Chandigarh: The University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, and the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mentor university and college students under the MUST (Mentoring of University/College Students through Trainers) initiative, aimed at taking financial literacy and investor education beyond the classroom.The MoU was exchanged during the launch of Sebi’s Project Jaagruk and World Investor Week 2026 at Panjab University on Monday. The partnership seeks to create a structured platform for students to develop a better understanding of financial markets and make informed investment decisions.Under the agreement, UBS and AMFI will work towards introducing NISM certification programmes, building faculty capacity in financial education, and expanding opportunities for student internships and research. The initiative is intended to strengthen collaboration between academia and the financial services industry and equip students with financial knowledge that can be applied beyond their academic lives.Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, a Panjab University alumnus, highlighted the importance of reaching young people who are increasingly entering financial markets. He said the success of Project Jaagruk should be judged not by the number of people reached by the campaign, but by the number of informed investors it creates.Pandey said the campaign’s objective was to make investing simple and understandable by removing complex financial jargon. The campaign slogan, “Samajh Se Investing Simple”, reflects the focus on creating informed investors who understand financial products before investing in them.He also underlined the importance of the MUST initiative in taking investor education to university and college students through trained mentors.Panjab University vice-chancellor Prof Meenakshi Goyal said the university was committed to academic excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration and emphasised the need to convert knowledge into practical life skills.She cautioned students against relying on unverified information, unsolicited investment advice, and financial influencers, stressing the importance of making investment decisions based on credible and verifiable information. She also appreciated Sebi’s multilingual and multi-platform approach to investor education.UBS chairperson Prof Meena Sharma said collaboration between educational institutions and financial sector organisations was essential to counter misinformation and promote informed investing.The event also featured a Nivesh Mela, an interactive exhibition aimed at providing students with practical exposure to financial concepts, besides an art gallery showcasing creative interpretations of financial literacy.
