New Fintech program prepares Loyalist College students to lead financial sector evolution

Belleville, Ontario, May 21, 2021 – Loyalist College has launched a new eight-month Financial Technology Ontario college graduate certificate program to prepare graduates for success in one of the fastest growing segments of the industry. Having disrupted traditional ways of doing business, Fintech has shifted the focus to digitization and mobilization of financial services. With employment in the financial services sector expected to grow 20 percent over the next several years,* there is an urgent need for professionals to align business strategies with emerging market technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, while working within monetary and fiscal policies.

“Low-touch, high-tech preferences for dealing with money, driven out of necessity by the COVID-19 pandemic, have forever transformed the way businesses operate and transact,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President and CEO. “Employers are just starting to scratch the surface of what’s possible, from decentralized finance on the blockchain and cloud computing to advanced digital technologies and big data. They’re looking for help navigating and implementing the best solutions for their customers, and our graduates will be ready to respond and lead.”

In their second semester, students will complete an applied workplace project, helping them forge connections in the regional financial industry, which employs approximately 8,500 professionals. By investigating the influence of Fintech on both banking and entrepreneurship, students will identify risks, challenges and opportunities to enhance speed, security and profitability of money management. They will examine how the design and implementation of new products and services enhance efficiency and convenience of transactions through mobile connectivity.

Students will be exposed to cryptography strategies that support secure financial transactions and manage cryptocurrencies for various stakeholders, exploring the ethical and legal guidelines that ensure data security, integrity and confidentiality. They will learn to develop plans using the principles of entrepreneurship to start, manage and expand a small business, and explore the professional practices and communication approaches to foster positive relationships with clients and stakeholders across diverse organizational environments.

Visit loyalistcollege.com for admission details and to apply to start this September.

* Emsi (2018)

About Loyalist College
Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges and #1 in the country for industry research income as a percentage of total research income, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2018-19 graduates, 88.8 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.7 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $382 million annually to the regional economy – based on a March 2020 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.

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Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistcollege.com, 613-969-1913, ext. 2536