As part of the Certificate Programme in Compliance Officer at the University of Liechtenstein, VP Bank presented the VP Bank Compliance Award to five students on Tuesday, 12 March 2024. The winning team received a cash prize of 5,000 Swiss francs.

The term compliance originates from the Anglo-American world and describes the adherence of companies and their employees to binding legal regulations and internal guidelines. To meet the demands of this dynamic environment, effective compliance management is essential. The collaboration with VP Bank in the sixth module of the programme therefore enables students to apply their acquired knowledge to a large case study in a practical context, while raising awareness of the diverse requirements and personal liability of a compliance officer.

“In our continuing education programme at the University of Liechtenstein, students have the opportunity to gain both a solid understanding and practical insights in the field of compliance, enabling them as professionals to confidently navigate dynamic framework conditions. We are very pleased about our cooperation with VP Bank, which allows students to apply their knowledge in a practical case study and benefit from VP Bank’s experience,” emphasised Prof. Dr. Alexandra Butterstein, Dean of the Liechtenstein Business Law School at the University of Liechtenstein, highlighting the professional expertise of the certificate programme she leads.

“We are very pleased that our cooperation with the University of Liechtenstein enables us to contribute to the high level of training for compliance officers in Liechtenstein. The close connection between academic excellence and practical application is crucial to ensuring that our compliance officers are optimally prepared for the dynamic requirements of the financial sector and thus maintain the first-class reputation of our financial centre,” said Patrick Bont, Chief Risk Officer at VP Bank.

For the award, students worked in groups on various case studies covering different practical and relevant aspects of the role of a bank’s compliance officer. The case studies, created by VP Bank, required a thorough analysis of compliance challenges as well as the various legal conditions in different jurisdictions. The groups then presented their proposed solutions in a plenary session. The presentations were rounded off by questions from fellow students and the jury, which consisted of representatives from VP Bank AG and the University of Liechtenstein.