FinTech Foundations and Overview from Coursera

Our primary goal is to help you to understand FinTech and to become more confident and persuasive in your ability to analyze and make recommendations to executives within the finance industry regarding how to react to these changes.

This FIRST MOOC ON FINTECH IN ASIA-PACIFIC offered by HKUST presents the insight of several professors from the top business school in Asia as well as perspectives from industry professionals. HKUST has been ranked for many years as the No.1 EMBA program in the world, as the number one Finance program in Asia, and as the top MBA program in Asia by multiple independent rating and review journals and surveys.

This course "FinTech Foundations and Overview" offers the combined strengths of HKUST in Business, Finance, and Technology as one the world's leading academic institutions on an important area of technology and business innovations. For learners from outside Asia, this also gives an insight into changes happening in the most advanced FinTech markets of the world, since Asia leads worldwide in FinTech adoption and creative innovations.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to FinTech

In this module (week one), students will gain a multi-dimensional perspective on what FinTech means from the perspective of large firms (and older participants in the industry - e.g. dinosaurs), entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers. Examining what FinTech is, or is not, provides a foundations upon which students can build for better understanding of opportunities and changes.

FinTech Business Applications

The Business Applications of FinTech are essentially the Fin part of the FinTech world, and in this module, we will examine applications across six categories of FinTech, including lending and personal finance, crowd-finding and business financing, payments and retail transactions, equity, trading and investment applications, various types of cryptocurrencies, and banking infrastructure and tools.

The Tech of FinTech

The Technology enabling and supporting FinTech is important to understand, and this module provides a brief introduction to each of the areas of technology that enable FinTech business changes, including identity and privacy technologies, blockchain and encryption, big data analytics, AI and automation, and consumer tech innovations. This introduction is designed to be at a level appropriate for business managers or students of business, and is not intended to excite or engage tech geeks.

FinTech Implications for Established Business

Building on our understanding of FinTech market applications and FinTech technologies, we move in this module to examine the implications of FinTech changes and challenges for existing financial services companies, and we look at current and future trends in FinTech world-wide. This module concludes, after the final quiz, with a final course project in which students will present their recommendations for senior managers of a large, established Asia-Pacific bank to take advantage of and respond to FinTech challenges and opportunities.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores FinTech, an emerging field that is rapidly changing the financial industry

Taught by professors from the top business school in Asia, providing insights from industry professionals

Suitable for learners outside Asia, offering insights into the most advanced FinTech markets and innovations

Covers a comprehensive range of topics, including FinTech applications, technology, and implications for established businesses

Examines FinTech's relevance in both industry and academia

May require an existing foundation in business and finance for optimal understanding

Reviews summary

Highly rated fintech foundations

Learners say this largely positive course is an engaging introduction to the key features of FinTech. Instructors are well received for their global perspective, practical examples, and industry expertise. Assignments, especially the peer-graded final project, are said to enhance the learning experience.

Interactive and practical

"The peer-graded assignment was the best part"

"The course content is good and well paced..."

"The assessments are comprehensive and systematic."

"It was really helpful."

Engaging and knowledgeable

"Professor Clark did an excellent job in introducing the concepts, familiarizing students with new apps, and guest speakers enriched the discussion with their practical experience."

"The professor is very good! He gives very real use cases and tells you how fintech evolved from the beginning. It is amazing to uncover historical perspectives and facts and understand what will uncover in the future."

"Excellent Course with versatle instructorsI enjoyed every bit of it."

In-depth and informative

"True to its title, it really serves as an introduction."

"This course "FinTech Foundations and Overview" offers the combined strengths of HKUST in Business, Finance, and Technology as one the world's leading academic institutions on an important area of technology and business innovations."

"I found the course to be informative and well-designed for beginners."

Can be subjective and stressful

"it is a great course except for the peer review at the end, its just not professional to do that in an online course"

"It was a huge burden to rate my peers' work, because I had to tell some of them, that "copy-pasting" the entire essay from a webpage is not a good solution."

"I still feel bad about this, because it does not feel good to give bad grades, and tell someone, that the submitted solution is not acceptable, because 0 energy was invested into it."

May not reflect latest developments

"The course is well structured.... The peer assignment review part is excellent... If the course can introduce more international examples in the future that will be even better."

"Great course, but it was recorded in 2017; it's time to update the materials."

"This course looks more like a podcast. This course seems recorded around 2017 and is not helpful five years later."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in FinTech Foundations and Overview with these activities:

Review Financial Analysis

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Review basic financial analysis skills to strengthen your understanding of financial statements and ratios.

Browse courses on Financial Analysis

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Review key financial ratios and their formulas.
Analyze a sample balance sheet and income statement.
Calculate and interpret financial ratios.

Gather FinTech Resources

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Enhance your understanding by gathering and organizing relevant resources related to FinTech.

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Identify and collect articles, videos, and podcasts on FinTech.
Organize the resources using a tool like Evernote or OneNote.
Review the resources regularly to stay up-to-date with the industry.

Review basic financial concepts

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Refresh your understanding of fundamental financial concepts such as financial statements, valuation, and risk management to strengthen your foundation for this course.

Browse courses on Finance

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Review textbooks or online resources to revisit core financial principles.
Complete practice problems or quizzes to test your comprehension.
Discuss financial concepts with peers or a mentor to clarify any uncertainties.

Six other activities

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Show all nine activities

Explore Blockchain Technology

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Enhance your understanding of blockchain technology by following online tutorials and resources.

Browse courses on Blockchain

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Follow a guided tutorial on the basics of blockchain.
Explore different types of blockchain platforms.
Understand the application of blockchain in various industries.

Explore emerging FinTech trends

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Follow online tutorials or attend webinars to stay updated on the latest innovations and trends in FinTech, expanding your knowledge beyond the scope of this course.

Browse courses on Emerging Technologies

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Identify reputable sources for FinTech news and insights.
Subscribe to industry blogs, newsletters, or social media channels.
Attend virtual or in-person events to connect with experts and learn about new developments.

Host a FinTech discussion group

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Organize and lead a discussion group with other students or industry professionals to explore different aspects of FinTech, share insights, and engage in critical thinking.

Browse courses on Fintech

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Identify a topic or a series of topics related to FinTech.
Create a schedule for the discussion group and invite participants.
Facilitate the discussions, encourage participation, and moderate the conversation.
Summarize the key takeaways and share them with the group.

Solve FinTech Case Studies

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Deepen your understanding by analyzing and solving case studies related to FinTech companies.

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Read a case study and identify the key issues.
Analyze the company's financial performance and business model.
Develop recommendations for improving the company's performance.

Evaluate the latest blockchain technology

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Create a presentation or report that evaluates the latest advances in blockchain technology, its potential impact on the financial industry, and how it could be integrated within existing business models.

Browse courses on Blockchain Technology

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Research and identify the key trends and innovations in blockchain technology.
Analyze the potential impact of blockchain technology on the financial industry.
Develop recommendations for how businesses can integrate blockchain technology into their operations.
Present or share your findings with others.

Analyze financial data using industry tools

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Practice using industry-standard tools and techniques to analyze financial data, such as Excel, Python, or SQL, to develop your analytical skills and gain hands-on experience.

Browse courses on Financial Data Analysis

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Identify a relevant financial dataset or case study.
Select appropriate tools and techniques for data analysis.
Perform data analysis and interpretation.
Generate insights and make recommendations.

Career center

Learners who complete FinTech Foundations and Overview will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

FinTech Entrepreneur

A FinTech Entrepreneur is responsible for starting and running a FinTech company. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Entrepreneur

FinTech Product Manager

A FinTech Product Manager is responsible for defining, developing, and launching new FinTech products. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Product Manager

FinTech Risk Manager

A FinTech Risk Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks for FinTech companies. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Risk Manager

FinTech Consultant

A FinTech Consultant is responsible for providing advice to FinTech companies on how to improve their performance. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Consultant

FinTech Analyst

A FinTech Analyst is responsible for analyzing FinTech trends and recommending investment opportunities. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Analyst

Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for defining, developing, and launching new products. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Investment Banker

An Investment Banker is responsible for advising companies on mergers and acquisitions, raising capital, and other financial transactions. This course may be helpful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Management Consultant

A Management Consultant is responsible for providing advice to organizations on how to improve their performance. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Risk Manager

A Risk Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks for organizations. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Financial Advisor

A Financial Advisor is responsible for providing financial advice to individuals and families. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Advisor

Portfolio Manager

A Portfolio Manager is responsible for managing investment portfolios for individuals and institutions. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes and recommending improvements. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to identify trends and patterns. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst is responsible for evaluating financial risks, analyzing investment opportunities, and making appropriate recommendations to clients. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in FinTech and its implications for established businesses, as well as the technology enabling and supporting FinTech.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

FinTech Foundations and Overview

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Reviews summary

Highly rated fintech foundations

Activities

Career center

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