LAB.O. - SKILLED FINTECH
No formal prerequisites are required. However, a good understanding of basic financial intermediation topics is recommended.
The exam consists of a final assignment. The final grade will be expressed on a 30-point scale. A minimum score of 18 out of 30 is required to pass. Honors ("lode") may be awarded to students who achieve a score of 30/30 and whose performance is considered particularly outstanding. No mid-term assessments are scheduled.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to understand the role of technological innovation in financial services, analyze emerging business models in the Fintech sector, critically evaluate the impact of digital technologies on banks, financial intermediaries, and non-traditional players, examine the regulatory and legal framework governing the Fintech sector at both national and international levels, and identify the opportunities and risks associated with the adoption of new technologies in the financial domain.
The course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the ongoing transformations in financial markets resulting from the adoption and spread of digital technologies. In particular, it analyzes the evolution of the traditional financial ecosystem, highlighting how technological innovation—both in products and processes—is revolutionizing financial intermediation, business models, and the delivery of financial services and instruments.
Through a theoretical and practical approach, the course describes and analyzes the Fintech (Financial Technology) phenomenon, illustrating the main technological solutions applied to the financial sector, such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, open banking, robo-advisory, smart contracts, digital lending, and cryptocurrencies.
The course will consist of a total of 20 hours of in-class teaching. During the lectures, case studies will be discussed with faculty members and industry professionals.
For all students (attending and non‑attending alike), the recommended learning materials include a selection of chapters from the following texts:
Tanda, A., & Schena, C. M. (2019). FinTech, BigTech and banks: Digitalisation and its impact on banking business models. Springer.
King, T., Lopes, F. S. S., Srivastav, A., & Williams, J. (Eds.). (2021). Disruptive technology in banking and finance: An international perspective on FinTech. Palgrave Macmillan.