Department: Economics and Finance

ECON40B15: Financial Technologies I

Prerequisites

• <If other modules, please enter module code using 'Right Click, Insert module_code' or enter module title>

Corequisites

• <If other modules, please enter module code using 'Right Click, Insert module_code' or enter module title>

Excluded Combination of Modules

• <If other modules, please enter module code using 'Right Click, Insert module_code' or enter module title>

Aims

• Financial Technologies (FinTech) encompass the set of software, hardware, and innovative algorithmic technologies typically employed by and across the financial innovation landscape.
• This is designed to be a primer on FinTech and serves as a platform for further skills and development in this area. 
• The aim of this course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to FinTech, including Decentralized Finance, ECNs and broader financial infrastructure. 
• The Course will review the issues surrounding fairness of access to services and intermediation and the concept of financial inclusion. 
• Students will finish the course with both a technical, social and economic understanding of Financial Technologies with a comprehensive knowledge. 
• This course will provide a summary and guidance on the types of technologies typically deployed and is pitched at those in a management or deployment role rather than a developer or software engineer. The course leverages the extensive knowledge base of the proposed teaching team in the areas of FinTech, technology mediated financial transactions and automation and algorithm deployment in the financial industry.

Content

• The landscape of modern finance, Electronic Communication Networks, and algorithmic financial decision making.
• Multiparty Computation and Distributed Systems
• - Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Blockchain, and Smart Contracts
• - Cryptocurrency and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
• - Initial Coin Offerings
• AI and Finance
• -Structured Data, Machine Learning, KBD systems, AI.
• -Forward-Time Tech Analysis, High-frequency and Algorithmic Trading
• Cybersecurity
• -identity and fraud detection,
• -anti-money laundering,
• -Know Your Customers.
• Regulation of Fintech and RegTech.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students should be able to:
• Identify the core components of the new financial technologies.
• Be able to sketch the design framework for new types of financial instruments.
• Understand the role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in financial services.
• Understand the underlying technical solutions needed to assess the risk of new financial products.

• Financial modelling
• Introductory programming skills
• System architectures
• Applied modelling techniques
• Introductory cryptographic methods for finance

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Blended teaching model, with some in person lectures, video based discussion presentations.
• Synchronous class blended in person and virtual classrooms with small group teaching.
• Flipped class room using the prepared materials to deliver summaries of models and instruments needed in climate finance.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Practice essay undertaken in groups that evaluates a specific financial product. Oral feedback in a flipped classroom environment.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University