The University of Lethbridge’s Dhillon School of Business continues to break new ground in its future-focused course development, introducing a new minor in Fintech and Financial Innovation.
The minor, which is the first of its kind for undergraduate business schools in Canada, will enhance career opportunities for students who are considering working in any area of technology and innovation and in particular its application to finance and business in general.
In recent years, financial technology (fintech) has dramatically impacted every aspect of the financial services industry and has led to the evolution of various financial services such as retail banking, commercial banking, lending, wealth management, insurance, capital raising and payment services. Innovations such as peer-to-peer lending, robo-advising, crowdfunding and more have changed the way consumers interact with financial institutions and the way they obtain financial services.
Associate Professor of Finance and Finance Area Chair at the Dhillon School of Business, Dr. Vishaal Baulkaran, says that the purpose of the minor is to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in this ever-changing finance and business environment.
“Since the application of blockchain technology to virtual currency (bitcoin) in 2008, intensive work on how the technology can be deployed in other areas of business, including financial contracts, verifying accounting records, value chain and more has been taking place,” says Baulkaran. “Because of these changes, we knew it was imperative to become leaders in training students who can work comfortably in a workplace that utilizes blockchain and financial technology as well as other innovations that are becoming relevant tools for modern business.”
Some of the courses in the Fintech and Financial Innovation minor include Machine Learning for Business, Fintech, and Applications of Blockchain in Business. The minor will be open to all Lethbridge campus students starting in the Fall 2022 semester.