The institution’s new name draws inspiration from the historic River Walbrook, which once flowed through the heart of the City of London, passing beneath what is now the Bank of England. Just as this ancient waterway was crucial to London's development as a centre of commerce and industry, Walbrook Institute London represents LIBF’s evolution in shaping professional education for the digital age.

Founded in 1879 within the Square Mile, the institution’s roots are deeply embedded in London’s financial heritage. The adoption of the Walbrook name maintains this strong connection to its birthplace and financial origins, while symbolising the flow of knowledge into new territories, much like the river that once served as a vital artery of London's commerce.

Steve Hill, CEO and Vice-Chancellor of LIBF, commented on the significance of the rename: "Our transition to Walbrook Institute London recognises the natural evolution of our educational offering. Just as the River Walbrook was essential to London's growth as a global financial centre, our institution has grown beyond its traditional roots to embrace the interconnected worlds of finance, technology, and digital innovation. This new identity better reflects who we are today and our vision for the future."

At the heart of Walbrook Institute London’s success is the commitment to learner-centric education. The institution’s proven flexible learning model enables professionals to upskill while balancing career and personal commitments, offering 24/7 access to learning resources, virtual classrooms, and on-demand content. This approach has already helped thousands of students globally advance their careers in both financial and technology sectors.

"Our learner-centric model has been key to our successful expansion into new areas," added Hill. "The new Walbrook Institute London name reflects our commitment to continuing this approach. It shows how we’re embracing innovative teaching methods that allow learners to study at their own pace and on their terms, while recognising our home in The City."

The rename to Walbrook Institute London marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s evolution, which began in 1879 as the Institute of Bankers. While it has changed names over the years, more recently it was known as the London Institute of Banking & Finance (later shortened to LIBF). The organisation's growth has mirrored the City of London's development as a global financial hub, and this rename reflects the institute’s established position in preparing professionals for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow's world.

While the institution will operate as Walbrook Institute London, its professional financial qualifications will continue under the LIBF brand, maintaining its trusted position as a leading provider of banking and finance education.

For more information, visit www.walbrook.ac.uk

• The AI learning buddy supports students individually in their learning - around the clock, at their personal pace. 
• State-of-the-art technology: Syntea - like ChatGPT - works generatively, refining its ability to answer complex questions comprehensively in an academic context. 
• Syntea has been developed by LIBF’s sister university, IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and has been tried and tested across 1,000 online courses in the degree progammes that use Syntea. 
• LIBF students will benefit from Syntea in all online degree courses. 
• In addition, LIBF now offers its students elective courses in artificial intelligence in almost all degree programmes, as an essential key competence for tomorrow's job market. 

London, 29, May 2024. LIBF is pioneering the use of fully integrated AI-supported learning on a large scale for its degree students – a first for higher education in the UK – with the launch of Syntea for its online degree programmes. 

Syntea, which was specially developed by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) in Germany – LIBF’s sister university – was introduced for the first time in Germany in November 2022 and has been used successfully by thousands of students at IU. Complementing the academic teaching with more than 35 faculty and study advisors, Syntea presents itself as a truly innovative and valuable learning tool for students. 

The integration of Syntea in its online degree programmes means LIBF is not only leading personalised, digital education in the UK – but is able to better prepare students with the necessary technical skills for the future as well as supporting improved outcomes for students during their studies.

"This fully integrated AI-based learning buddy is a step change for higher education in the UK. It allows us to think about learning in a completely new way: students can now ask their individual questions online and receive an answer immediately – no matter where they are and when they are learning. This brings us a big step closer to providing truly personalized learning and helping to better prepare students with the necessary skills for a competitive job market," says Alex Fraser, CEO of LIBF. 

Syntea acts as a sophisticated, personalised AI learning assistant that responds to learners' needs and preferences. Syntea provides answers to individually posed questions about the learning material in a matter of seconds, and those answers are checked by teachers within a short period of time. As it proceeds, the AI learning buddy factors in the learning speed of the individual student and adapts to their learning rhythm. In addition, Syntea records the learning progress of the students through questions, enabling them to identify and close their knowledge gaps in a more targeted manner. 

"Syntea is one of the first solutions in the world to offer AI-based teaching at a high level and across many degree programmes. This concerns both the underlying generative AI technology and the dialogue-based, natural interaction with Syntea. As a personal learning buddy, Syntea accompanies our students efficiently through their studies and takes their needs into account," says Quintus Stierstorfer, Director Synthetic Teaching at IU, who is largely responsible for the development of Syntea. 

In the current Syntea version, the following three functions are available to students at LIBF: Question-Answering (Q&A), Pre-Assessment and Deep Dialogue Learning. More details below: 
 

Q&A: Around-the-clock answers to academic questions 

Question-Answering (Q&A) provides students with verified answers to their questions about academic content around the clock in an anonymous and private learning environment, allowing them to learn whenever and wherever they want. In its answers, Syntea provides a link to the corresponding chapter in the online script. Students can thus immediately dive deeper into the topic. In addition, teachers can add further relevant content, for example further links, to the checked answers. Syntea immediately recognises questions from fellow students that have already been asked in a similar way and can directly provide suitable and already verified answers. The AI learning buddy uses natural language processing (NLP) in its answers to understand and use words as humans do. 
 

Pre-assessment: assessing learning progress with video avatar 

With pre-assessment, an AI-based assessment mechanism, students can test their level of knowledge at any time and on any topic by answering multiple-choice questions posed by Syntea. Syntea guides students through the questions and answers in the form of a talking avatar. After completing several questions, students can see which ones they answered correctly and which ones they answered incorrectly. 
 

Deep Dialogue Learning: training your understanding and communication skills 

The Deep Dialogue Learning Feature gives students the chance to study using the Socratic teaching method . This means that Syntea leads you through the material with open questions and encourages you to critically review your knowledge. Based on your answers, Syntea helps you break down complex information bit by bit. If necessary, Syntea clarifies certain points so that you can discover and correct misconceptions independently. This way, you train both your understanding of the material and your communicative skills. 

The next steps for Syntea include rolling out a training feature for exams, which will offer students the ability to systematically prepare for exam questions. They choose which unit they want to practice and Syntea will ask them questions graded ‘easy’, ‘medium’, and ‘hard’. Once they have answered three questions in a row correctly, they progress to the next level. If they answer a question incorrectly, Syntea will explain to them why it was wrong. 

In the long term, Syntea is to be developed into a continuous learning support companion – a personalised learning buddy – that actively encourages and motivates students to pursue their learning goals. 
 

LIBF's leading role in digital and AI-enhanced learning 

LIBF has been actively leading the way in the use of digital learning tools in its teaching for years. For example, students of its professional qualifications can study online through LIBF’s learning platform, on demand, and take assessments and exams remotely. The inclusion of Syntea in its online degree programmes is another step forward in LIBF’s continuing development of digital learning tools that truly support students’ different learning needs and styles. 
LIBF will also offer elective courses in artificial intelligence in almost all degree programmes moving forward. Students will have the opportunity to acquire new, essential skills in order to be prepared for the demands of the future labour market . 

Further information on Syntea with clear explanatory videos at: https://www.libf.ac.uk/degrees/studying-with-us/student-support/ai-study-assistant-syntea/
 

ABOUT LIBF 

Since its foundation in 1879, LIBF has been at the forefront of providing world-class education and training. Today, our qualifications equip students round the world with the skills they need for successful careers. It is one of only a few professional bodies in the world to have Taught Degree Awarding Powers and is an innovator in distance learning and online degrees. With a focus on vocational training, LIBF delivers a broad range of qualifications and programmes to support individuals at each stage of their careers – from entry-level to advanced professional qualifications. Further information at: www.libf.ac.uk 
 

Press Contact 

LIBF 
John Roman, International PR Manager 
press@libf.ac.uk

London, 09. January 2024 – According to a recent study by The London Institute of Banking & Finance and IU Group, exam nerves can have serious consequences on career and study choices. Despite nine out of 10 people in the UK having experienced exam nerves at school or university, most don’t seek help. Of the 91% of respondents who said they had experienced exam nerves: 

• Over half had been prevented from pursuing their chosen career or study the subject of their choice. 
• 65% didn’t think exam nerves were taken seriously. 
• Only 18% sought help – with many citing feeling ‘awkward’ or ‘embarrassed’ as the reason why not.  

Nadim Choudhury, Director of Careers and Employability, at LIBF says: 

“The fear of failure, high expectations – and being worried about what others will think – are some of the main reasons why people get anxious before exams and other key life events." 

“Unfortunately very few people seek help, despite the negative impacts. These are not only immediate – the mental and physical toll – but also far-reaching. Nerves can affect your future life choices and options, and they need to be taken seriously.” 

“There is support available, and self-help measures that people can take. Preparation, structured study plans and mindfulness tools like deep breathing and hypnotherapy are powerful tools to help people overcome nerves and anxiety." 

“Most universities offer help and support – and there are free resources online. Students shouldn’t be embarrassed to talk about it or ask for help.”
 

Core findings 

• 91% of all respondents have experienced exam nerves at one time or another 
  • 76% at school/university 
  • 61% when applying for a job 
  • 24% during vocational training 
  • 4% in other situations 
  • 9% have never had exam nerves 
     
• Exam nerves arise primarily from the fear of failure and its consequences. 
   
• 65% felt their exam nerves were not taken seriously 
   
• 54% of respondents with exam nerves say: “Exam nerves have or had an impact on my professional career.” The fear of tests, exams, and the like, stands in the way of careers or prevents respondents from achieving the qualifications they wanted. 
   
• Only 18% had sought help. 
  • Of those: 
    • 53% from friends and family 
    • 37% on the internet 
    • 37% from school psychologists or student counsellors 
    • 28% from books 
    • 26% from psychological psychotherapy 
    • 24% from coaching or career advisers 
  • Of the 82% who had not yet sought help: 
    • 41% want to manage it themselves 
    • 35% felt awkward and embarrassed 
    • 34% said it was not so bad that they thought they needed help 
    • 18% said they didn’t know who to turn to

Quick tips to combat exam nerves 

1. Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet for brain function. 
2. Sleep well the night before to enhance alert ness and concentration. 
3. Practice deep breathing to calm nerves before the exam. Visualise success, reinforcing positive outcomes. 
4. Break down the exam into manageable sections, focusing on one at a time. 
    

Longer term strategies to help with exam nerves 

1. Use a learning strategy – a structured and intentional way of acquiring and retaining new information. A learning strategy enhances understanding and can help deal with exam nerves. It involves methods such as effective notetaking, active engagement with the material, setting goals, and employing mnemonic devices. 
2. Hypnotherapy can help – by fostering relaxation and enhancing confidence through guided imagery and positive suggestions, hypnotherapy can mitigate anxiety and improve focus. Incorporating hypnotic techniques into pre-exam routines may empower students to manage stress, fostering a conducive mindset for optimal performance. 
    

About the study 

Within the framework of the short study, “Exam Nerves”, 1,600 respondents between the ages of 16 and 65 in the UK we surveyed – representatively distributed according to age and gender for the British population. 
 

About LIBF 

Founded in 1879, LIBF provides education and training all around the world. We’re one of only a few professional bodies in the world with Taught Degree Awarding Powers. Our globally recognised degrees are designed with an emphasis on practical skills and innovative thought leadership that keeps pace with the real world. Our professional qualifications allow individuals to tailor their learning so they have the building blocks they need to build a career, and to progress. 

By combining 140 years of heritage in banking and finance with pioneering educational technology, we provide a flexible, personalised learning experience that is accessible to students both in the UK and globally. LIBF joined IU Group in 2023. Further information: www.libf.ac.uk.