Social Insurance Diploma Program

Module 1: Pension benefits schemes and issues

Aimed at introducing the attendee to Social Insurance benefits, schemes and designs. This course will go through the history and philosophy of Social Insurance schemes and will explain the workings behind the different Social Security designs. It will also provide a brief explanation on the organizational framework of Social Insurance administration including management, political, legal, actuarial, benefit administration, financing and investment considerations. Finally it will introduce and discuss the problems facing social security and pension schemes in the Arab World in particular.

Module 2: Administration and IT systems

This module is aimed at introducing the attendee to Social Insurance Administration and IT systems. Proper administration and IT systems are keys to the efficient management and operations of a Social Insurance scheme. Moreover, proper information management is of great added-value to decision makers in regards to their day-to-day as well as longer term strategic responsibilities.

The module will go through the key issues of Social Insurance administration namely:
Management and organizational considerations.
Contribution administration and collection.
Benefit administration.

As well as IT System and data management issues such as:
The importance of proper data management and why?
The different IT solutions and alternatives.
Important features for an IT administration system.
How to use information to acquire knowledge?

Module 3: Actuarial perspective of retirement schemes

Aimed at introducing the attendee to retirement benefits and schemes from the more technical point of view, the module presents the information needed in and the process of an actuarial valuation of these schemes. Additionally, it familiarizes the attendee with the actuary and the different roles he/she plays in and around retirement benefits schemes. The attendee will be exposed, through workshops and case studies, to the main mechanisms of retirement benefits schemes and the actuarial valuation of their assets and liabilities.

Module 4: Financing & Investment

This module is aimed at introducing the attendee to the financing methods of Social Insurance schemes, as well as to the investment strategies and issues of the Social Insurance funds.

1. The different financing methods:
General revenue financing
Pay-As-You-Go financing
Pre-funding or partial funding
Other methods

2. The importance of investment, its objectives, as well as the main related issues:
Risk/Return tradeoffs of different investment categories
Investment opportunities in the Gulf and the world
Constraints on investments (legal, liquidity requirements, national economy, etc)
Alternative investment strategies and portfolio diversification
Asset Liability Management of Social Security
Investment Policy

Module 5: Strategic Planning

This module teaches strategic planning for social security organizations and pension funds.

Module 6: Measurement and Assessment of Performance

This module teaches measurement and assessment of performance of social security organizations and pension funds.