The Department of Banking and Finance at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), under the Faculty of Accounting and Finance, has strengthened its industry engagement through an educational visit to Rokel Commercial Bank as part of efforts to bridge academic learning with practical banking experience.
The visit, conducted with students of the Executive Master’s in Banking and Finance programme, formed part of the department’s broader strategy to enhance industry-oriented training and expose students to real-world financial sector operations.
The engagement brought together senior officials from Rokel Commercial Bank and members of IPAM’s academic leadership, including heads of key operational units such as operations, compliance, information technology, and e-banking, alongside academic staff led by the Head of the Department of Banking and Finance, Mr Edward Thomas Esq.
Also present were Dr Richard E. O. Pearce, former Head of the Department, and Mr Abdullah Bah, a lecturer within the Faculty of Accounting and Finance, alongside participating postgraduate students.
During the interactive sessions, participants examined key areas of modern banking practice, including cash management, regulatory compliance, electronic banking systems, credit administration, and lending frameworks. The discussions provided students with practical insights into current trends shaping the financial services sector, particularly in relation to digital transformation and regulatory expectations.
The department noted that the visit is part of a sustained effort to produce industry-ready graduates through direct exposure to banking operations. It also revealed plans to expand similar initiatives to undergraduate students through regular guest lectures by industry professionals and periodic field visits to financial institutions.
In addition, both Rokel Commercial Bank and the Department of Banking and Finance expressed a shared commitment to encouraging students to pursue professional chartered banking qualifications alongside their academic studies, with the aim of improving their competitiveness in the job market.
The Department expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Rokel Commercial Bank for their hospitality and collaboration, describing the engagement as an important step in strengthening academia-industry partnerships in Sierra Leone’s financial sector.
The initiative reinforces ongoing efforts to align classroom instruction with professional practice, with a focus on producing competent, ethical, and globally competitive banking professionals.
