To step up efforts in cultivating a talent for Financial Technology (FinTech) in local students and to strengthen the links in corporate partnership, the Faculty of Engineering, CUHK and DBS Hong Kong have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an inaugural Master of Science in Financial Technology programme (MSc FinTech), offering training to skilled students. The MOU was signed by Professor Martin D. F. Wong, Dean of Engineering, CUHK, and Ms. Brit Blakeney, Head of Innovation & Ecosystems, DBS Hong Kong. It is a collaboration of the business and academic sectors to further foster digital innovation and academic strength, exploring more possibilities for the application of digital innovations. Under the MOU, MSc FinTech students will gain first-hand experience in FinTech-related projects, including the digital customer journey, API applications, big data analytics, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning and sustainability, as well as internship opportunities. In addition, students will get to know the industry from the fruitful work experience of DBS Hong Kong mentors and the knowledge they will pass on. Professor Martin Wong remarked, “It is an honour for us to collaborate with DBS Hong Kong on internship, industrial projects and job placements for our MSc FinTech students. FinTech has undeniable importance and ground-breaking effects in reshaping the landscape of the financial sector. There is no better way for our students to learn from experts and to gain hands-on experience from the industry and in-depth understanding of FinTech topics. Our MSc FinTech programme, launched this year, is committed to bringing out technologically adept and business savvy talent, people who can offer innovative solutions to finance-related industries. This collaboration is beneficial to both sides as we firmly believe that extending and strengthening academic and corporate relationships is crucial to the development of financial technologists. What our students learn in class will complement perfectly the handling of real-life projects and challenges proposed by the industrial practitioners”. Ms. Brit Blakeney remarked, “Banks can no longer work in silos and can only be successful by materially transforming the way they work and by collaborating with FinTechs. While DBS has always been the pioneer in nurturing startups and helping them grow, by working more closely with CUHK, the first and leading university offering a MSc FinTech programme, this further demonstrates our strong commitment to cultivating the next generation of talents in Hong Kong. We are all very excited to see how these extremely talented students will transform and innovate the industry.” |