Why I would recommend the GCBQ

MSc in Global Central Banking and Financial Regulation alumna, Roumiana Hampartzoumian, shares how she applied her learnings to her role. 

Over the years of working in a central bank, I have come to recognise that expertise is never final. While technical specialisation is essential, it can also narrow one’s perspective. I therefore sought an opportunity to step back from the immediate demands of my role and strengthen my understanding of the broader institutional and policy context in which central banks and regulatory authorities operate.

My objective was to engage in a programme that went beyond revisiting established academic theory and instead offered practical insight into real-world policymaking. The Global Central Banking and Financial Regulation qualifications, delivered in collaboration with the Bank of England and Warwick Business School, fully met this objective.

The programme proved rigorous, well-structured, and intellectually demanding. By consistently linking economic theory to policy practice, it provided a coherent framework for analysing how financial authority, regulation, and accountability interact to shape a resilient financial system. It also strengthened my understanding of the institutional architecture underpinning financial regulation and the constraints under which policymakers operate. I gained a deeper appreciation of central banks’ roles and objectives, and their ability to respond to evolving local and global economic challenges.

A key strength of the programme was its emphasis on contemporary relevance and critical engagement. The curriculum addressed current challenges facing central banks, encouraging participants to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and assess policy trade-offs. This approach has had a tangible impact on my professional work, shifting my focus from identifying a single “correct” answer to placing greater emphasis on understanding trade-offs, anticipating consequences, and communicating uncertainty clearly.

The programme also highlighted the value of learning alongside peers from across the global central banking community. Recent financial, economic, and geopolitical developments have underscored that central banking now extends well beyond conventional monetary policy instruments. Policymakers must increasingly navigate complex interdependencies, competing objectives, and fragile trade-offs. Engaging with these issues in a shared, advanced learning environment demonstrated the programme’s relevance for professionals from central banks and regulatory authorities alike.

Being awarded a bursary was instrumental in enabling my participation in the programme and provided the financial support necessary to commit fully and engage meaningfully in the learning process. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.

Based on my experience, I would strongly recommend the qualifications to professionals working in central banks and financial regulators, as they offer unique insights, diverse perspectives, and constructive challenges to existing knowledge and assumptions. They would also be highly beneficial for those with limited experience in the field, as they teach, early in one’s career, about the broader institutional and policy landscape while establishing a strong foundation for future professional growth. In addition, I would recommend them to individuals interested in the subject but coming from outside the field, as they offer a comprehensive introduction to the core principles of central banking and financial regulation, while also highlighting the practical complexities policymakers face in an increasingly interconnected global financial system.