FinTech Summer Schools: Get in early on a growing field

Finance touches on all aspects of business. The digital revolution has dramatically impacted finance. That's why the relatively new field of "FinTech", which brings together finance and digitisation, is growing dramatically in importance. EIT Digital organizes two Summers Schools on FinTech this summer, one in Budapest and one in Marid.

"FinTech has a direct impact on every facet of the business market", says Prof. Ziba Habibi Lashkari, a professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and one of the instructors involved in EIT Digital's FinTech Summer Schools. "The digital tools used in FinTech can be incredibly helpful for our daily financial transactions and corporate financing, but can extend in application to other areas as well."

Given the importance of the topic, EIT Digital offers two FinTech summer schools that provide an overview on the subject, as well as practical instruction in real-word challenges. Participants leave the programme having come up with their own ideas for innovative FinTech solutions, and some have even launched startups based on these ideas. But you don't have to be planning a career in the field to benefit from greater knowledge of FinTech.

"Our two-week programme will be helpful for any learner who wants to work in business, technology, and computer science", Prof. Lashkari says. "This course engages all varieties of participants - undergraduate, extended learning, professional development, and more."

She explains that the programme is important to such a wide range of learners because FinTech goes beyond impacting transactions and also facilitates management.

"A board of directors may need to have fast and easy access to a variety of reports - or may need to make a prediction for the budget of a specific project - sometimes with great urgency", according to Prof. Lashkari. "A FinTech-based system would apply the relevant algorithms and business models needed to provide the board with faster, and more accurate, suggestions, to streamline and improve business planning and decision-making."

FinTech achieves new solutions with "a variety of tools and services - such as artificial intelligence, machine-learning, robotic process automation, electronic signatures, digital onboarding, and more", she explains.

Both programmes offer much more than the typical summer course because they are provided by EIT Digital Summer School, which is not just one school - it is an innovation community, made up of universities, research centres and members of industry.

"Participants immerse themselves in real business case studies originating from our Ecosystem made of almost 300 members representing European universities, research institutes, startups and industrial partners", Balassone says.

The impact of this network can be felt even more strongly now that EIT Digital Summer Schools are returning to in-person participation.

"Summer schools are meant to be in-person!" Balassone says. "Quality lectures are important but what is even more important is the interaction with local companies, professionals, mentors and the build-up of the network with several international participants."

The networking definitely adds value, according to Prof. Lashkari. In addition to a memorable educational experience, "this course will also provide a venue for participants to grow their professional networks and foster a greater sense of community between academic and industry partners in the long term", she says.

The learners themselves, including professionals and students, greatly enrich the experience. The cohort includes "the high-skilled students from the EIT Digital Master School coming from 18 partner universities, all of which are European leaders in the delivery of technical and entrepreneurship education", Balassone notes. "Moreover, our Summer schools provide our participants with one of the best European experiences in charming and vibrant cities that are very active in the FinTech sector."

EIT Digital Summer School programmes are open to young professionals, Master's and Ph.D. students, and others who want to deep-dive into emerging digital technologies, learn how to turn technology into business, and eventually launch deep-tech startups.

Find out more about the FinTech Summer Schools:

• Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services - Budapest, 18-29 July 2022
• Disrupting Finance with Digital Technologies - Madrid, 18-29 July 2022