Global Fintech Institute (GFI) and the AMTD Charity Foundation have awarded the AMTD-GFI SpiderNet scholarships to 20 students from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE).
The scholarships, which were given to the students to complete the Chartered FinTech Professional (CFtP) qualification, were awarded in a virtual ceremony held on Dec 22.
As part of the scholarship, the students will be offered internship opportunities with leading FinTech firms in Singapore and the region that are members of the AMTD SpiderNet.
The AMTD SpiderNet is an ecosystem that connects and promotes collaboration between its partners, including clients, shareholders, institutional investors, government bodies and industry associations.
The scholarship is part of a strategic partnership between GFI and AMTD, which aims at supporting and anchoring the CFtP qualification with industry mentorships, thought leadership and facilities cross border opportunities for learning journeys.
The CFtP qualification, a collaborative project by GFI, SUSS and the Shanghai Institute of the International Finance Center (SIIFC) of SUFE, aims to promote the global FinTech sector and raise the level of professionalism within the industry.
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In addition, the CFtP qualification provides a pathway for professionals from other industries to embark on a career in FinTech.
Separately, GFI has set up the Professional Council, which will guide GFI to offer continuing education programmes to enhance the knowledge and skills of its members.
The council includes He Yifan, Founder and CEO of Red Date Technology, Lisette Cipriano, Senior Digital Technology Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB); Lotte Schou-Zibell, Regional Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB); and Professor Pei Sai Fan, Founder of Libai Academy, ex-director of banking supervision at Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and ex-Director of MAS Academy.
It also counts Professor Timothy Tong, CEO, AMTD Charity Foundation and Chairman of The Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum; Tony Yeoh, CEO of Digital Penang; Wijitleka Marome, deputy director of the financial technology department at the Bank of Thailand and Zhang Yifeng, Director of Zhongchao Blockchain Technology Research Institute (ZCBTRI).
GFI has also welcomed new members to its Academic Council which includes Professor Benedict Koh, Professor of Finance (Education) and Associate Dean (PG Programmes) at the Singapore Management University; Professor Sulaeman Johan, Dean’s Chair and Associate Professor for department of finance at the National University of Singapore and Professor Yougesh Khatri, Associate Professor, division of banking & finance at Nanyang Technological University.
The Academic Council is responsible for upholding the academic quality and standards of the CFtP curriculum and the CFtP examinations, as well as approving university degree programmes that qualify for exemptions for some components of the CFtP examinations.
GFI says it will be focusing on research and training on new areas like green finance and financial inclusion in the coming two to three years.
“We are thankful to the AMTD Group for supporting and anchoring the Chartered Fintech Professional qualification with scholarships and internships for the young Fintech talents from Singapore and China. Meanwhile, we welcome the new members of the Professional Council, which will guide the Global Fintech Institute and its members with their expertise and knowledge. We are excited to contribute to the global Fintech industry and nurturing young talents who are the future of the workforce,” says Professor David Lee, Co-Founder and Chairman of GFI.
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“AMTD is proud to be the core strategic partner of GFI and to establish the AMTD-GFI SpiderNet scholarship to support and provide opportunities for outstanding students in Singapore and China. We firmly embrace GFI’s mission to establish a global FinTech talent accreditation standard, and set up a global platform for talents to connect with the global communities,” says Calvin Choi, chairman and CEO of AMTD Group, founder of AMTD Charity Foundation.
“AMTD is committed to grooming the FinTech talents and empowering the FinTech community in Singapore by leveraging our global network and resources, connecting them to the Greater Bay Area, China and globally,” Choi adds.
Timothy Tong, CEO of AMTD Charity Foundation and Chairman of The Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, says, “Over the last several years, FinTech has become the new frontier of enabling technology in the financial industry. Various employment surveys have reported severe shortage of FinTech talents. The AMTD-GFI SpiderNet scholarships demonstrate AMTD’s commitment to nurturing talents to support the continued growth of the financial sector.”
