The National Association of Securities Dealers and the UK’s University of Reading are co-operating to launch the first-ever Master’s degree in Capital Markets, Regulation and Compliance.

The two organizations say that the professional qualification has been developed to help fill an escalating demand for compliance professionals. Recruitment in the compliance market is at an all time high as businesses face growing pressure to comply with new and existing regulations. The number of newly created compliance positions in the London market alone during January to December 2006 is expected to increase by 30%.

The Master’s degree is being launched alongside two other new international professional qualifications – a diploma and certificate in Capital Markets, Regulation and Compliance. These are geared at capital market professionals who wish to maintain a full-time position whilst obtaining new credentials or gain specific product expertise.

The Master’s degree will be taught at the ICMA Centre in Reading, UK beginning in October; the diploma programme is composed of a number of one-week, and one- and two-day courses held in London and Reading; and the certificate is designed as an introduction to regulation and compliance and will be presented in various regions around the world throughout the year, with the first one scheduled to be in the Middle East in the spring.

The content for the new international qualifications will be developed in consultation with leading investment banks, including Deutsche, DrKW, HSBC, JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch and UBS. Their assistance in the development of the courses will help ensure they meet the institutions’ own future compliance needs and those of the demanding global regulatory environment in which they operate, the NASD notes.

“Securities firms are the front line of compliance when it comes to protecting investors. Compliance officials play a substantial role in the day-to-day operations at firms. And NASD is committed to do everything in its power to help firms and brokers meet their regulatory commitments,” said Robert Glauber, chairman and CEO of NASD.

“The creation of this new set of professional qualifications, which will be recognised on an international level, will raise the profile of the compliance function even further and help create a respected career path for compliance professionals across the world. This can only serve to reinforce the integrity of global markets and increase investor confidence,” he added.