The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 6 May 2021 with the Finance Academy (Hong Kong) and an education instituted under a Chinese multinational technology conglomerate holding company, abbreviated to TFAHK, to nurture FinTech talent.
Leveraging HKUST’s outstanding academic foundation in FinTech and the tech company’s practical industry experience, the MoU – witnessed by representatives from the HKSAR Government, HKUST and TFAHK – aims to establish a strategic partnership in fostering the development of FinTech by nurturing talents and collaborating on education and research and development projects. It sets out the plan for both parties to collaborate on the FinTech case study series for tertiary education purpose, to provide real business cases for students to comprehensively improve their knowledge on FinTech.
The parties will also work together on developing a curriculum on FinTech, with HKUST integrating the tech giant’s extensive business experience to promote the development of an innovative talent model. Other initiatives include internship opportunities for HKUST students, joint FinTech-related research and development projects, guidance on conducting research projects and potential education outreach programs to improve public awareness on FinTech.
The MoU signing ceremony was part of a Youth Forum hosted by the TFAHK, which aimed to enable audiences to better understand the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and help young talent explore the thriving career opportunities in the region.
The Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government, and the Vice President of the tech giant, Chairman of Fusion Bank, and Dean of TFAHK delivered the opening speech and welcome remarks respectively in the forum; followed by keynote speeches from the Secretary for Innovation and Technology as well as the HKUST President. A group of aspiring youth representatives also shared their first-hand experiences and learnings working in the GBA.
The HKSAR Chief Executive stated in her speech that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development has enormous development potential. To assist young people to seize the opportunities brought about by the GBA development, the Government has introduced the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme in January this year to encourage enterprises with operations in Hong Kong and GBA Mainland cities to recruit Hong Kong graduates and post them to be stationed and work in these cities.
The Scheme will assist graduates to develop their careers in the Mainland and gain a better understanding of the lives and culture of the country.
The HKUST President stated that Hong Kong’s public and private sectors have strived to support and encourage innovation and related science and technology appropriate to the city and beyond. Fintech is a clear example in this domain as it has already been transforming our lives in every aspect from banking, retail payment to e-commerce.
“We have launched our first Fintech postgraduate program jointly by Schools of Business and Management, Engineering, and Science. We have also been actively collaborating with multiple banks and other enterprises. Today, we are delighted to join hands with Tencent to further our efforts on creating new knowledge and nurturing talent in a context in which HKUST can make substantial contributions,” he added.
The TFAHK Dean noted that through the Academy, TFAHK has been organising a range of activities that include internships, research opportunities and visits. These initiatives allow the youth in the GBA to learn about the leading internet and information technology, experience the growth momentum of the GBA and the Mainland, as well as enhance their innovative and entrepreneurial capabilities and competitiveness.
The Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme will help the youth to integrate their study, work and daily life into the GBA, and to experience how the technology enterprises focus on innovation, which helps to nurture FinTech talent.
“We are also pleased to collaborate with HKUST, a top university in Hong Kong, in enhancing the development of FinTech through a number of areas, including the FinTech case study series, FinTech curriculum development, internship opportunities, the establishment of Student Chapter, joint research projects and public awareness enhancement,” he said.
