CASES IN FINTECH AND POLICY - 2023/4

Module Overview

Cases in FinTech and Policy is a compulsory module that aims to help students develop an understanding of the process involved in successfully analyzing case information to complete a Fintech-related project, in preparation for the FinTech and Policy Project module. It enables students to understand a real-life, complex, multi-layered, global issue and synthesize appropriate information while preparing an analysis on the case and / or critically evaluating the evolving market structure / competitive environment and developments in regulatory policy. The Cases in FinTech and Policy module facilitates the independent learning process and provides students with the knowledge, skills and understanding required to articulate findings in a structured report format.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

WILLIAMS Jon (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content could include FinTech cases and materials in:

Payments design architecture

Peer-to-peer lending

New credit technologies

Market structure, business models, and the competitive environment

AI in Financial Services (robo-advising, algorithmic trading)

Economic, social or political challenges created by specific FinTech cases or applications

Fraud and misconduct

Cryptocurrencies

Blockchain

Governance and regulatory responses

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

n/a

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the achievements of the module’s learning outcomes.

The assessment consists of a summative individual written case response and is designed to capture a holistic learning acquired in all the topics and to assess the student’s ability to comprehend and critically discuss and evaluate the core features of the case taking care to apply relevant theoretical concepts in relation to the case context.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Coursework completed on an individual basis

Formative Assessment and Feedback:
Classes provide a platform of frequent feedback in the FinTech and policy topics covered thus preparing the student for his/her success in the final project (a separate module taken subsequently in the summer). Additionally, the module offers a platform for students to give and receive feedback via SurreyLearn.

Finally, weekly student feedback and consultation hours aim to provide additional feedback and assist students with the workload. 

Module aims

• Provide students with an understanding of how technology, regulation and business together shape the opportunities for technological innovation in financial services.
• Develop students' ability to critically examine the strategic and public policy issues raised by the new technologies in financial industries. This could include the application of competition law and policy and the extent to which technology is leading to new forms of industry competition and co-operation.
• Examine how the leading technology-based companies in financial technology are challenging incumbent financial services firms, for example, in payments services and lending markets around the world.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The teaching and learning methods include the use of weekly lecture and seminars to illustrate the theory and allow the student to practice the practical application of such theory with a range of weekly seminar questions. Lecture material will be supported by directed reading and weekly homework exercises will be set to test students’ understanding on an on-going basis. SurreyLearn will be used as an information portal and will contain lecture notes, OnDemand videos, and guided learning such as practical exercises in the form of case studies.
 

The learning and teaching methods include:
Lectures
Captured contents
Guided learning

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM521

Other information

Surrey Business School is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities particularly in the following areas: 

Global and Cultural Capabilities: FinTech is a global phenomenon that is using novel technologies to challenge or disrupt the incumbent financial institutions and existing market structures. While FinTech offers great promise to consumers the world over, there is also potential for known and unknown risks to arise, and this is demanding the attention of regulators at both national and international levels.

Digital Capabilities: Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the importance of digitalization in banking and finance, and how FinTech has helped to stimulate and drive this trend. Students will also be able to critically evaluate the emergence of new financial technologies and how financial firms are adapting their business models to incorporate these technologies.

Employability: The module aims to develop students’ knowledge of the rapidly growing FinTech sector, the new technologies it is applying in financial services, and how technology firms are competing with traditional incumbent financial services firms, which could include the development of partnership agreements and novel types of competition. This core knowledge of trends and individual cases of firms and the challenges they are facing including from an evolving regulatory architecture are highly regarded by employers. Over the course of the module, students develop the ability to evaluate problems, devise solutions, and critically analyse solutions. Consequently, students build and enhance their individual and professional skill sets.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: Students build on the knowledge they acquire from the Overview of FinTech module. This module reinforces and enhances students’ knowledge through its case study evidence and deep insight into individual FinTech firms and FinTech technologies. Students develop understanding of the intricate relationships between competitors and critical appreciation of the choices and trade-offs facing policymakers in formulating the design of the regulatory architecture. The module and its coursework assessment on a FinTech case serve as preparation for the FinTech and Policy Project module that follows.

Sustainability: The module emphasizes the role of new technologies in increasing the efficiency of financial markets, improving customer satisfaction, increasing choice, and importantly contributing significantly to an increase in financial inclusion that has helped to reduce poverty in parts of the world. The module equips students with skills to critically evaluate new developments and to inform the design of an appropriate public policy. Greater scrutiny can facilitate higher standards of corporate governance - a key issue in environment, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.