Fintech Innovation in Singapore and Southeast Asia (FISSA)
The course has no prerequisites. Dr. Mato Njavro will be teaching this course in the calendar week 45 in Singapore at the St.Gallen Institute of Management in Asia (SGI-HSG).
Registration and admission into the course will be seperate from the regular bidding process. To apply, a CV and a short motivation statement explaining why you would like to take the course (1/2 page maximum) are to be sent to mato.njavro@unisg.ch. The bidding window will be open from August 19 to September 4, 2024.
Course Objective
This course will cover the history of fintech and provide a detailed understanding of the current fintech landscape. Participants will get an understanding of various segments of fintech, including Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending, crowdfunding, digital wealth management (robo-advisors), Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies and Insurance Technology (i.e. InsurTech). Through a combination of case studies, guest lectures and company visits, participants will get an in-depth insight into the dynamic fintech ecosystem of Singapore and Southeast Asia.
Course Content
This course on Fintech (financial technology) Innovation in Singapore and Southeast Asia will take place in Singapore during the autumn break. The course has a focus on Fintech industry and its unique and rapidly evolving ecosystem in Singapore and Southeats Asia. Ever since the global financial crisis of 2008, the new breed of companies operating at the intersection of financial servives and technology sector have been revolutionizing the way we think about many apsects of financial services. By focusing on innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and technology-driven business models, these companies are challenging the traditional paragdigms of financial industry. Asia is at the forefront of this fintect revolution. In particular China, with its above average economic growth, huge and digitally-savvy population and unsophisticated banking system proved to be a fertile ground for fintech innovation at a massive scale. Chinese (fin)tech giants, Ant Financial (with Alipay platform) and Tencent (with WeChat platform), have engineered a spectacular leapfrog of Chinese consumers from cash to mobile payment. QR codes are now ubiquitous in China and paying for goods and services without being plugged-in in the dynamic Chinese mobile payment ecosystem can sometimes prove difficult. Southeast Asia is another dynamic hotbed for fintech innovation, supported by massive (more than 600 million), mostly young and increasingly urban popoulation and high internet and mobile adoption. Taken together, the 10 member states of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) represent a major economic powerhouse as well as a huge market for various financial services.
At the center of the fintech revolution in Southeast Asia is Singaproe - a city state that in many ways represents the epitome of economic development, innovation and growth. With no natural resources except its human capital and geopgraphic location, Singapore achieved a spectacular transormation from 'third world' to 'first world' country, within the space of a generation. In the process, the structure of the Singaporean economic landscape has changed from one powered by industrialization (in the early years of indepence) to the current one powered by services, knowledge and innovation. Already a global financial hub, Singapore introduced policies and incentives aimed at fostering a dynamic finetch ecosystem. With its progresseive regulatory framework, the city has positioned itself as a preferred gateway to Asia for the global fintech industry. The course will cover the history of fintech and provide a detailed understanding of the current fintech landscape.
Course Structure
The course starts with a mandatory introductory kick-off session that will take place via Zoom. The core part of the course will be taught during the second week of the mid-term break, from 4-8th of November in Singapore at the St.Gallen Institute of Management in Asia in Singapore.
In addition to formal lectures, the course relies on case studies, recent research studies, current reports and media coverage and insights from domain experts as well as company visits. Thus the course combines classic in-class teaching with as study mission character. In addition, several extra-curriclular activities (non-compulsory) will be offered in oder to expose the participonats to other dimensions of Singapore and foster their cross-cultural understanding and skills. For further information amd to find our when the next course takes place please refer to the course information sheet on the HSG website under course directory.
Additional Course Information
The trip to Singapore is not sponsored. Participants have to cover their travel expenses (flight, hotel etc.) on their own. Total costs for flight and accomodation during the stay in Singapore are expected to be in the range of approx. 1,000 CHF to 1,500 CHF (based on the students' feedback of previous years). Singapore offers a wider variety of accommodation ranging from hostels to hotels and private residences as well as direct flights and stopover flights. Further, it is the student's responsibility to have a valid travel insurance for their stay in Singapore.