Financial Informatics

Level 1.1

Computing Mathematics

This module introduces the basic concepts of relations and functions, matrices and methods of statistics and their applications relevant to IT professionals. The main emphasis in this module is to develop students’ ability in solving quantitative problems in computing mathematics, and probability and statistics. Topics covered include fundamentals of statistics and probability, discrete and continuous probability distributions.

Cyber Security Fundamentals

This module provides an overview of the various domains of cyber security. It helps develop an understanding of the importance of cyber security in today’s digital world. It aims to provide an appreciation of cyber security from an end- to-end perspective. It covers fundamental security concepts, tools and techniques in domains such as data, end-user, software, system, network, physical, organisation, and digital forensics. It also helps develop knowledge and skills in identifying common cyber threats and vulnerabilities, and to apply techniques to tackle these issues. In this module, students are assessed by coursework only.

Design Principles

This module introduces students to basic elements and principles of design. Students will practice visual communication and self-branding through aesthetic use of line, shape, form, color, texture, typography, scale, contrast, rhythm and balance. Students will be trained in the usage of digital design tools and application of modern industrial practices to communicate the concepts, designs and solutions.

Enterprise Information Systems

Companies today are adopting the use of technology not just to assist them in their day-to-day operations but also gain an advantage over their competitors. Many companies are implementing enterprise-wide information systems that provide them with platforms to integrate and coordinate their business processes. The use of enterprise information systems has become a necessity in multi-national companies (MNCs) as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Within an enterprise information system, there is an intricate relationship between business strategy, organisational structure, business processes and technology resulting in challenges and issues during implementation.

This module introduces students to the different components that build up an enterprise information system. Different types of information systems are used for business processes, from communication and order processing to data analysis for decision making, and in almost all business functions ranging from marketing, sales, procurement, and human resource, to product development and manufacturing, accounting and finance.

Students will learn about the organisations and mapping the business processes to draw the activity diagram flows. It is essential for students to understand how information systems are used to help organisations and they are expected to suggest solutions and new uses of information systems to solve business problems. This will enhance their IT and business processes knowledge to prepare them for future modules, future employment or even future entrepreneurship.

Fundamentals for IT Professionals I

This module provides an introduction to the field of IT by exploring the roles, professional practices, ethical expectations and career development paths of IT professionals. Through a guided inculcation of interpersonal and team work skills with strong team bonding spirit, the module aims to deepen students’ commitment to the sector that the course prepares them for. In addition, students will be required to begin charting their career path in the IT industry by considering crucial aspects such as personal preferences and aptitude, job roles and responsibilities, skills needed and further education.

Programming I

This module introduces the fundamentals of programming and how to develop programs using appropriate problem- solving techniques in a modular style. In this practice-oriented module, students are taught how to apply problem- solving skills using a top- down structured programming methodology and given ample practice in translating solutions into computer programs, then test and debug the programs. Topics include data types, variables, expressions, statements, selection structures, loops, simple computation and algorithms, and the use of libraries. Students will also practise the use of pseudocodes, best practices of programming, debugging techniques with the help of tools, development of test cases, and suitable program documentation. In addition, they will study various areas where application software plays a prominent part in helping organisations solve problems. Students will be given ample opportunity for independent and self- directed learning.

Level 1.2

Accounting

This module introduces the basic theory and concepts of accounting through the introduction of Business Structures and Financial Institutions. Basic accounting concepts and principles form the foundation of the module and students will be taught the complete accounting cycle; setting up the chart of accounts, balancing the trial balance and preparing financial statements. It also introduces risk and controls and accounting standards and regulations governing the financial services industry. Students will also learn about the differences between financial and management accounting as well as funding methods and financial ratios for business and banks.

Databases

Today’s business organisations depend on information systems in virtually all aspects of their businesses. Corporate databases are set up to hold the voluminous business transactions generated by these information systems. This module introduces students to the underlying concepts of database systems and how to model and design database systems that reflect business requirements. Students will be taught how to analyse data needs, model the relationships amongst the data entities, apply normalisation process to relations and create the physical database.

Skills to be taught include data modelling technique, transformation of data model to relations, normalisation technique and Structured Query Language (SQL).

Financial Ecosystem

This module provides a macro overview of the network of organisations involved in the delivery of financial services through both competition and cooperation. Students will be introduced to the various participants in the financial ecosystem, which includes financial intermediaries, regulators, market operators, industry associations and customers. Subsequently, students would also learn about the market microstructures, interactions and interdependencies underlying the relationships intertwining these participants. Additionally, students would learn about the on-going digital evolution in the financial sector and its future implications for all participants.

Programming II

This module builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in Programming I. It aims to provide opportunities for the students to develop medium- scale applications based on the Object-Oriented (OO) approach. A suitable object- oriented high-level programming language will be used for students to continuously apply their problem-solving skills. The main concepts of OO and the implementation of applications using the OO approach will be taught in this module.

The module may also cover the concepts of Abstract Data Types (ADTs) and the implementation of some selected ADTs using the OO approach. Suitable sorting and search algorithms and the use of Application Protocol Interface (API) will be introduced when required. Other key topics include the introduction of system design concepts such as the class diagram. Software robustness and correctness, and good programming practices will be emphasised throughout the module. Independent and self-directed learning will also be encouraged.

Course Curriculum (Year 1)

Level 2.1

Data Visualization

This module discusses the techniques and algorithms for creating effective visualizations based on principles and techniques from graphic design, visual art, perceptual psychology and cognitive science. The module is targeted both towards students interested in using visualization in their own work, as well as students interested in building better visualization tools and systems. In this module, students are assessed by coursework and examination.

Banking & Financial Products

For banks and financial institutions to gain an edge over their competitors, many are providing consumers and corporates with a wide range of products and services. Many are harnessing information technology in their day- today operations to provide multiple channels and greater efficiency and effectiveness in banking and financial services to enhance overall customer experience. This module provides a macro overview of the financial services industry, including financial intermediaries and allows students to understand the operational structure and the roles and responsibilities of different departments in banks at a high level. Subsequently, a myriad of banking and financial products that are widely available in commercial and investment banks and insurance companies would be discussed. Students will learn about the fundamentals of retail, wholesale and investment products as well as risk associated with them and the mitigating controls that banks put in place to manage the risks. The role of Information Technology is intertwined into the module, allowing students to appreciate the use of IT to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness in financial institutions.

Distributed Ledger Technology

This module allows students to learn distributed ledger concepts and how these are being applied using industry use cases, which is a fundamental application of blockchain in Fintech. Students will also be given opportunities to gain hands-on experience in blockchain prototypes and blockchain transactions to better understand the underlying concepts of blockchain.

Enterprise Resource Planning

This module teaches crucial business processes relating to resource management.

World Issues: A Singapore Perspective

This module develops a student’s ability to think critically on world issues. Students will discuss a wide range of social, political and cultural issues from the Singapore perspective. It also looks at how city-state Singapore defied the odds and witnessed close to half a century of rapid economic growth, strong political ties and social harmony.

Level 2.2

Spreadsheet Engineering

The spreadsheet is an indispensable tool for professionals, especially in the banking and finance industry, to solve business problems and make better informed decisions. This module will introduce students to the use of spreadsheets as a reporting and modelling tool. Through hands-on practical sessions in class using a commercial spreadsheet system such as Microsoft Excel, students will explore various spreadsheet functions and simple macros used for analysing, formatting and presenting data.

Banking Applications and Processes

This module aims to provide students with an overview of the business processes and transaction workflows in banking and financial institutions. The module begins with a look at the various organizational structures within different types of banking and financial institutions, and the roles and responsibilities of key front office and back office functions across various business lines. Students will subsequently explore the end-to-end workflow processes for banking and financial transactions, and their supporting IT applications and systems.

Solutions Design & Development

This module trains students to view information systems from the perspective of business needs and participate in the design of IT solutions to solve the identified business problems. Students will be exposed to work processes such as Design Thinking that facilitates problem identification to prototyping. This module also allows students to work in teams to experience a real-life application development cycle. Elements of project management, automated testing and source version controls will be introduced in relevant phases of the application development cycle. Students will be exposed to current development methodology such as Agile.

Elective Module 1

Electives offered by Diploma in Financial Informatics

Portfolio Development

This module provides students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the various modules in the course to date, and explore topics in IT that they have a personal interest. Students may choose to undertake a real-life IT project, a competition-based project or a research and development project. Through the project, students have opportunities to work in teams, work on real-world problems, and build up their personal portfolios. The chosen project should ideally include problem definition, requirements gathering, analysis and design, development and testing and the subsequent deliverable of artefacts that are suitable for their personal portfolios.

Fundamentals for IT Professionals II

This module gives a course-based experience in which students can engage with the local community and industry. This includes participation in community service events or in Service-Learning projects that leverages on students’ discipline knowledge and skills to meet identified needs. Through iterative and guided reflection on the service experience, students gain a broader appreciation of their discipline and an enhanced sense of personal voice, empathy and civic responsibility. Industry talks and seminars are organised to keep students up-to-date on emerging trends so as to build up their interpersonal, team and networking skills with the community and industry.

Course Curriculum (Year 2)

Level 3.1

Applied Analytics

This module provides students with an introduction to unsupervised machine learning methods such as Clustering. Students are taught how these methods are used to segment customers for targeted cross-sell, up-sell and pricing. The module also introduces students to supervised machine learning methods such as Decision Trees and how these methods are used to predict customer churn, credit risk etc. Open-source tools like R and/or Python will be used for data analysis and modelling. Students will also be exposed to enterprise analytics tools for interactive data visualization and data wrangling. Data from various domains (Retail, Banking & Finance, Telcos etc) will be used to provide students with an introduction to domain-specific analytics.

Technologies for Financial Industry

Students are exposed to systems and technologies employed by financial organizations, including robotic process automation (RPA).

Capstone Project ​or 2 Elective Modules

In this module, students are required to complete a substantial project that is the culmination of their education in the School of InfoComm Technology. The project can be a real-world problem proposed by a client, or it can be proposed by the student in pursuit of their personal interests.

Electives offered by Diploma in Financial Informatics

Fundamentals for IT Professionals III

This module provides a stepping stone to the students in their IT career. Students are given an insight into the infocomm industries and are kept abreast of the updates and the necessary skill sets required in their IT career path. They also have the opportunity to be exposed to the various institutes of higher learning to further enhance their skill sets.

Level 3.2

Internship or Project

This module provides students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained to develop an IT solution to solve a practical problem. Students may undertake an in-house industry-driven project, a Technopreneurship Enterprise project or a real-life IT project in a local or overseas organisation. These projects may include problem definition, requirements analysis, design, development and testing, delivery and presentation of the solution.

Through the project, students will learn to appreciate the finer points of project planning and control issues relating to IT project development.

Course Curriculum (Year 3)