Steeped in a tradition of academic excellence, the University of New Brunswick (UNB’s) Faculty of Management also boasts a proud history of providing its students with practical skills. Now—through innovative programs like the Student Investment Fund (SIF) and Fraser Student Venture Fund—aspiring businessmen and women are honing those skills in the real world of public finance and private equity.

Bridging the gap between theory and practice, the Student Investment Fund (SIF) course gives participants a chance to apply management strategies they learn in class to actual stock portfolios. Meanwhile, the Fraser Student Venture Fund course helps shape future entrepreneurs and venture capitalists by offering them an opportunity to evaluate and invest directly in early-stage companies.

While the two courses are geared to meet different objectives, they’re alike in the most important and fundamental ways, says Ryan Reid, manager of UNB’s International Business and Entrepreneurship Centre. “Both convey how market dynamics, risk management, and the intricacies of asset allocation actually operate. But, ultimately, both are about learning how to think like a businessperson. They’re about learning how to mitigate risks and make decisions in dynamic and often unpredictable market settings.”

 

 

The SIF—launched in 1998 with $1 million through a partnership with Vestcor, later joined by Seamark Asset Management—teaches the fundamentals of investing in publicly traded companies by having students engage with actual industry professionals to manage a fund now worth over $14 million. “Compared to even the investment industry, our students have been performing above average,” says Dr. Jospeh DeCoste, a professor of finance who teaches the course and director of the Centre for Financial Studies at UNB. “That’s a pretty impressive track record.”

It’s also a core goal of SIF, which follows the study path for the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Level One exam. According to DeCoste, the course is designed to enhance students’ employability. “Employers in the finance sector value candidates who have practical experience in managing investments,” he says. “By participating in the SIF, students can demonstrate their ability to analyze markets, develop investment strategies, and make informed decisions under pressure. This practical experience sets UNB graduates apart in a competitive job market. Our students were the first Canadian team to win first place in the CFA Institute North American Research Challenge.”

“We are right at the point where we really want to grow it and bring in more companies.”

—Ryan Reid, manager of UNB’s International Business and Entrepreneurship Centre

In the same way, the Fraser Student Venture Fund— established in 2019 by UNB alumnus Charles Fraser to give students hands-on experience investing real cash in local start-ups—focusses on results. “That’s key to anyone looking to enter the startup ecosystem,” Reid says. “Each year, start-ups are selected to receive pre-seed investments of up to $50,000 each from the fund, positioning them for further development. To date, the students have made 10 investments—or about $200,000. We are right at the point where we really want to grow it and bring in more companies.”

He adds: “This tends to be more risky [than the SIF] in a lot of ways, but that’s the point: To foster a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the entrepreneurial landscape; to develop critical thinking and analytical skills that are essential for making informed investment decisions in high-risk, high-reward scenarios typical of venture capital.”

DeCoste agrees and though he says New Brunswick is not yet a financial center, the initiatives give UNB Faculty of Management students hands-on experience that’s equivalent to industry internships in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal. “What really matters is our students are sharpening the tools in their finance and investment right here at home in the Atlantic region—tools that are giving them the ability to compete nationally.”

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