This educational, four-day experiential learning event provided students with hands-on experience on stock market dynamics and the relevant regulatory framework.

An Engaging Experience

Participating students attended six training sessions and engaged in real-life stock trading, competing for a total prize of EGP 80,000. Prizes were awarded to top performers in three categories: Investors, Mutual Funds and Bankers. 

Leadership and Support

The competition was led by Wael Abdullah, assistant professor of finance, and Mina Ayad, assistant professor of economics, Heikal Department of Management. The theoretical content was compiled and delivered by student academic committees with support from six corporate partners: Emirates NBD, Beyti, ADIB, Beltone, EFG Holding, and Zilla Capital. In addition to their support, corporate partners also conducted sessions that enriched the students' learning experience. Key sessions covered the topics of basic investing principles, the role of the central bank, and technical analysis, providing invaluable insights into real-world financial practices. These sessions allowed students to engage directly with industry leaders, enhancing their understanding of stock market operations.

“FINOMICS is such a great opportunity for students to practice investing, experiment with different strategies, and visualize the impact of scaling contributions,” emphasized Abdullah.

“The competition strengthens students’ understanding of finance, equipping them with practical knowledge and empowering them to take control of their financial future”. Ayad added, “Understanding how monetary policy news impacts stock market trading is crucial. It helps students appreciate the broader economic forces at play and enhances their analytical skills”.

Awards and Recognition

The closing ceremony was held on September 28 and featured keynote speeches by professors Abdallah and Ayad in addition to representatives from the sponsoring entities, as the winners were awarded their prizes:

• Investors: Amro Damiakhi won EGP 15,000 for first place, Assem Abdual Rahim received EGP 12,000 for second place, and Mohannad Khairy was awarded EGP 8,000 for third place.
• Mutual Funds: Kareem Fouad, Jumana El Hefnawy, and Salma Afifi each received EGP 5,000.
• Brokers: Saleh Khalil, Abdullah El Banna, and Kamal El Nazir each received EGP 5,000.

Student Perspectives

Carol Bebawy, a senior in accounting, shared, “FINOMICS is vital for students, as it provides an introduction to the stock market and investment, especially for those with limited financial literacy. The competition is designed for students with no financial background, encouraging everyone to invest”. Reflecting on her experience as part of the winning team in FINOMICS ‘22, Bebawy said, “You don’t think you can win and generate the highest turnover, but when you really apply yourself in the competition and develop the best strategy it really pays off”.

Bridging Education and Industry

The initiative is one of many experiential learning opportunities that the school provides to bridge the gap between class learning and job market competencies. Collaborating with corporate partners gives students firsthand practical knowledge from industry executives and strengthens connections within Egypt’s business community, opening more doors for students post-graduation.

Adapting to Change

Recognizing the rapid evolution in digital marketing, Ibrahim Hegazy, professor of marketing and head of the marketing unit, Heikal Department of Management, embarked on a personal learning journey by enrolling in the AUC School of Business digital marketing certificate program acquiring valuable insights and practical skills. His initiative inspired other colleagues to enhance their knowledge and integrate it into their teaching.

“If you are going to be great at teaching marketing, you have to know the power of digital marketing. We should be consultants who can stimulate learning to ensure the students’ benefit. Otherwise, you are just going to be a regular professor teaching from books and courses will become obsolete.” Hegazy asserted as he explained his actions, “I took the initiative to take this program to advance my knowledge and pushed my colleagues to do the same – they thankfully bought the idea and continued. Digital is here and will not go back”. 
 

Expanding Digital Marketing Knowledge

Hamed Shamma, professor of marketing, emphasized, “Today you cannot do any kind of marketing without a digital component. You name it, any business - fixed, small, private, public, profit, not-for-profit. It’s essential across the board for companies and individuals alike”.

Ahmed Tolba, professor and chair, Heikal Department of Management, highlighted the program’s value, “There’s a paradigm shift in digital marketing implementation, understanding its depth allows us to apply it in our classes more effectively”.

Program Structure and Experience

The demanding seven-month program had faculty members juggle their newly acquired student status with their regular teaching, research, and service roles. Despite the workload, the professors found it worthwhile, with time well spent expanding their knowledge in the digital marketing world.

“Our discussions were practical while all our assignments and projects were hands-on, making the program incredibly valuable for real-world application” Shamma noted. Tolba added, “The more we apply, the more we grasp the information. The instructors, being practitioners, provided grounded insights”.

On becoming a student again, Hoda El-Kolaly, assistant professor and assistant chair, found it simple, “I became a student in no time. Always debating about the deadlines, I took it to the fullest and I loved it”.

“I presented that morning then went back to university to watch my students present so I played both the student and professor roles on the same day!” laughed Tolba.

Applying New Insights

With fresh insight, the professors are keen to incorporate their new-found knowledge into their teaching.

“The program gave me a much better understanding of online behavior, made me have the right language and be more relevant to the students” shared Shamma. 

El-Kolaly added, “Although I don’t teach digital, I wanted to integrate online aspects into my courses. In this program, we examined online consumer behavior and how to create very detailed personas, things I like and would like to integrate into my courses”.

Teaching Digital Marketing at AUC

As the digital world evolves, the School of Business is refining its curriculum to deliver the most effective teaching.

 “I think we will have more digital marketing courses in our business program, mandating some of them. More importantly, it’s not about the number of courses, rather ensuring they are well implemented with hands-on knowledge” Tolba asserted. 

El-Kolaly, who is working on undergraduate management programs review, explained, “We are undergoing a content mapping project where we are reviewing all the programs with a very open and transformative mindset. We are OK to break it all down and do something completely new to incorporate digital aspects across the programs, because we know this is the future”.

Moving Forward

Maha Mourad, associate dean for undergraduate studies and administration, shared, “Participating in this program has equipped us with the latest digital strategies, essential for preparing our students for future challenges”.

The School of Business is preparing graduates not just for today's careers, but for the future. With a focus on inclusiveness, student-centeredness, and ethical conduct, the School aims to build student confidence in an ever-changing work environment. The future is now.