Eighteen professionals recently graduated as the second cohort of the new fintech programme at the Robert Mathavious Institute for Financial Services at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

During the six-month programme, the courses touched on topics including blockchain, digital assets, robotic process automation, and other areas, according to a press release from BVI Finance.

“The skills learned are beyond just financial services application,” said HLSCC President Dr. Richard Georges.

The progamme was launched last year as a partnership between the National University of Singapore’s School of Computing, BVI Finance, and the Virgin Islands government.

Participants complete a coursework phase with four intensive courses on the fundamentals of fintech, business and related programming concepts, and then they tackle a project phase where they oversee the practical implementation of a fintech project in a local partnering entity.

Ceremony

The graduation ceremony was moderated by the RMI Director Chidi Liburd and Fintech Programme Coordinator Keith Carter, a Singapore-based professor affiliated with the firm KBC Global Partners.

Mr. Carter administered the course along with a team of fintech lecturers from Asia and North America, according to HLSCC.

Capstone projects include a remittance app, a generative artificial intelligence app, a tracking app and a digital payments app, the college stated.

Congratulations

Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley congratulated the graduates, as did Deputy Premier Lorna Smith, who is a programme alumnus.

“I’m extremely pleased to see this course taking hold,” Dr. Wheatley said. “I’m proud to be associated with it and happy to support its continuation.”

Ms. Smith advised the graduates to make the most of their learning.

“You have been taught by some of the best in the world in terms of fintech,” she said.

Other attendees included Derek Dunlop and Lynette Harrigan from the HLSCC board, BVI Airports Authority Chairman Theodore Burke, and BVI Finance CEO Elise Donovan.

Trevaughn Smith wrapped up the ceremony by speaking of the broader goals of fintech.

“Your journey in fintech is about creating a financial ecosystem that leaves no one behind,” he told the graduates.

For more information about the programme, contact Ms. Liburd at RMI-INFO@HLSCC.EDU.VG; 857-7081; or 540-5991.