Turquoise multi-lateral trading arm. He is currently working towards a Masters in Financial Markets.

Nilukshi Jayawardena has just finished her Bachelors in Business Administration Degree in Finance. Nilukshi will have her placement with the Union Bank of India in London. She said: “I feel this opportunity will give me a once in a lifetime chance to enhance my practical knowledge which will be pivotal for enabling me to improve my employability”

In addition to the work experience, CISI has also paid for the flights and accommodation of each student from its Trust charity arm which supports education initiatives.

Kevin Moore, Chartered MCSI, CISI director of global business development, said: “We know that the firms they will be working with are excited to welcome them and to ensure these bright young people get the most out of their work placements.”