Düsseldorf students storm the stock exchange – student stock exchange association founded at the Faculty of Business

(D UAS) An article with the promising header "Students storm stock exchange associations" was published in the online edition of the Financial Times Deutschland at the start of 2009. This article prompted a group of students on the business administration course at the Faculty of Business to think about establishing such an association themselves. The choice of name "Studentischer Börsenverein Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Student Stock Exchange Association)", or "SBVD" for short, was taken from the core purpose of the project. The first talks were held with professors, the dean's office and the founding members at the end of the Summer semester 2009. Although the registration as a non-profit organisation initially proved to be difficult, a satisfactory solution was able to be found with the tax office thanks to support from Dr. Peter Lipperheide, professor for civic affairs and commercial and business law, so that verbal approval of the association's non-profit nature was given after five weeks.

With the formalities out of the way, the students started in full swing with a partnership between their association and the local Düsseldorf group of the Federal Society of German Economists and Business Administrators (BDVB). This enabled potential members to be rapidly introduced and the partnership made it possible to plan and hold joint events. The members of the SBVD were thus able to undertake the first joint project together with the BDVB on 26th November 2009: The two associations jointly attended the "Simply trade better" seminar in Dortmund organised by HSBC Trinkaus, DABbank and SCOACH.
The SBVD organised its first event on 30th November 2009 by offering an excursion to the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange. Due to the high demand of around 45 participants, an extra date even had to be arranged, which was attended just a few days later by more than 20 further enthusiasts.

"Our aim now is to communicate the subject of the stock exchange to students and all others with an interest and to impart useful knowledge concerning financial and capital markets, monetary investments, portfolio theories and investment strategies. We intend to organise regular guest lectures, workshops, seminars, excursions and visits to businesses for this purpose", is how student Sebastian Knobloch, one of the founding members and the association's first chairman, summarises the planned activities and he emphasises: "We want to exchange views on current financial topics in a relaxed atmosphere and welcome not only the students of all universities and faculties, but anyone who has an interest in the stock exchange. Even laymen or absolute beginners without any prior knowledge are just as welcome as professionals. All are cordially invited to satisfy their thirst for knowledge with us."

The SBVD's Internet page will go online as part of the university's Internet presence before the end of the year, so that information and dates can be communicated quickly and enable interested parties, members and potential sponsors to obtain further information on the association.

Those interested can find further information at www.sbvd.org.