This document discusses University Meets Microfinance (UMM), an initiative that fosters cooperation between universities, students, and microfinance practitioners in Europe. UMM aims to increase knowledge of microfinance, provide field experiences for students, and contribute solutions to challenges facing the poor's access to financial services. Since 2009, UMM has conducted seminars, research projects, documentation, professional exchanges, and dissemination of information to over 1,000 students and practitioners. Interested parties are encouraged to join UMM activities to further microfinance education and innovation.

1. CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY
Any use of this material without specific permission of PlaNet Finance is strictly prohibited
27/03/2014
University Meets Microfinance
(UMM)
Speakers’ Corner
European Microfinance Week 2013
[Name, Surname]
Project Coordinator / Project Scientific Coordinator]
[PlaNet Finance / Freie Universität Berlin]
“Fostering the cooperation between universities, students in Europe and microfinance practitioners to
contribute to microfinance innovation and education for development”.

2. UMM, fostering the cooperation between universities, students in Europe and
microfinance practitioners since 2009
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University Meets Microfinance (UMM) is an European initiative which fosters the cooperation between
universities, students in Europe and microfinance practitioners to contribute to microfinance
innovation and education for development.
UMM has been initiated in 2009 by PlaNet Finance and the Freie Universität Berlin with the main
financial support of the European Union.
 Increase knowledge and competencies on
microfinance among students, universities and
interested stakeholders
 Foster field experience of students from European
universities in developing countries
 Contribute solving the difficulties poor people face
when accessing the financial services they need
 Make developing countries benefit from enhanced
cooperation between practitioners and universities

3. Long term committed financial and institutional partners
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All the UMM activities are carried out under the umbrella of the European
Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) in the frame of the e-MFP Action Group «UMM».

4. 5 domains of activities leading to microfinance knowledge
creation, documentation and dissemination.
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The main activities of UMM are:
2. Microfinance Research
3. Documentation of
Information
4. Professional Exchange
5. Dissemination of
information
FromKnowledgeCreationtoDiffusion
1. Microfinance Education • Microfinance seminars, lectures, summer school and
training of trainers
• List of Research topics proposed by practitioners, students
awards, scholarships for field research and internship
• Workshops on relevant microfinance topics
• Organization of awareness events on relevant microfinance
topics
• Dissemination of information trough internet
• Case studies on microfinance innovative projects
• Thematic series papers, PhD articles, masters theses

5. UMM consolidated figures (2009 - July 2013)
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Seminars:
1154 students attended 42 seminars in
Germany, France, Italy and Portugal
Scholarships & Mentorships:
48 scholarships awarded
68 students mentored
UMM Awards:
10 Master theses awarded and published
with the academic publisher “Ibidem”
Workshops:
690 participants at 10 UMM workshops in
Belgium, Germany, France, Italy
and the Netherlands
Public Events:
1747 participants at 67 awareness
events in Germany, France,
Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal
1280 students benefited
directly from UMM.
UMM events gathered 2437 students,
academics and practitioners.

6. Join UMM
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Students Universities Practitioners
• Develop a profound theoretical
understanding of microfinance and gain
valuable practical insights by
participating at our UMM seminars
• Diversify your teaching curriculum by
co-hosting one of our UMM seminars
• Gain valuable insights from jointly
conducted case studies with high-profile
universities
• Finance your internship or field research
on a microfinance related topic in a
developing country by applying for a
UMM scholarship
• Add to the reputational build-up of your
university by jointly conducting
microfinance case studies with
practitioners organizations
• Benefit from the results of students’
research on priority topics for your
organization
• Carry out research on topics that have
been developed with practitioners
institutions and receive their basic
support throughout the research
process thanks to the UMM field
research & field exposure program
• Expand your network with other
European universities and microfinance
practitioners’ organizations by joining
the e-MFP Action Group «UMM»
• Share lessons learned from your
projects by presenting them at our UMM
workshops or public events
• Get basic mentorship from microfinance
practitioners through our UMM network
• Enhance the visibility of your university
by hosting UMM workshops for
students, academics and practitioners
• Network with other European
universities, with microfinance and
development practitioners’ organizations
by joining the e-MFP Action Group
«UMM»
• Present your research and receive
valuable input from academics and
practitioners at our UMM worskhops or
pubic events
• Keep yourself updated on current
microfinance research trends among
European Bachelor, Master and PhD
students by joining the UMM Selection
Committee*
• Keep yourself updated on current
microfinance research trends among
European Bachelor, Master and PhD
students by joining the UMM Selection
Committee*

7. UMM Germany
PlaNet Finance Deutschland e.V
Sven Volland
Ahlbecker StraBe 18 D - 10437 Berlin
Tel: +49 30 47 98 98 18
UMM France
PlaNet Finance
Vanessa Quintero
44 rue de prony 75017 Paris
Tel: +33 1 49 21 26 26
Contact and follow UMM
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UMM Italy
PlaNet Finance Italia Onlus
Faiza Errais Borges
Corso Sempione 32/b I-20154 Milano
Tel: +39 02 89 28 00 34
www.universitymeetsmicrofinance.eu
umm@planetfinance.org
www.facebook.com/universitymeetsmicrofinance

8. Thank you for your
attention!
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