Representatives of the Interstate Bank, the Bank of Russia FinTech Hub, and the National Payment Card System (NSPK) presented new opportunities for gaining practical knowledge in fintech and payment technologies to the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia and a number of leading universities — the Russian-Armenian University, the Polytechnic University, Yerevan State University, and the Lomonosov Moscow State University Branch in Yerevan. In total, over 400 attendees participated in the meetings.
Participants were informed about current trends in financial and payment technologies development, educational programs, youth initiatives, as well as opportunities to gain hands-on experience working on fintech projects alongside industry-leading experts. Representatives of the Bank of Russia FinTech Hub shared information about their educational and outreach projects in the field of financial and payment technologies, as well as cybersecurity. The goal is to make these areas accessible to students and junior specialists with diverse backgrounds: to provide knowledge, an opportunity to apply it in practice, and help them understand what the next step in their career might be.
The central focus of the meetings was the training program "FinTech Innovations: Theory and Practice." Attendees were introduced to its content and told about participation opportunities, including the international track of the program.
Theoretical and practical work with participants of the training program is conducted by experts from NSPK, the Bank of Russia, and payment infrastructures. The program duration is 6 months (from September to March), and education is provided free of charge in a distance format. The course includes more than 80 theoretical and methodological lectures, online consultations, and creative brainstorming available 24/7. More than 3,000 students have already taken part in the program; subsequently, participant ideas were used to implement projects such as, for example, an electronic certificate — state support for citizens with disabilities to acquire rehabilitation aids, Request to Pay — an invoice billing service, and others.
The culmination of the program is the Junior PayTech Forum, which is held in Moscow in person. The best concepts of payment and fintech services developed by participants are presented at the forum. The jury traditionally includes management from the Bank of Russia, NSPK, and major banks. Following the forum, a book of the presented projects is published.
Opportunities for student participation from CIS countries were a specific topic of discussion. Lyubov Khomyakova, Director of the Strategic Development Department of the Interstate Bank, emphasized the importance of the program's international track for training young professionals: "The Interstate Bank actively supports the development of the international track of the 'FinTech Innovations: Theory and Practice' training program by involving students from CIS countries. We consider it important to enhance the competencies of young specialists in payments and financial technologies, thereby creating an international talent pool.
For questions regarding participation in the "FinTech Innovations: Theory and Practice" training program, please contact the Interstate Bank via email at lih@isbnk.ru.
Link to register for the "FinTech Innovations: Theory and Practice" program.