New trading room offers valuable experience for business students
For a program that has produced so many success stories, the recent upgrade to the Barker Capital Management and Trading Program is well-deserved.
With the opening of the U.S. Bank Trading Room, the program moved from the basement of the Albertson Building to its new, updated space on the second floor.
The new trading room is now twice the size and triple the capacity.
It’s good to see the College of Business and Economics invest in a program that allows students to gain practical experience in their chosen career.
The new trading room has an increased number of trading stations where students manage real capital and buy and sell on the market.
The room has mounted flat-screens for students to stay up to date with the current financial news and a touch screen “market wall” to allow students to see the most up-to-date market information.
Programs like this allow students to develop their skills while permitting them to learn from their mistakes before heading into the real world.
For many students, gaining practical experience is often the most memorable part of their time at the University of Idaho.
But these practical experiences are not only reserved to students in the College of Business and Economics.
There are many academic programs and student organizations across campus that help students receive valuable skillsets before entering the workforce.
There is only so much that can be taught in the classroom, and students who are serious about their education should seek these opportunities in their chosen field of study.
Experiences like the Barker program separate a good college education from an unproductive four years. Involvement in these programs can often mean the difference in receiving a job offer after graduation.
It’s fitting for the trading space to have a prominent presence in the Albertson Building, as a symbol of how practical learning is valued at UI and enriching the student experience is a primary focus.
In recent years, increased public pressure on higher education has required universities to show the value of a college degree. And the U.S. Bank Trading Room is a demonstration of UI’s effort to do so.
These experience-based programs are critical to proving a college education offers much more than a degree.
The upgrades to the trading room are a significant improvement for the Barker program. On another level, it’s a sign of the importance of learning skills outside of the classroom in any program at UI.
–RT