Leading organizations partner to produce industry-ready fintech graduates
To help institutionalize Financial Technology (FinTech) as an emerging field of study, leading STEM university, Mapúa, has tapped the expertise of the Philippines’ no. 1 finance super app, GCash, to further develop its ‘Bachelor of Science in Financial Technology’. The program will combine formal tertiary education and professional immersion with fintech industry leaders and is the newest undergraduate program under Mapúa’s E.T. Yuchengco School of Business, in collaboration with Arizona State University.
GCash and Mapúa formally inked their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing held at Mapúa University's Makati campus on August 30, 2. Signing the agreement were GCash chief people officer Robert Conrad Gonzales, Mapua University president and CEO Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, and Dr. Jagdeep Jassel, Dean of the ETY School of Business.
The partnership between GCash and Mapúa University signifies a remarkable synergy between academia and the fintech industry, where theoretical knowledge converges with real-world application. The launch of the BS in Finance Technology program marks a transformative step towards equipping students with the skills and insights needed to excel in the rapidly evolving landscape of financial technology.
“We recognize that partnerships with universities are crucial in the pursuit of our financial inclusion goals, as we are always looking for fresh young talents to join the G Nation. We intend to continue investing in the youth as the fintech industry continues to grow rapidly,” says Gonzales.
“Through this partnership, we aim to be at the forefront of developing talented young professionals in tech. We aim to be the industry eye that can give relevant perspectives and support on internships, curriculum development, faculty immersions, scholarship programs, and other related pursuits,” Gonzales adds.
“We are very excited to see the development of this program. With this partnership, we are confident that we can present fintech to the younger generation as a path with many opportunities, especially with industry leaders from GCash who can share their expertise first-hand, which will greatly help us in designing the curriculum,” says Mapua Dean of the ETY School of Business Dr. Jagdeep Jassel.
The Mapúa E.T. Yuchengco School of Business is also in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU), the no. 1 “most innovative school” in the U.S. by the U.S. News & World Report. This collaboration opens the doors of students to world-class learning resources and prepares them for a career at par with the rest of the world.
Since the pandemic, fintech leader GCash has helped reduce the number of unbanked Filipinos, providing savings, credit, insurance, wealth growth, and other financial services that had only been available to a few in the past. Believing that the goal of finance for all should be a continuous and sustainable journey, GCash has begun partnering with universities not only to fill up career opportunities in their organizations but also to be the training ground for future fintech leaders.
The partnership between Mapúa and GCash will encompass immersions, and experiential learning. Best of all, it will involve the co-development of subjects leveraging GCash’s industry experience. This collaborative effort ensures that the program remains at the forefront of industry trends, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the evolving financial technology landscape.