MANAMA: By Nayla Barakat: The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) has officially unveiled its Master’s Programme in Financial Technology (FinTech) in collaboration with the Strathclyde Business School.
The first of its kind Masters in Fintech in the region aims at identifying and supporting the next generation of financial technology pioneers in the Kingdom.
The launch ceremony held at the Capital Club was attended by a number of guests from various sectors, including industry experts, and senior management from leading financial institutions.
The BIBF received the official delegation from University of Strathclyde, headed by Associate Principal, Executive Dean, and Professor of Finance at Strathclyde Business School. Prior to the ceremony, the delegation visited the Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, Rasheed M. Al Maraj, and the CEO of Fintech Bay, Khalid Al Saad. The Strathclyde delegation also met with the UK Ambassador, Roddy Drummond.
Dr. Ahmed Al Shaikh Director at BIBF; and David Hillier Associate Principal, Executive Dean and Professor of Finance at the University of Strathclyde delivered keynote speeches.
“Bahrain’s dynamic ‘FinTech’ sector is growing rapidly, due to the critical role it plays in changing the financial services landscape and powering the Kingdom’s digital economy. Therefore, the potential for students is almost endless, but so is the demand for these skills,” Dr. Ahmed Al Shaikh, said.
“As the main training arm for the financial sector in Bahrain, it gives us great pleasure to be the first institution in the region to launch this specialised Master’s degree in ‘FinTech’, in cooperation with Strathclyde Business School; which is amongst the 1% of higher education institutions with Tripe Accreditation in the UK. We believe that this programme will further accelerates Bahrain’s position as a leading ‘FinTech’ hub in the region,” he added.
“Recognising how ‘FinTech’ revolutionises the financial sector, Strathclyde Business School introduced UK’s first Master’s Degree in Fintech to future-proof its graduates. The programme trains students for managerial and strategist positions, not coding jobs, by bringing new perspectives to fully understand ‘FinTech’ as a global industry,” David Hillier Associate Principal, Executive Dean, and Professor of Finance at Strathclyde Business School, Professor, said.
“Very pleased at the announcement of this new partnership between BIBF and Strathclyde University. It will deliver cutting-edge learning in FinTech, with an outstanding British University, and BIBF – a trusted partner of the UK for many years. This will help Bahrain become the regional hub for FinTech,” Roddy Drummond, the UK Ambassador, who was present at the event, said.
