JVI Alumni Quotes

I am really glad that I had an oportunity to participate in the IMF's flagship training, Financial Programming and Policies course, hosted at the JVI. FPP provides a comprehensive training module followed by a real case-using workshop. It gave me a valuable experience and knowledge about macroeconomic policies and projections. The curriculum is well-structured with highly experienced lecturers and offers insights into all the important aspects of financial programming. Additionally, this course provided me with a unique opportunity to meet colleagues from different countries with diverse backgrounds, facilitating the exchange of professional experiences. Dunja Nikić, Advisor, Ministry of Finance of Republic of Serbia, Department for Macroeconomic and Fiscal Projections and Analyses. Course on Financial Programming and Policies, July 31-August 11, 2023.

I am profoundly enthused by the boundless potential of Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in their capacity to reshape the landscape of finance in the future. The program's meticulous exploration of CBDC design and implementation strategies has provided me with a profound sense of empowerment to delve into this rapidly evolving realm from a rigorous academic standpoint. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Joint Vienna Institute for offering this enriching educational experience, which has undoubtedly expanded my intellectual horizons. Albert Hayrapetyan, Head of Payments Systems Division, Department of Financial Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Economy, Armenia. Course on Central Bank Digital Currencies: Principles and Policy Considerations, July 24-28, 2023.

As a participant, I found the seminar to be extremely valuable and informative. The topics covered were timely and relevant, and the speakers were knowledgeable and engaging. I learned a lot from the discussions and presentations, and I feel much more confident about my ability to protect my personal and professional data. In addition to the high-quality content, the organization of the seminar was also top-notch. The venue was comfortable and well-equipped, and the event schedule was well-planned and executed. I also appreciated the networking opportunities, which allowed me to connect with other professionals in the field. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to attending future events. Elvin Shahverdiyev, Head of information and cybersecurity division, Central Bank of Azerbaijan. Course on Cyber Risk Supervision – Path to Operational Resilience, March 6-10, 2023.

I am pleased to announce that I have successfully completed the "Cyber Risk Supervision - Path to Operational Resilience" course in Vienna, Austria. This course covered a wide range of topics related to cyber risk supervision, including banking IT and cloud technologies, international guidance on cyber risk, business continuity, cyber preparedness and testing frameworks, third-party risk management, and cyber incident reporting. Throughout the course, we examined case studies to better understand the practical application of these topics. I found the discussions on cyber risk supervision, both onsite and offsite, to be particularly insightful. It was fascinating to learn about the role of information sharing and communications in mitigating cyber risks and ensuring operational resilience. Overall, this course has provided me with a strong foundation in cyber risk supervision, and I look forward to implementing what I have learned in my work. I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in this field. Khusravbek Abduvaliev, Supervisor of Credit Institutions, Central Bank of Uzbekistan. Course on Cyber Risk Supervision – Path to Operational Resilience, March 6-10, 2023.

The opportunity to participate in this course was uniquely exciting for me, as it helped me to study international experiences on structural reforms, mainly on tax reforms, in order to be able to present tax policy reforms using the most effective tools. It also helped me to become more involved with carbon pricing cases. During the course, I gained knowledge about Government steps on setting prices that emitters must pay for each ton of greenhouse gas emissions they emit, and about the steps businesses and consumers take to reduce their emissions to avoid paying the tax. And finally, during this course, I studied international best practices on tax policies regarding foreign investments, particularly in terms of providing tax benefits. Susanna Arzumanyan, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Armenia.  Structural Reforms Course, May 6-17, 2023.

The course on „Competitiveness, growth, and crises” provided a comprehensive picture on competitiveness analysis, with a focus on its productivity component and the variety of indicators available, but also on emerging issues such as global and regional value chain developments and novel policies. Since my daily activity is largely analytical in nature, the content was well-received.  I appreciate that the course has been connected to the most recent developments in the international economic and financial domain. Not a few times have I received information related to the impact of trends such as „decoupling” or „friendshoring”, or the implications of the functional labour division, on the growth perspectives and competitiveness of an economy, just to list a few. These were accompanied by the technical aspects supporting them.  In addition, it was an interactive course, with lecturers engaged in open discussion regarding the course topics, apart from the practical workshops that helped us gain first-hand experience. I should highlight the relevance of the regions in focus, given the economies the participants came from. In this edition, the focus on the particularities of the economies in the Balkans, Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe contributed to a wider picture of the various developments paths and how improving competitiveness could provide new growth opportunities, which included also a peer-to-peer learning and sharing component. Mădălin Blidaru, International Relations Specialist, National Bank of Romania Competitiveness, Growth, and Crises Course, 13 – 17 February 2023

The Competitiveness, growth and crises course was a new opportunity for me to update and improve my knowledge about competitiveness, growth and crises. Being a macroeconomist, I believe that in the current conditions of the development of the world economy, regularly recurring crises become inevitable, and their management and overcoming their consequences are more than difficult. This circumstance, as well as cooperation between countries in the current conditions of globalization, make this course more than relevant. Apart from new experience, skills and opportunities, this course and JVI in general is an informal, but very effective platform for making new acquaintances, friends, work connections. I am happy and grateful to be a part of the "Competitiveness, growth and crises" course. I am sure that I will return to JVI within the framework of another course. Narine Petrosyan, Ministry of Finance, Armenia Competitiveness, Growth and Crises Course, February 13-17, 2023