Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the rationale and legal authority for regulatory **mandates on consumer education** for financial institutions.
• Identify the key risks (e.g., bias, commercial interest) inherent in industry-provided financial education.
• Design regulatory rules for the **content, timing, and delivery quality** of mandatory consumer education programs.
• Develop clear standards to ensure that mandated education is **non-commercial, non-biased, and product-neutral**.
• Establish effective supervisory and **monitoring mechanisms** to assess firm compliance and program effectiveness.
• Evaluate various industry models for education delivery (e.g., point-of-sale, digital modules, workshops) and their suitability.
• Design regulatory incentives and collaborative structures to promote high-quality, shared educational resources.
• Understand the interplay between mandated education, behavioral disclosure rules, and financial capability policy.

• Regulators and Policy Makers drafting Market Conduct and Consumer Protection Legislation
• Compliance Officers and Training Managers in Financial Institutions
• Legal Counsel and Regulatory Affairs Professionals
• Consumer Protection Advocates and NGO Staff
• Financial Capability Program Managers in Regulatory Bodies
• Internal Auditors and Quality Assurance Teams
• FinTech Platforms with significant user onboarding and education needs

• Case Studies analyzing the impact and unintended consequences of existing education mandates.
• Group Activities on drafting a regulatory rule to ensure product-neutrality in a firm's educational module.
• Discussions on the cost of compliance for firms versus the public benefit of educated consumers.
• Individual Exercises on developing a checklist for auditing the quality of an educational webinar.
• Policy workshop simulation on defining the minimum required content for a loan-related education mandate.
• Review of academic evidence on the effectiveness of industry-provided education.

Unit 1: The Regulatory Rationale for Mandates

• The gap between public and private sector roles in financial education delivery.
• Legal basis for mandating firms to provide non-commercial consumer education.
• When a mandate is appropriate (e.g., at point of sale, before high-risk product purchase).
• Review of global examples of mandatory consumer education requirements.

• Identifying the primary risk: **Commercial bias** and using education as a sales tool.
• Designing mandates that enforce **product-neutrality and non-endorsement**.
• Defining the required educational content to address specific consumer risks.
• The need for regulatory oversight of the educational materials provided by firms.

Unit 2: Designing the Mandate Framework

• Developing minimum standards for the **quality, accuracy, and clarity** of educational content.
• Regulatory requirements for the **timing** and medium of delivery (e.g., digital, in-person).
• Establishing a mechanism for regulatory review and approval of educational materials.
• Mandating the use of simplified language and behavioral design principles.

• Rules for staff training to ensure accurate and non-biased information delivery.
• Mandating accessible delivery channels for different demographics (e.g., rural, visually impaired).
• The use of interactive tools and gamification in mandatory digital education.
• Defining the required frequency and duration of mandated education programs.

Unit 3: Compliance and Supervisory Oversight

• Developing a **Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)** framework for mandated programs.
• Supervisory tools for auditing the content and delivery of industry education.
• Requiring firms to report on education participation and qualitative feedback.
• Establishing penalties for non-compliance, biased content, or poor delivery.

Unit 4: Technology and Future Trends

• Regulatory encouragement for technology-driven, scalable education solutions.
• The role of **Generative AI** in creating localized, non-biased educational content.
• Mandating interoperable digital education resources and platforms.
• The regulatory response to "financial wellness" programs offered by employers/firms.

Unit 5: Integration with Disclosure and Policy

• Ensuring mandated education reinforces, but does not substitute for, clear disclosures.
• Aligning mandatory content with the goals of the national financial capability strategy.
• The relationship between education mandates and principles of UDAAP compliance.
• Strategies for fostering public-private partnerships in financial education delivery.