HLSCC to offer FinTech courses starting next month

The H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) will be offering a Financial Technology (FinTech) programme for persons interested in becoming a professional in that field of study.

The FinTech Training Programme, which will commence in late March, is a collaborative project of HLSCC’s Robert Mathavious Institute for Financial Services (HLSCC-RMI, the National University of Singapore (NUS): School of Computing (NUS FinTech Lab), BVI Finance Ltd, and Ministry of Education. 

Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley said he is in great support of the programme and encourages persons to enrol.  

“The government has pledged to digitise services as well as the economy. In order to do so, we need a cadre of trained professionals who have the tools to transform our business practices utilising technological solutions. In the ministry, we are proud to partner with HLSCC-RMI and Associate Professor (Practice) Keith B Carter of NUS to usher in this new era in the Virgin Islands,” Dr Wheatley said. 

The programme is designed to nurture the FinTech ecosystem in the BVI by developing a cadre of certified FinTech professionals. Students who enrol in the programme will complete a “coursework phase” that features four intensive courses on the fundamentals of FinTech, business and related programming concepts, in addition to a “project phase” that involves the practical implementation of a FinTech project in a local partnering firm.  

The coursework phase will last eight weeks while the project phase will last one to four months. The application deadline is February 25, and the programme begins on March 21. 

The cost for the programme is $2,600 and the college offers payment plans. 

The Director of the HLSCC-RMI, Dr Derry Hodge said the objectives of the BVI FinTech Training Programme are to support the development of the FinTech ecosystem of the BVI and to prepare persons for a career in FinTech or to diversify their vocational portfolio. Another objective is to provide partnering firms access to Fintech resources and to develop a local cadre of certified FinTech professionals. 

He added that upon completion of the programme, participants will be certificated by the NUS School of Computing.  

In 2018, the NUS signed a memorandum of understanding with the Virgin Islands where the university would assist in training students and professionals in business in the territory. 

The MOU represented the first formal educational initiative to exist between the two bodies. 

The signed agreement serves as a significant step for both the NUS Computing and the BVI, bringing together one of Asia-Pacific’s leading universities and research centres and the BVI, a longtime leader in the financial services industry. 

Anyone interested in applying should apply using the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BVI-FinTech-Application 

Editor’s Note: FinTech is an emerging and innovative category of technology used to create easier ways to utilise and deliver financial services. An example of FinTech is a piece of technology that allows persons to conduct secure and immediate electronic financial transactions from anywhere in the world without restrictions.