Professional Certificate in Fintech: The Future of Finance
OVERVIEW OF THE FINTECH SECTOR
Professor: Cesare Fracassi
Associate Professor of Finance
McCombs School of Business
University of Texas at Austin
Course Description
This is the first in a series of four courses on financial technology for the Professional Certificate Program on Fintech. The course provides an overview of the most recent technological advances that are radically changing the financial services industry. These technological breakthroughs offer new ways for people to save, invest, borrow, and transact. We will analyze how new technologies create value in the financial industry, from reducing unit cost, increasing transparency, increasing competition, creating network effects, leveraging economies of scales, and lowering asymmetric information. We will also study the competitive landscape and the market opportunities and threats for incumbents and new entrants.
The course is divided into 3 modules. Module 1 will show how financial institutions create value by reducing financial frictions, and we will introduce three new technological breakthroughs: Blockchain technology, machine learning, and Internet-of-Things. In module 2, we will explore the regulatory environment that fintech firms face. In the third and final module, we will learn about the fintech sector by introducing the largest 100 fintech unicorns, and discussing a business case on Ant Financial, and the latest news about the entrance of Big Tech firms in financial services.
Course Requirements
DELIVERY: The course is delivered completely online asynchronously, which gives students more latitude in completing their work at their own pace. The course material is organized by topic (“Modules”), and each module includes reading assignments, lecture and videos, a segment keyed to recent events in fintech, and a variety of quizzes. The course schedule below contains module assignments and due dates. This design allows students to complete the work according to their own schedule.
COMMUNICATION: Our main mode of communication will be the discussion board. I encourage learners to use the board to ask questions, and share news, reports, and thoughts about the topic we will cover in the course.
MATERIALS: The course will not require any textbook, and all the reading material will be provided as links to documents, including HBS Case Study material.
Schedule
The course is designed to be completed in two weeks, with an average of 5-6 hours per week of study. However, learners can choose a faster or slower pace, depending on their time availability, and speed preference for learning.
Week 1 : Module 1 - Introduction to the Fintech Sector
- The Financial Sector Today
- Value Creation in Finance
- Emerging Technologies in Finance
Week 2: Module 2 & 3 – Financial Regulation and the World of Fintech
- The Regulatory Environment in the U.S.
- Regulating Fintech Companies
- Fintech Companies of the Day
- Business Case on Fintech
- Big Tech and Finance