Turning classroom theory into real-world financial skills

New Bloomberg Training Lab at Swinburne turns classroom theory into real-world financial skills

Swinburne University of Technology has partnered with global leader in business and financial information, Bloomberg,  to create the Bloomberg Trading Lab. Sitting in Swinburne’s School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship, the Bloomberg Trading Lab is a dynamic environment that mirrors the professional world of finance. The lab is equipped with nine Bloomberg terminals, a software system and computer interface that will allow students to track and analyse breaking news across the globe.

The Bloomberg Trading Lab gives students access to live financial data, helping bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world financial practice. This hands-on learning space benefits students across finance and accounting disciplines, from undergraduate to research level.

"The Bloomberg Trading Lab gives our students an amazing opportunity to dive into real-time financial data and use industry-standard tools” said Executive Dean of the School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship, Nicki Wragg.

“It's a fantastic way for them to build practical skills and sharpen their analytical abilities, making them highly attractive to employers in the financial sector."

Getting students industry-ready

From Semester 2, 2025, the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance will begin teaching core undergraduate and postgraduate Finance and Accounting classes in the lab, giving students hands-on experience with an industry-standard tool.

The Trading Lab provides students with the resources to develop advanced data literacy skills, as they learn how to extract and interpret current financial, economic, and accounting data directly from Bloomberg terminals. Students will gain practical knowledge of how financial markets operate by simulating trading strategies, analysing live market conditions, monitoring economic indicators, and performing valuation and risk assessments.

“The trading lab serves as the basis of a new industry and research hub, enabling students to engage in real-world financial scenarios, obtain Bloomberg certifications in in Environmental, Social, Governance and Financial Markets, and develop practical, job ready skills that are highly sought after by employers,” said Reza Tajaddini, Chair of Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance.

Expanding research

The Bloomberg Trading Lab opens new doors for research students to further their practical skills, moving beyond the historical or static datasets they currently use to conduct research. The Bloomberg platform introduces students to real-time and dynamic financial data, creating new avenues for applied research.

The platform also enables cross-disciplinary research, allowing students and researchers outside of traditional finance to utilise data on supply chains, shipping and logistics data.