About this course

This comprehensive two-week course offers a deep dive into the evolving role of central banks in a rapidly changing financial landscape. It begins with foundational topics, including the origins, functions, and mandates of central banks, and progresses through practical aspects of monetary policy, financial stability, supervision, and compliance. The second week explores how central banks are adapting to global challenges such as climate change, digital innovation, and geopolitical uncertainty. Participants engage with topics like CBDCs, cryptoassets, AI, cybersecurity, and ESG integration, while gaining strategic foresight tools to help shape resilient, future-ready institutions.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to implement a successful strategy that enables you to:

  • Explore the historical development of central banks and financial systems, their core mandates (price stability, sustainable growth, financial stability), and how these roles evolved across global and regional contexts.
  • Understand central banking functions including monetary policy, lender of last resort, and financial system oversight; review governance models, independence, boards and committees, and institutional accountability.
  • Understand and compare how central banks operate under different mandates across global models, and evaluate how these mandates shape their functions, priorities, and governance structures.
  • Learn how interest rates, open market operations, and reserve requirements influence economies, and explore newer tools like quantitative easing, negative interest rates, and yield curve control (YCC), with a case study on the Bank of Japan.
  • - Examine how central banks responded to the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing tools, timing, and effectiveness across different contexts.
  • Analyse the use of conventional and unconventional monetary policy tools, assess central bank responses to financial crises, and evaluate the impact of these policies on economic stability and recovery.
  • Understand the importance of financial stability, how to identify systemic risk through indicators like credit growth and leverage, and explore macro-risk tools such as stress testing and early warning systems.
  • Learn to interpret Financial Stability Reports (FSRs), communicate risks effectively, and apply composite indicators to monitor market vulnerabilities.
  • Explore principles of good governance, transparency, and ethical integrity in central banking, and take part in a crisis scenario where participants draft a strategic press release during a reputational risk event.
  • Dive into risk-based supervision, the Basel Core Principles, and oversight of systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs), while addressing the evolving challenges of fintech, shadow banking, and cross-border risks.
  • Gain practical insight into AML and KYC obligations, FATF recommendations, and the division of roles between central banks and other supervisory authorities.
  • Understand the role of Supervisory Technologies (SupTech) in enhancing regulatory oversight, and evaluate how innovation is transforming supervisory practices, data collection, and compliance efficiency in modern financial systems.
  • Understand how central bank mandates are evolving in response to sustainability, digitalisation, and societal expectations.
  • Apply foresight tools and scenario analysis to enhance long-term strategic planning under conditions of uncertainty.
  • Evaluate the implications of geopolitical trends and systemic risks on financial stability and central bank strategy.
  • Assess global CBDC developments and understand design trade-offs, implementation strategies, and regulatory considerations.
  • Analyse the risks and policy implications of decentralised finance and cryptoassets for central banks and monetary control.
  • Explore cross-border payment innovations, interoperability models, and insights from BIS and other international pilots.
  • Examine how AI and automation are reshaping internal processes and decision-making within central banks.
  • Strengthen knowledge of digital risk management, including cyber threats, AML/CFT compliance, and resilience frameworks.
  • Design strategies to build institutional capabilities, attract digital talent, and future-proof central bank workforces.
  • Evaluate how climate-related risks are being incorporated into monetary operations and central bank balance sheets.
  • Understand approaches for integrating ESG considerations into supervision, disclosures, and risk assessments.
  • Assess how green fintech and digital platforms are enabling sustainable finance and central bank innovation.

Recent reviews

View all 12 reviews →

Further information

Enquire about this course