The agreement falls within the Funcas Programme to Promote Financial Education (‘Programa Funcas de Estímulo de la Educación Financiera’ –Funcas Educa-), through which both institutions will collaborate to improve the citizens’ financial literacy. For that purpose, several activities will be developed, such as the 2nd Financial Education Congress, the 1st Lectures on Financial Education for Primary Students, a cinema cycle on economy and finances, videogames and financial simulators, the 11th Lectures on Financial Education for Young People or the edition of publications.
The ‘Funcas Programme to Promote Financial Education’, launched by Funcas and CECA, has a budget 3.45 million euros, and it aims at funding the activities to disseminate financial knowledge carried out by the participating financial institutions. This initiative has been awarded this week by the Financial Education Plan (Plan de Educación Financiera –PEF-), fostered by the Bank of Spain and CNMV.
The Chairman of Unicaja Banco, Manuel Azuaga, and the General Director of the Foundation of Savings Banks (Fundación de las Cajas de Ahorros, Funcas), Carlos Ocaña, have renewed the existing collaboration between both institutions to improve the citizens’ financial literacy. For that purpose, they have signed a collaboration agreement under which several activities will be developed.
Unicaja Banco renews its participation in the Programa Funcas de Estímulo de la Educación Financiera (Funcas Educa), launched in 2018 by Funcas and CECA (the association of banks and savings banks) and with a budget 3.45 million euros for this year, 14.9% higher than the previous year. This financial education project fostered by CECA-Funcas has been awarded this week with the Finanzas para Todos prize by the Financial Education Plan (Plan de Educación Financiera –PEF-), fostered by the Bank of Spain and CNMV, in the category of PEF implementation for collaborating institutions.
In particular, within the framework of this agreement, Unicaja Banco will promote financial and economic training activities aimed at citizens in general, to generate knowledge and skills that can be used to manage the economic resources and make the most suitable decisions at any time.
The initiatives include the 2nd Financial Education Congress –to be held in Malaga on 21 and 22 November-; the 1st Lectures on Financial Education for Primary Students; a cinema cycle on economy and finances; a Financial Guide in English; videogames and financial simulators; a microsite on new technologies applied to finance (fintech); a financial competition for Baccalaureate students; the 11th Lectures on Financial Education for Young People and the 11th Financial Literacy Olympics.
Unicaja Banco’s Chairman, Manuel Azuaga, has remarked at the signature of the agreement the importance of promoting the financial literacy in Spain and, especially, of ‘making citizens aware of the need to achieve a certain level of knowledge to face the financial challenges and decisions in the different stages of their life’. The bank’s commitment to financial education is reflected in the activities developed for nearly 15 years and the many awards it has received.
On his part, Funcas’ General Director, Carlos Ocaña, has highlighted the increase in investment in financial education around the world and has remarked that that these initiatives are highly profitable for the citizens. He has also commented the excellent results of last year’s programme, with more than 30 projects by the participating institutions and nearly 2,000 initiatives that reached more than 8.5 million beneficiaries.
Unicaja Edufinet Project, a pioneering initiative
Unicaja’s commitment to the promotion of financial literacy is reflected in the nearly 15 years fostering the Edufinet Project, currently promoted by Unicaja Banco and Fundación Unicaja and with the collaboration of 14 universities and more than ten business institutions and organizations, as well as a working team of more than 80 members, who participate as volunteers in this task.
Through an Internet portal aimed at the general public (www.edufinet.com), Edufinet has been operative since the end of 2007, although its development began in 2005. This way, Unicaja became one of the first financial institutions in Spain to launch an initiative of this type. This work has been recognized with several awards.
During this period, the Edufinet Project, it has brought the world of finance closer to more than 152,000 people, of which more than 108,000 have participated through the Lectures on Financial Education for Young People, aimed at Secondary Education and Baccalaureate students. This initiative reaches its 11th edition, as the Financial Olympics.
The school year 2019-2020 will also feature the 3rd Lectures on Financial Education for Vocational Training Students and those for adults, as well as games and competitions available on Edufinet website.
Furthermore, Edufinet promotes the development of workshops and lectures at universities, summer courses or participation in international projects, to provide citizens with access to financial culture. It also promotes several publications, such as the ‘Financial Guide’ and the ‘Financial Guide for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs’.
As for the website, it has received 7.8 million visits, with consultations and access from almost 180 countries. The Edufinet Project offers also other two specific portals: one for young people (Edufinext) and another one for business owners and entrepreneurs (Edufiemp).
