Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the programme, the student has developed knowledge and skills in the core risk and compliance domains and is able to:

• Make well‑founded and responsible risk and compliance decisions in a leadership context.
• Advise senior management on risk, regulatory and ethical dilemmas in a clear and constructive way.
• Design, coordinate, implement and review risk and compliance frameworks in line with applicable laws and standards, whereby the main methodology is RAVC.
• Lead a multidisciplinary, diverse risk and compliance team and foster a culture of integrity and accountability across the organization.

Structure of the programme

• Introduction – 1 session (4 hours)
• Risk Governance – 2 sessions (8 hours)
• Risk Strategy – 2 sessions (8 hours)
• Risk Processes – 2 sessions (8 hours)
• Risk Awareness – 2 sessions (8 hours)
• Final Report Writing – 2 sessions (4 hours)
• CRO Visit – 1 session (2 hours)
• Oral Exam – preparation time only (no class)

 

Curriculum

1. Introduction (1 session – 4 hours)

• What the programme entails
• What you will do in each module
• What we expect from you
• When you obtain (or do not obtain) your certificate
• Overview of literature

2. Risk Governance (2 sessions – 8 hours)

• Designing the risk management set‑up
• Creating a proportional, effective risk management function
• Roles of key functions and how they reinforce each other

3. Risk Strategy (2 sessions – 8 hours)

• Defining your organization’s risk profile
• Making risk appetite concrete and actionable
• Developing an appropriate internal norms and control framework

4. Risk Processes (2 sessions – 8 hours)

• Building a working risk management process
• Ensuring continuous development and improvement of risk management
• Preventing bureaucracy and safeguarding value creation

5. Risk Awareness (2 sessions – 8 hours)

• Measuring risk culture in your organization
• Practical tools to embed risk culture
• Helping the organization recognize and appreciate the value of risk management

6. Final Report Writing (2 sessions – 4 hours)

• Requirements to obtain the certificate
• Requirements and structure of the final report
• Minimum literature to be included

7. CRO Visit (1 session – 2 hours)

• Visit to a CRO in practice
• Risk‑inspiration session with group discussion

8. Exam Preparation (self‑study)

• Oral exam after submitting the final report
• Two examiners independently assess the report and conduct the oral exam (50/50 grade weighting)

Admission

Intake Interview
To ensure a high-quality learning experience, candidates go through a selection process before admission is confirmed. This ensures a strong and consistent level across the participant group.

Practical Assignments

Learning is directly linked to your day-to-day work.

Before each session, you will complete a practical assignment tailored to your own professional environment. You will work on real-life challenges from your organisation, ensuring maximum relevance and immediate impact.

During the sessions, you will refine your approach with guidance from experienced lecturers and feedback from peers. This enables you to gain new insights that can be directly applied in your own practice.

Duration and Study Load

The programme consists of 11 sessions with a maximum of 16 participants, ensuring an interactive and personal learning environment.

Sessions are scheduled every 2–3 weeks. For each session, you should expect approximately:

• 16 hours of preparation
• 4 contact hours

The total study load is approximately 280 hours, including around 60 hours of exam preparation.

Examination and Certification

The programme concludes with an oral examination.

Upon successful completion, you will be awarded the legally protected title and University of Amsterdam (UvA) certificate:
Certified Integrated Risk Advisor (CIRA®)