FINTECH

ONLINE SHORT COURSE

Learn to critically assess the future of FinTech by

examining what actors will drive future innovation
and which technologies will have a lasting impact
on the financial industry.
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Since its emergence, FinTech has been considered a disruptive force within the financial industry, one to prepare for,
or even defend against. Its rapid adoption amongst financial institutions and across industries, however, makes
defending against the rise of FinTech ultimately futile. The maturing landscape is therefore transforming from threat
to partner, with traditional financial institutions and start-ups adapting to the changes and applying innovative
FinTech concepts and practices to their organizations. The industry is no longer being defined by FinTech’s potential
impact, but rather who is currently driving this innovation and how to strategically engage with financial technology.

This 6-week online course from Harvard’s VPAL investigates how FinTech is transforming financial services across
industries. By acquiring an up-to-date understanding of the current financial landscape, students will learn how to
engage with, and think about, the future and challenges of financial services innovation across industries.

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14

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6 weeks, excluding 8-10 hours/week $3,600
1 week orientation of self-paced learning, Installment options available
Participants have the option to partake in an Tax may be charged on the course fee
optional 7th week of capstone project sharing.
entirely online depending on your country of residence

Each module is released weekly, allowing a flexible but structured approach to learning. You’ll be supported as you engage
in individual activities and group discussions, ensuring you feel confident to submit your best work at each weekly deadline.

Our course will take you from the ground-

level all of the way through charting a path
for the future of FinTech. Along the way, you’ll
garner a deep understanding of the different
landscapes FinTech is disrupting, it’s success
in each, and where it’s headed next. We’re
excited to take this journey with you!
— LAUREN H. COHEN
L.E. Simmons Professor of Business Administration

— CHRISTOPHER J. MALLOY
Sylvan C. Coleman Professor of Financial Management
WHAT THE COURSE COVERS
By drawing on the Case Method Approach pioneered by the Harvard Business School, this FinTech online short
course examines real-life challenges that reflect the complex, yet innovative nature of the financial technology
market. The course grapples with examples of how FinTech has challenged and transformed businesses across
industries, and the globe. By exploring FinTech’s consolidation and maturation, you’ll gain insight into financial
ecosystems and how the industry has created the need for regulatory frameworks. Gaining informed knowledge
of the space, you’ll then be equipped to evaluate which actors are driving future innovation, and which technologies
will have a lasting impact on the industry. The course investigates traditional financial industries as well as innovation
and adoption within emerging economies and Asia.

THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF:

$ $

You’re interested in learning to
engage with, and think creatively
about, complex financial services
innovation.
You’re looking to develop your
understanding of the industry
by knowing who is driving
innovation and how FinTech will
have a lasting impact.
You want to validate your
FinTech expertise with a premier
certificate from Harvard’s VPAL.

FinTech is the most promising innovation to occur

in finance in the past 60 years – since the advent
of the credit card. Much like the credit card transformed
the payment system worldwide, FinTech holds equal –
if not greater – promise to do the same. From the way
you pay for a coffee, to the way you invest, to the way
you retire, to the currency you’re using – FinTech is
going to play a role.
— LAUREN H. COHEN
L.E. Simmons Professor of Business Administration

— CHRISTOPHER J. MALLOY
Sylvan C. Coleman Professor of Financial Management
WHO SHOULD TAKE
THIS COURSE?
HARVARD’S VPAL

WHAT IS
HARVARD’S VPAL?
This six-week course is designed for business decision-makers, Learn how education
financial professionals, and senior management professionals is being transformed
to better contextualize, interpret, and respond to the transformed
financial services industry. This course will benefit anyone within
the financial innovation space, particularly those wanting to adopt
the creative methods and strategic approaches within FinTech.
The real-world case studies will enable students to practically
engage with industry challenges and develop an understanding
of the technologies and innovations set to disrupt the future of
business and finance. Business and financial professionals will
be able to transfer this knowledge into their own roles, and begin
to prepare for the FinTech disruption within their own organization.

WHAT YOU
WILL LEARN
This online course integrates rich, interactive media such
as videos, infographics, and e-learning activities as well as
traditional didactic components such as case studies and written
study guides (course notes). Characteristic of the case method
approach, you’ll engage in collaborative learning through weekly
discussion forums. In addition, you will be allocated a problem
faced by a real world company to assess throughout the course.
You will work on a capstone project over the six weeks, using the
skills attained through the assessments of each module’s case
studies. In Module 6, you will be asked to submit a slide deck with
your proposed solution to this problem.

The following modules contribute to the holistic approach your

learning path takes:
ORIENTATION MODULE
WELCOME TO YOUR ONLINE CAMPUS HARVARDX
ONE WEEK
You’ll be welcomed with a personal call and get introduced to your
WHAT IS
online teaching and technical support network. Begin connecting
HARVARDX?
Learn more about
with fellow students while exploring the navigation and tools of your
the university
Online Campus. Be alerted to key milestones in the learning path,
and review how your results will be calculated and distributed.

You’ll be required to complete your student profile, confirm your

certificate delivery address, and submit a digital copy of your
passport/identity document.

MODULE 1
RESHAPING THE BANKING AND PAYMENTS INDUSTRY
Analyze the source of banks’ vulnerability to innovations in payment
ecosystems and potential responses to these changes.

MODULE 2
RAISING MONEY WITH FINTECH
Conclude whether the disintermediation of banks in the provision
of credit is a transitory or permanent phenomenon.

MODULE 3
HARNESSING DATA WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AND MACHINE LEARNING
Evaluate the specific areas where the use of machine learning
and artificial intelligence will be most effective and helpful
in financial services.

MODULE 4
TRANSFORMING PERSONAL FINANCE WITH FINTECH
Assess the future role of automation in the investment
management industry.
MODULE 5
DEMYSTIFYING BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY In this course, not only can you
Hypothesize the path by which blockchain technology and learn cutting-edge knowledge
cryptocurrencies could gain widespread adoption, and become
in the FinTech space,
major forces in financial services and monetary policy.
but also immerse yourself in an
environment where you listen to
MODULE 6
talks from world-renowned Harvard
FORGING THE FUTURE OF FINTECH
Develop a success strategy for incumbents and startups that
professors, watch interviews with
exploit FinTech innovation. successful entrepreneurs from
leading FinTech companies,
CONFERENCE WEEK and wrestle your ideas with
OPTIONAL FINAL WEEK FOR SHARING CAPSTONE classmates who are as creative
PROJECT PRESENTATIONS and talented as you. Here at 2U/
Choose to partake in the optional conference week at the end of
GetSmarter, your online learning
the course, where you’ll share your capstone project with your peers.
experience can be as close to one
as in a real HBS classroom.
— ZHAOHENG GONG
Ph.D. in Engineering Science,
Harvard University
WHO YOU’LL LEARN FROM
YOUR COURSE CONVENERS
These subject matter experts from Harvard VPAL guide the course design and appear in a number of course videos,
along with a variety of industry professionals.
CHRISTOPHER MALLOY
Sylvan C. Coleman Professor
of Financial Management
Christopher J. Malloy received a Ph.D. in Finance and an
MBA from The University of Chicago Graduate School
of Business, and a BA in Economics from Yale University.
He is the Sylvan C. Coleman Chaired Professor of
Financial Management in the Finance Unit at Harvard
Business School, and a Research Associate at the
National Bureau of Economic Research. Prior to
joining HBS in 2007, Professor Malloy was an Assistant
Professor in the Finance Department at London
Business School, where he was on faculty from 2003-
2007, and previously worked for the Federal Reserve
Board in Washington D.C. He has taught courses in
Investment Strategies, Behavioral Finance, FinTech,
Family Office Management, Stock Pitching, Corporate
Finance, and Equity Investment Management, and
currently co-heads the HBS executive program Finance
for Senior Executives.
YOUR
SUCCESS TEAM
GetSmarter, with whom Harvard VPAL is
collaborating to deliver this online course,
provide a personalized approach to online
education which ensures you’re supported
throughout your learning journey.
LAUREN COHEN
L.E. Simmons Professor
of Business Administration
Lauren H. Cohen received a Ph.D. in finance and an
MBA from the University of Chicago in 2005. He earned
dual undergraduate degrees from the University of
Pennsylvania – a BSE from the Wharton School and a BA
in Economics from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2001.
He serves on the advisory board of Quadriserv, Inc.
He is the L.E. Simmons Chaired Professor in the
Finance Unit at the Harvard Business School, an Editor
of Management Science, and a Research Associate at
the National Bureau of Economic Research. He teaches
Asset Management at the Harvard Business School,
along with numerous Executive Education courses.
HEAD TUTOR
A subject expert who’ll guide you through
content-related challenges
SUCCESS MANAGER
Your one-on-one support available during
University hours (8am - 5pm ET) to resolve
technical and administrative challenges.
GLOBAL SUCCESS TEAM
Available 24/7 to solve your tech-related
and administrative queries and concerns
HOW
YOU’LL LEARN
Every course is broken down into manageable, weekly
modules, designed to accelerate your learning process
through diverse learning activities:
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
In order to complete a course, you’ll need a current
email account and access to a computer and the
internet, as well as a PDF Reader. You may need to
view Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, and read
and create documents in Microsoft Word or Excel.

Installing Adobe Flash Player will give you full

• Work through your downloadable and online
access to certain course content, such as interactive
instructional material
infographics. However, you’ll still have access to this
• Interact with your peers and learning facilitators
content in the form of a downloadable PDF transcript if
through weekly class-wide forums and reviewed
you’d prefer not to use Flash.
small group discussions
• Enjoy a wide range of interactive content, including
BROWSER REQUIREMENTS
video lectures, infographics, live polls, and more
We recommend that you use Google Chrome as your
• Investigate rich, real-world case studies
internet browser when accessing the Online Campus.
• Consolidate what you learn each week through
Although this is not a requirement, we have found that
engagement in the discussion forums and an
this browser performs best for ease of access to course
ongoing capstone project, culminating in an
material. This browser can be downloaded here.
informed understanding of the financial services
industry and its disruptive technologies
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Gain access to a variety of perspectives and
Certain courses may require additional software and
strategic approaches to pertinent challenges faced
resources. These additional software and resource
by real companies in the fintech landscape when
requirements will be communicated to you upon
you partake in the optional conference week at the
registration and/or at the beginning of the course. Please
end of the course, where you’ll share your capstone
note that Google, Vimeo, and YouTube may be used in our
project with your peers.
course delivery, and if these services are blocked in your
jurisdiction, you may have difficulty in accessing course
content. Please check with a Course Consultant before
registering for this course if you have any concerns about
this affecting your experience with the Online Campus.
AN
UNPRECEDENTED
COLLABORATION
Harvard’s Office of the Vice Provost for Advances in
Learning and HarvardX are collaborating with online
education company GetSmarter to create a new class
of learning experience that is higher-touch, intimate
and truly transformative. In addition to a focus on
the quality of content, HarvardX believes that an
online learning model built on human mentorship and
performance coaching, administrative and academic
WHAT IS
GETSMARTER?
GetSmarter, a brand of 2U, Inc., is a digital education
company that partners with the world’s leading
universities to select, design and deliver premium online
short courses with a data-driven focus on learning gain.
Technology meets academic rigor in our people-mediated
model which enables lifelong learners across the globe
to obtain industry-relevant skills that are certified by the
world’s most reputable academic institutions.

EARN A PREMIER
support, individualized assessment feedback and rich
social interaction with peers, would lead to much more
impactful and significant learning outcomes.
CERTIFICATE
WHAT IS VPAL Validate your new knowledge of the FinTech landscape

AND HARVARDX? with a premier certificate from Harvard’s VPAL.

Harvard University’s Office of the Vice Provost for
Advances in Learning (VPAL) fosters the highest quality 21st
century learning experiences, both on campus and online.
2
HarvardX is the strategic online learning initiative overseen
by VPAL, which since 2012 has brought the best of the
University’s various schools to learners across the world.
With a focus on developing ever more innovative ways to
support learning online, HarvardX’s work with GetSmarter
establishes a new standard for combining world-class
content with a fully supported and high-touch experience.
2
Harvard
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of
practical assignments completed online. In order to be
issued with a Harvard VPAL premier certificate, you will
need to meet the requirements outlined in the FinTech
handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as
soon as you begin the course.
Your premier certificate will be issued in your legal name
and couriered to you at no additional cost. All certificate
images are for illustrative purposes only and may be
subject to change at the discretion of the University.

Financial services firms are rapidly creating the

space for FinTech ecosystems and operations.
As innovation has developed, nearly $100 billion
has flowed into FinTech initiatives since 2010.3
3
Accenture (Feb, 2018)
 FINTECH
ONLINE SHORT COURSE

Learn to critically assess the future of FinTech by examining what actors will drive future
innovation and which technologies will have a lasting impact on the financial industry.

REGISTER NOW

CONTACT US
Email: registrations@getsmarter.com
Call: US: +1 224 249 3522 | UK: +44 203 457 5774 | Global: +27 21 447 7565
www.getsmarter.com