The Catalan Finance Institute (ICF) and Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC Barcelona) have entered into a cooperation agreement to promote education in the area of entrepreneurship and venture capital funds in efforts to diversify sources of business funding.

As a result of the agreement entered into between the two institutions, ICF will help organise the first edition of the Master's Degree in Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital and Private Equity, in partnership with the University's Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences. The Catalan public finance institution will bring its knowledge and over 30 years of experience in these areas.

The agreement, signed by the rector of UIC Barcelona, Xavier Gil, and the managing director of ICF, Josep-Ramon Sanromà, provides for the participation of ICF professionals as educators in the master's programme and the joint carrying-out of case studies. Furthermore, under the agreement, students will be eligible for grants and curricular work placement opportunities at the Catalan public finance institution, while ICF professionals may take advantage of preferential conditions on master's programmes.

The Master's Degree in Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital and Private Equity will take place on UIC Barcelona’s Barcelona Campus starting next October. All classes will be taught in English and the programme will end in July 2017.

The programme, which will be divided into two semesters, will provide education in areas such as Entrepreneurship, Strategy & Business Modelling; Technology, Innovation & Leadership; Advanced Corporate Finance-Private Equity; Entrepreneurial; Financing-Venture Capital; Social Entrepreneurship; Marketing; Legal and Taxation; Financial Management and Reporting Systems, as well as in-company job placements and a final project that consists of preparing a business plan.