Franklin Templeton, State Street back first UK fintech degree
Asset managers Franklin Templeton and State Street are among the backers of what is being billed as the UK's first fintech undergraduate degree course. Students at Wrexham Glendwr University can study for a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management Technology over two or three years of study. Instead of simply telling students about the technologies underpinning fintech, the new course will "teach them how to generate new business ideas and create their own start-up using the technologies available to them," according to course leader Anna Sung.

U.K.-based Wrexham Glyndwr University has announced the launch of the U.K.’s first undergraduate degree, which is dedicated to the world of FinTech, according to the ...

U.K.-based Wrexham Glyndwr University has announced the launch of the U.K.’s first undergraduate degree, which is dedicated to the world of FinTech, according to the university.

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Hons) in Financial Management Technology is available to study over two or three years and will provide students with the business skills needed to explore opportunities within the FinTech sector.

The course is also being backed by investment bankers in the U.S. such as senior vice presidents at multi-billion dollar American investment firms Franklin Templeton and State Street and professionals from the Asia business world.

Lloyd Powell, head of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Wales, said:

As new technology brings new challenges and opportunities, it is vital that higher education can play a key part in delivering graduates equipped with the skills that employers will need. The new degree will give students a mix of theory and practical skills and experience in order to support the growth of this important sector.

Course leader Anna Sung, lecturer at Wrexham Glyndwr University, added:

Rather than teaching students the technologies behind the rise of FinTech, the course will teach them how to generate new business ideas and create their own startup using the technologies available to them.

Rise in FinTech Courses

The increase in the financial technology sector is seeing a rise in the number of university courses being offered.

Just last month Scotland’s University of Strathclyde announced the launch of its FinTech masters course, making it a first in the U.K. Scotland is keen to embrace the industry so that it can benefit from the prospect of more than 14,000 jobs and is hoping that the course will boost the country’s industry.

In the past, Stanford University has offered digital currency courses to its students while the world’s first online MSc in digital currency started at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus in 2014.

With global investment in FinTech venture amounting to $24.7 billion in 2016, granted a significant drop from 2015, it illustrates how prosperous and beneficial the sector is around the world and why so many are jumping on board.

Not only that, but with an estimated 100,000 new jobs expected to be created within the FinTech industry in the U.K. by 2020, it makes sense for universities to offer its students new courses that relate to it. This way the younger generation can explore the technology further and build on what so many are already achieving in the industry.

Featured image from Facebook/Wrexham Gyndwr University.