MNM3FINT: Financial Technologies (FINTECH)

Module code: MNM3FINT

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 10

Level: Postgraduate Masters Stage 3

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Dr Niran Subramaniam, email: n.subramaniam@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Module aims and purpose.
The fintech elective module aims to equip senior managers with core competencies and actionable strategies in the use of FinTech tools and technologies. The course focuses on the most commonly used FinTech such as cloud computing, chat bots, data analytics, AI, crypto currencies, and blockchain and trace their use cases to companies which transitioned from the high streets to digital. The module contextualises the application of FinTech within corporate settings across the world, and discusses their use, impact and effectiveness within European context.

Module learning outcomes

Modules learning outcomes.

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify what FinTech is and assess its impact on the finance and technology industries.

2. Evaluate the main technologies driving FinTech, FinTech solutions and how they operate within regulatory environments for FinTech firms.

3. Critically evaluate the strategies of major FinTech firms, analyse and discuss the likely impacts of FinTech trends for the future.

Module content

In an ever-changing landscape for Fintech, topics and how they are taught may change year on year based on industry changes, students represented, and revisions to content. The module presently covers: 

• Defining what Fintech is and exploring its recent dramatic rise, in particular technologies that have driven the rise of Fintech in recent years.

• Examining the verticals where Fintech firms have had the largest impact: mobile money, crowdfunding, crypto assets, peer-to-peer lending and robo-advice.

• Analysing and discussing the influence of Big data and AI and harnessing the power of data analytics to improve decisions to gain a competitive advantage.

• Evaluating how to use data more effectively to make an impact in an organisation, enhancing company’s performance, products, and processes.

• Assessing consumer attitudes towards Fintech service providers and their regulatory challenges to evaluate the different approaches that countries have taken to Fintech.

Evaluating the business models of pure Fintech businesses, strategies of large Fintech firms, and reflecting on what Fintech trends mean to the learners’ organisations.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Fintech is an elective on the executive MBA programme, and as such it is offered as a self-study module based on teaching materials presented on the learning platform (Canvas). Students learn by reading, listening to audios, podcasts, watching videos, and by taking part in a single player simulation on data analytics.

Flexi Exec MBA learners are expected to self-study to review, discuss and reflect on: 

1. Developing an awareness of the emerging use cases and contexts for FinTech.

2. Developing competencies in FinTech for further study and development.

3. Applying FinTech knowledge to enhance automation of financial processes.

4. Identifying and discussing the impact of FinTech on your own organisation.

Study hours

At least 0 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module. 

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs