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About UNF FinTech Academy

Mission and Vision

UNF FinTech Academy Mission:

The Academy will provide education in areas related to financial technology via coursework, programs, and executive education; perform scholarly research in areas related to financial technology; help provide for the workforce needs of the financial technology industry, especially in Northeast Florida; and engage in meaningful partnerships with the financial technology community in Northeast Florida.

UNF FinTech Academy Vision:

The UNF FinTech Academy will be the premier hub for education, research, and industry-academia partnerships in financial technology. The Academy will produce world-class talent and knowledge while focusing on needs and opportunities in Northeast Florida.

Three Pillars: Talent, Research, Community

Direct Talent Development

  • For Credit
    • Undergraduate:
      • FinTech Minors in Comp. Sci and Finance
      • BS in FinTech
    • Graduate
      • Concentration in MSBA
      • MS in FinTech
      • Doctoral Program
    • Non-Credit
      • Jointly developed industry curricula
      • Executive Education
      • Continuing Eduction

Research

  • Academic
    • Faculty
    • Student
  • Center for FinTech Research
    • Industry-focused applied research to solve real-world FinTech problems.
    • Pursues industry funding, and federal funding including from non-traditional sources such as FDIC and SEC.
    • Publishes industry journal.
    • Published podcast on FinTech.
    • Seeks to establish UNF as the thought leader in Florida for FinTech.

Community

  • Pathways to our degree programs
    • Courses for community colleges
    • Engagement with high schools
    • Connection with Junior Achievement and other civic organizations.
  • Engagement with the FinTech community via events, partnerships, advisory board, etc.

Direct Talent Development Pillar

  • For Credit
    • Undergraduate:
    • FinTech Minors in Comp. Sci and Finance
    • BS in FinTech
  • Graduate
    • Concentration in MSBA
    • MS in FinTech
    • Doctoral Program
  • Non-Credit
    • Jointly developed industry curricula
    • Executive Education
    • Continuing Education
  • These are the efforts through which UNF directly creates FinTech talent.
  • We will continue to work with partners to find opportunities to co-create and co-teach FinTech content.
  • As the faculty are hired, we will have the resources to deliver the undergraduate, masters, and executive education programs planned.
  • Continuing Education also delivers relevant programs
  • We aspire to consider a doctoral program in FinTech, jointly hosted between CCEC and CCB.

Research Pillar

  • Academic
    • Faculty
    • Student
  • Center for FinTech Research
    • Industry-focused applied research to solve real-world FinTech problems.
    • Pursues industry funding, and federal funding including from non-traditional sources such as FDIC and SEC.
    • Publishes industry journal.
    • Published podcast on FinTech.
    • Seeks to establish UNF as the thought-leader in Florida for FinTech.
  • We already have faculty that are starting to do research in FinTech, and that will increase as we complete the hiring processes in which we are now engaged.
  • The real opportunity is to develop a funded Center for FinTech Research.
    • Formed from a consortium of local FinTech firms that pay to be a part of the consortium.
    • The membership fees are used to fund research teams of UNF faculty and students.
    • The consortium identifies specific problems common to all FinTech firms and which are not proprietary, such as identification of malicious actors, and then UNF research team develops specific solutions to those problems.
    • The Center also seeks funding from federal and state agencies. There are opportunities with traditional science-based funders like the NSF, but also with regulatory bodies like the Fed, SEC, and OCC.

Community Pillar

  • Pathways to our degree programs
    • Courses for community colleges
    • Courses for high schools
    • Connection with Junior Achievement and other civic organizations.
  • FinTech Advisory Board
    • C-suite board for development and advice.
  • Annual FinTech Events
  • FinTech-focused incubator
  • Career Services
  • We aspire to provide online courses to students in the Florida State College System.
  • We will at some point form a FinTech-specific advisory board that would advise university leadership.
  •  
  • We may eventually use the UNF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to develop a FinTech-based incubator and use that to connect with industry.
  •  
  • We will partner with UNF Career Services and industry to develop internships and provide recruiting opportunities for our graduates.
  •  
  • Regular events will be held to promote FinTech and engage with industry, such as the 2023 UNF FinTech Symposium.