The course provides an introduction to novel financial technology. It is intended for students wishing to explore the ways in which new technologies are disrupting the financial services industry, driving material change in business models, products, applications and customer user interfaces. The course will discuss how the competitive landscape is shaping the adoption of new technologies in the field of finance. The course will focus on blockchain technology, cryptography, cryptoassets and their impact on payments, capital markets, trading, lending and insurance.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Describe technological innovations influencing the provision of financial services.
2. Define blockchain technology and how it impacts the financial sector and the digital economy.
3. Discuss the challenges and opportunities in the current payment system architecture.
4. Analyse how enhanced tools of pattern recognition and decision making relate to financial services.
5. Explain the current financial technology trends and applications affecting trading, asset management, lending, insurance and the general capital market infrastructure.

Research-Led Teaching

Students will be introduced to research through the use of readings from academic journals. Based on recent research in financial technology, the course introduces a conceptual foundation to analyze fintech innovations. Also, the students are expected to read and extract the essence of research papers that use empirical methods.

Examination Material or equipment

No examinations for this course. 

Recommended Resources

Lecture notes and other recommended resources will be notified during lectures.

Staff Feedback

Consultations will be held every week.

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

·      Self-study feedback in workshops.

·      Self-study feedback from tasks provided for this purpose.

·      Group in-class feedback on performance in assignments.

·   Individual feedback on student performance in assessment tasks is available on request from the lecturer; please make an appointment to request this.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction
2	Blockchain and money	Presentation
3	Blockchain Basics and Cryptography	Presentation
4	Blockchain economics and Cryptoassets	Presentation
5	Payment	PresentationOnline quiz
6	Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning	Presentation
7	Artificial Intelligence in Finance	Presentation Mini report due
8	Trading and Capital Markets	Presentation
9	Credit and Lending	Presentation
10	Insurance	Presentation
11	Open API, Data Privacy and Regulation	Presentation
12	Other Topics, Review	Presentation Term paper due

Tutorial Registration

There is no tutorial for this course. Enrolment is not required for workshops.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Online quiz	20 %	23/08/2024	30/08/2024	1,2,3
Group presentation	10 %	01/08/2024	28/10/2024	2,3,4,5
Mini report	20 %	20/09/2024	27/09/2024	1, 2, 3
Term paper	50 %	25/10/2024	28/11/2024	1, 2, 3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Course content delivery will take the form of weekly on-campus lectures (recorded and available via echo360 on Wattle) and weekly on-campus workshops (recorded) all delivered on campus.

Assessment Task 1

Online quiz

It is a 60 minutes online exam, individually based and conducted on Wattle. The online exam will be held during the week 5 workshop time with details to be advised no later than teaching week 3 of the semester. Feedback will be available by Friday week 6. Students will need to review all material covered in lectures 1 to 5. The quiz is compulsory and non-redeemable. 

Assessment Task 2

Group presentation

Groups will be randomly formed by the Lecturer in the first week. Starting from week 2, there will be student presentations in lectures/workshops. The duration of each presentation is around 10-30 minutes, depending on the number of groups. All members need to participate in the presentation and each student has to submit the presentation slides through Turnitin on the date before the group presentation. The presentation slide should be converted to PDF and labeled as "Presentation - Group #". Students are required to discuss an assigned article by establishing a framework for analysis. The assigned article will be notified to each group one week prior to the presentation.

Assessment Task 3

Mini report

Each student is to complete a mini report with regard to overall sector market analysis about one financial sector being materially transformed by technology.

This assignment will be completed individually. The report is to be prepared following the given instructions and submitted via Turnitin. No late submission.

Feedback will be given with marks and may be available from the lecturer by appointment.

Detailed instructions will be provided by week 3.

Assessment Task 4

Term paper

Each student is to complete a term paper that serves as a recommendation memo to a CEO within a financial sector undergoing a significant technological transformation.

This assignment will be completed individually. The report is to be prepared following the given instructions and submitted via Turnitin. No late submission.

Feedback will be given with marks and may be available from the lecturer by appointment.

Detailed instructions will be provided by week 3.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students