The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has established the FinTech Future Leader Academy, with a programme designed exclusively for undergraduates in their second or third year, or postgraduates, in relevant disciplines including I&T and Business.
The Academy offers young participants opportunities to get an in-depth look at FinTech development and gain insights into the FinTech industry by working as an intern in ASTRI.
This will be supplemented by field visits to the programme’s nine supporting organisations, which include Cyberport, Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and others.
The programme is open for applications until 14 March 2022. Students selected for the programme will undertake an eight-week internship in ASTRI from June to August this year. They will be given the opportunity to participate in FinTech R&D projects, including conducting research on the issuance of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC); employing Federated Learning technology to promote alternative credit assessment; or applying Artificial Intelligence to the analysis of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reports.
Throughout the internship, ASTRI experts will provide professional guidance and share their rich R&D experience. During the internship period, students will also undertake two-week field visits to well-known institutions that support the programme, where they will learn directly from industry professionals and have the opportunity to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of FinTech on society.
The programme is open to students majoring in Engineering, Technology, Science, Computer Science, and Business & Finance, who are aspiring to join the financial services industry; able to create technological solutions; creative, open-minded and visionary; and fluent in English.
The Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI stated that the demand for FinTech talent is surging across the world. The hope is that the FinTech Future Leader Academy will give young people practical FinTech experience by enabling them to take part in innovative FinTech projects, and equip them with the skills they need to enhance their professionalism and employability. It is believed that the programme will help expand the FinTech talent pool in Hong Kong and drive FinTech development here under the ‘FinTech 2025’ strategy.
The CEO of Cyberport noted that as the leading FinTech hub of Hong Kong, Cyberport is aware of the huge demand for talent in the FinTech sector from both financial institutions and start-ups. He noted that the new Academy will hopefully help build a solid foundation for the next generation of fintech talents to join the industry.
Meanwhile, the Chief Fintech Officer of the HKMA said that with fintech continuing to evolve at unprecedented speed, it is vital for Hong Kong to accelerate its talent development efforts to ensure that we have sufficient fintech professionals to drive the industry forward.
He noted that under its Fintech 2025 strategy, the HKMA continues to closely collaborate with various strategic partners to groom all-around fintech talent. He noted that HKMA supports the launch of ASTRI FinTech Future Leadership Academy, which echoes the government’s vision by equipping the financial services industry with more tech-enablers.
The CEO at HKSTP remarked that FinTech is one of the key areas that HKSTP is striving to push forward.
“We are pleased to be one of the supporting organisations of ASTRI’s ’FinTech Future Leader Academy’, joining hands with other ecosystem partners to nurture the next generation of I&T leaders through providing comprehensive training to bright young talent. We believe talent is imperative to fuel I&T growth and Hong Kong as the world’s leading international financial centre needs to nurture more FinTech talent to propel innovations with technologies, and accelerate the development of FinTech in Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area and beyond,” he said.