Education
The VERA Centre is also a place of advanced training in economics, econometrics and finance as well as for the implementation of experimental research.
Thanks to the synergies with the Ph.D. Programmes, the Professional Masters and the Master's Degree Programmes of the Department of Economics, the education and research activities of the Centre will guarantee the development of professional expertise and leadership skills.
The VERA Center supports students of Master’s Degrees through internship grants for research assistance (VERA Academy); grants for Ph.D. Programme in Economics; Summer Schools involving students, academics and researchers in collaboration with other universities or research institutes.

Summer Schools

Network Econometrics
San Giobbe Economics Campus (Venice),
June 26th-30th, 2023
Bayesian Multivariate Models and Forecasting in Economics and Finance
San Giobbe Economics Campus (Venice),
August 28th - September 1st, 2023

Algorithmic and High Frequency Trading
San Giobbe Economics Campus (Venice),
July 3rd - 11th, 2023

Spatial Health Econometrics Summer School
San Giobbe Economics Campus (Venice),
July 7th-8th, 2022
Spatial Health Economics Workshop
San Giobbe Economics Campus (Venice),
July 8th-9th, 2022
VERA Academy
VERA Academy is the advanced training programme that gives talented students of Master's Degree Courses of the Department of Economics the opportunity to work with the researchers of the VERA Centre on their research projects.
The Centre offers internship grants for activities of research assistance useful for their orientation and subsequent integration into the labor market.
This activity may be useful also for developing the Master degree thesis.
Ph.D. Students
The project supports 4 years Ph.D. scholarships dedicated to specific research topics of the VERA research Center.
37th cycle (2021-2022 academic year)
Research interest: Economics and Risk Analystics for Public Policies.
Scholarship: funded by VERA Centre.
Research interest: Economics and Risk Analystics for Public Policies.
Scholarship: funded by VERA Centre.
36th cycle (2020-2021 academic year)
Research interest: Economics and Risk Analystics for Public Policies.
Scholarship: funded by VERA Centre.
Research interest: Micro effects of macroprudential policies.
Scholarship: funded by NETSPAR (Network for Studies on Pensions, Ageing and Retirement), in the framework of an agreement between Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and Vrije Amsterdam University.
35th cycle (2019-2020 academic year)
Research interest: Economics and Risk Analystics for Public Policies.
Scholarship: funded by VERA Centre.
Research interest: Research conducted under the "ESG Factors and Climate Change for Credit Analysis and Rating".
Scholarship: funded by the European Investment Bank through the EIBURS program.
34th cycle (2018-2019 academic year)
Ovielt Antonio Baltodano López
Research interest: Econometrics, Development Macroeconomics, public policy, heterodox economics, agent-based models.
Scholarship: funded by VERA Centre.
Research interest: Financial Technology and Regulation.
Scholarship: funded by VERA Centre.
Other Educational Activities
Department of Economics, in partnership with ARPM, offers Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management as one of its courses as elective, assigning credits upon successful completion of the final exam.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:
- correctly map all the techniques adopted in quantitative finance onto a unified theoretical framework, appreciating the interconnections, and gaining a fresh perspective on the known techniques;
- avoid the most common pitfalls in risk management and portfolio management applications;
- interact with your classmates (and with the ARPM community) using a common language and notation;
- navigate the ARPM Lab to find detailed reference material to deepen your knowledge of the topics covered by the course, and more;
- the Moodle page for the course;
- students can still enroll here until Sunday, 4th of June.
Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management at Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Title: Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management
Term: Spring - Summer 2023
Length: 5 + 5 weeks
Instructor
Michele Costola, Researcher, Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice (Italy) - March 28 - May 27, 2022
That of the algorithmic trader is one of the most sought after professions in the halls of London finance. The successful trader possesses a mix of method, psychology and ability to manage capital.
The Quantitative Trading Lab provides the foundations of this fascinating profession, combining theoretical lessons with practical laboratory exercises with the help of Multicharts.
The course is offered among the activities of the VERA centre and does not assign credits.
Please register here.
Timetable
Theoretical lessons:
- Monday 28 March, 9.00 - 10.30;
- Monday 28 March, 12.30 - 14.00;
- Monday 4 April, 9.00 - 10.30;
- Monday 4 April, 12.30 - 14.00;
- Monday 11 April, 9.00 - 10.30;
- Monday 11 April, 12.30 - 14.00;
- Monday 2 May, 9.00 - 10.30;
- Monday 2 May, 12.30 - 14.00;
- Monday 9 May, 9.00 - 10.30;
- Monday 9 May, 12.30 - 14.00;
- Tuesday 24 May, 9.00 - 10.30;
- Tuesday 24 May, 12.30 - 14.00;
Practical laboratory lessons:
- Friday 27 May, 9.30 - 17.30;
Course programme
PART 1 – INTRODUCTION TO MODERN MARKETS
- A modern approach to investments and trading: computer-based strategies. Meaning, risks and opportunities
- How to choose what to trade and why: fundamental analysis vs technical analysis
- How to properly manage trades: risk management, profit management, money management
- Instruments available: a short outline
- The magics of modern finance: leverage and short selling
PART 2 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
- How stocks and other assets are traded: opening auctions, continuous phase, closing auction (a short outline)
- The negotiation book
- Order types: market, limit, conditional, multi-conditional, valid till date, fill or kill, iceberg
- A quick look to derivatives: main concepts, advantages and risks
- Regulated derivatives: leveraged trading on options and futures
- Trading in cripto currencies: options and ETFs as a “different approach”
PART 3 – QUANTITATIVE TRADING STRATEGIES
- What is quantitative trading and why is it important
- The tools of quantitative trading: Microsoft Excel, Metastock, Multicharts, Bloomberg
- The phases of quantitative trading
- Pros and cons of quantitative trading
- Coding of a strategy: some introductory notes
- Backtesting of a strategy
- Optimization of a trading strategy
- Evaluation of a trading strategy
Educational Objectives
The primary objective of this course is to provide students with an idea of the evolution experienced by the world of investments in the last twenty years.
Quantitative trading is now a widespread reality in institutional circles, both in the field of the management of capital carried out by mutual investment funds, and in the field of the management of capital owned by banks, social security institutions, foundations, and insurance companies.
Learning the fundamentals of this complex discipline is the first step of a path that goes through the acquisition of skills in the financial, mathematical, statistical, psychological, and behavioral fields.
It is of paramount importance in this process to immediately understand how the playful aspect of trading must be immediately eliminated, so to be able to move to a higher, call it professional, level.
Computer programs used during the course
At the end of the course a 1-full-day crash course on quantitative trading strategies will be issued in the Bloomberg Lab and will involve computer programming and computer-based analysis (using Multicharts). Compatibly with the objectives and timing of the course, it will not be possible to achieve particularly sophisticated results, but it will be clearly shown what today can be achieved thanks to computers and applications designed specifically for trading.
Lecturer

Domenico Dall'Olio, Adjunct Professor, Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

The Department of Economics and CentroMarca Cooperative Bank signed an agreement of cooperation for enhancing new opportunities of education and research in the field of green and sustainable finance.
The cooperation is focused on the following topics: the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in credit analysis and ratings, the analysis of risks and opportunities of climate change; the awareness promotion concerning benefits and opportunities associated with sustainable finance.
The Department of Economics is already involved in several European and Internal projects on these specific themes with a consolidated research group composed by Loriana Pelizzon, Monica Billio, Stefano Battiston, Michele Costola and several young researchers recruited on specific projects funded at EU, national and local level.
A specific University course on ESG and sustainable finance began on March 2021. The course, organized with the support of the CentroMarca Cooperative Bank, is part of the educational CV provided by Master's Degree program in Economics and Finance.
Instructor
Michele Costola, Researcher, Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

The Department of Economics hosts two 2020 ESTP courses. The two training courses are organized by GOPA, leading provider of statistical services, and financed by EUROSTAT in the frame of the ESTP programme.
The purpose of the European Statistical Programme (ESTP), coordinated by EUROSTAT, is to provide European statisticians with continuous training in new methods, techniques and best practices and integrate the application of European concepts and definitions.

ESTP Course on Time series Econometrics
Palazzo Moro, 11-13 February 2020
The objective of the course was to provide the participants with basic knowledge of modern time series econometrics, with a focus on univariate and multivariate approaches. The course also covered practical exercises in R.
Trainers
Stefano Federico Tonellato, Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Fabio Bacchini, Head of Econometric Studies and Economic Forecasting Division, Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT)