Swinburne and Bendigo co-develop fintech degree

The Melbourne-based university and regional bank has collaborated on the development of a postgraduate course, the Master of Financial Technologies (FinTech), which commenced in the first semester of 2019.

Delivered through Swinburne University of Technology’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, the vision for the degree is to “meet current and future market demand for skills and qualifications in emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, while helping students translate technological developments into innovative business models”.

Dr Dimitrios Salampasis, director of the Master of FinTech, said the course incorporates “immersive learning” techniques and focuses on “real industry cases”.

“Our approach to fintech education encompasses the applied study of data-oriented, smart technologies and provides our students with comprehensive knowledge and specific, functional skills,” he added.

“Guest speakers, real-life case studies, on-site events, access to data, work-integrated learning and applied projects are just a few of the opportunities to arise from this co-creation model.”

David Tudor, head of university partnerships at Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, said the “co-designed and co-delivered course” would also help the non-major bank build its knowledge base and internal capability, and improve productivity and customer experience.

Earlier this year, Swinburne and Bendigo announced that it would be opening an on-campus Community Bank, with profits to be reinvested into scholarship programs, research funding grants, sustainable infrastructure, and local clubs and societies.

“Bendigo Bank’s strategic partnership with Swinburne is part of the continuing evolution of the Bendigo Community Bank model and represents a further opportunity to strengthen our partnership with a leading Australian education institution and to share value by feeding into the prosperity of the tertiary education sector,” Mr Tudor said.

[Related: Bendigo announces partnership to open on-campus bank]