Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Bloomberg Training for Marquette Faculty and Staff to Occur This Week

Dr. David Krause, AIM program director commented, “This week the faculty and staff that have joined with the AIM program in entering into an agreement with Bloomberg Professional Service to add more connections on Marquette’s campus will receive training. Thanks to the efforts of numerous departments across campus and the Raynor Library, we are increasing student access to Bloomberg substantially for all MU students – not just those enrolled in the AIM program. The training sessions today and tomorrow will help us assist the students when they return to campus in January.”

A previous AIM blog discussed the new Bloomberg agreement with Marquette University.


Bloomberg terminals
"For those of you unfamiliar with what is a Bloomberg," Dr. Krause said, "It is a financial software tool that offers analytics and a trading platform, data services, and news to tens of thousands of financial companies and organizations around the world. It is also a powerful macro-economic data and analytical source. Via the Bloomberg terminal (and with a subscription to Bloomberg Professional Service), the user has the ability to access the most powerful financial program and deepest databases on the planet."
“Following the training today and the roll-out of the new Bloomberg terminals on campus, the Bloombergs will be available to not only AIM and economics students, but to the entire student population on campus,” Dr. Krause said. “I strongly encourage my students – and anyone else interested in mastering Bloomberg – to complete the Bloomberg Essentials Training Program.”


“Why should a finance or economics student become a master Bloomberg user?” Dr. Krause asked rhetorically. “Since the Bloomberg system is the leading information service for global financial markets – with at least 250,000 terminals in use by investment professionals around the world – it makes sense for someone wishing to work in the industry to be able to use the system. Corporate recruiters regularly seek job candidates with competitive technical and financial technology skills. I encourage students to gain this competitive skill before they interview for an investment-related job.”

He continued, “The Bloomberg Essentials Training Program (known as BESS) permits all academic users to gain essential training on-line – plus there is no fee for this training program. The important features of this self-instruction process are:

   1. A total of 8 modules are available through the BESS menu.
   2. Core Videos consist of Getting Started, Bloomberg News, Market Monitors & Launchpad and API (Excel)
   3. Market Sector Videos consist of introduction to Equity, Fixed Income, FX and Commodity
   4. You can test your knowledge by taking the core exam (covers all 4 videos) along with any of the market sector exams
   5. You need to complete with a 75% grade or better to earn the Acknowledgement of Completion
   6. Re-takes of tests are not provided, so you get only one chance to pass the test.
   7. The training program can be completed at your own pace. You would watch video tutorials and practice as much as needed.
   8. You are strongly encouraged to take the time you need to explore the system and practice before taking the test.
   9. When you are ready, just click on Exams Enablement and contact the Bloomberg Help Desk.  You can also hit the green help key twice to access a Bloomberg representative.
  10. You should budget for at least 6-8 hours to complete the entire essentials program.”