New Business-IT Master's Degree to groom business-oriented IT professionals in financial services

Singapore, 3 September 2007 – The Singapore Management University (SMU) welcomes its pioneer batch of 22 postgraduate students pursuing the new Master of IT in Business (Financial Services), a new master's degree programme which prepares technology and operations professionals to assume leadership positions in the financial services industry. Launched earlier this year by the School of Information Systems at SMU, the programmes rides on the school's unique Business-IT approach in integrating applied technology, IT-related management analysis and a deep domain knowledge of industry sectors and business functions. The objective is to produce business-oriented IT professionals, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, who have depth in both business analysis and IT solutions design.

With a majority coming from the financial & services industry or the technology & solutions sector, the group of 22 postgraduate students has between five to more than eight years of working experience in industries ranging from consultancy, engineering, energy (oil & gas), financial services, government, marine transportation to technology & solutions. Eight of the 22 students are of Indian, Australian, Indonesian and Malaysian nationalities. Most are experienced professionals aiming to move into technology and operations management positions in the financial services sector or to equip themselves with skills to gain a deeper understanding of the connections between IT solutions, processes, operations and innovation strategy within financial services.

SMU is the first among local universities to introduce this new master's degree programme in recognition of the large, strategically important and fast growing financial services sector in Singapore as well as Asia . Banks and financial services, more than any other sector of the economy, invest generous resources and money in IT. A significant number of local, regional and international banks and financial institutions have also located major technology and operations resources in Singapore , fuelling a demand for a talent pool of trained IT professionals who are able to relate technology to business.

The new Master of IT in Business (Financial Services) is a sector-focused graduate degree programme where students will be trained in business, operations, innovations and technology of the financial services industry. They will be empowered to integrate technology with business and communicate effectively with CEOs, CFOs and CIOs. They will have the ability to take on a process consultancy role, support the design of IT solutions, work with solutions developers, and communicate with senior management on the business aspects of process and technology change. The programme is ideal for (a) IT and operations professionals who aspire to move into technology and operations management positions in the banks or financial institutions, and (b) experienced operations and process professionals from any industry sector who wish to have deep understanding of the connections between IT solutions, processes, operations and innovation strategy in the financial services sector.

An intensive part-time programme completed over two years comprising six academic terms, the specially designed curriculum covers general business management, IT and process management, in-depth sector specific processes and technologies, and a capstone project done in-conjunction with an employer or a sponsoring company in the financial services sector. It is planned and designed in collaboration with financial services companies, end-user organizations, technology and services providers, and government agencies. Classes will be conducted on Saturdays and Weekday evenings.

Admissions criteria include: (a) a good Bachelor's degree preferably in computer science, information systems, IT, engineering or science, (b) at least two years of IT and/or operations related work experience in banking, or other segments of the financial services industry, (c) professionals with strong IT and/or operations work experience in other industries are also encouraged to apply if they want to transition into banking or other financial services companies, (d) GRE or GMAT results taken within the past five years.