Modulbeschreibung

This module introduces the students to the main concepts and players of the modern financial service industry. What are their roles and how do they operate? In which way are individuals and companies affected by financial intermediaries? The story of money and the world of finance is closely related to banks and other stakeholders in this sector. The underlying basic principles are also attributable to modern concepts such as FinTechs, OpenBanking or Decentralised Finance (DeFi). We will together investigate the disruptive potential of them.

In addition to the bird’s eye view on the financial industry as a whole, the perspective of the capital providers or investors is both important for individuals as well as corporations. Thus, the module also addresses the aspects of financial markets, asset classes and financial instruments and gives the participants a basic tool kit to navigate across the broad range of financial instruments.

Basic knowledge of finance

Professional competences:

Participants can:

• explain the basic historic developments in the financial industry and the history of money
• differentiate between the roles and objectives of different financial intermediaries and other sec-tor related players
• relate modern concepts of the financial services industry to well-known principles and can iden-tify potential risks and opportunities
• explain the advantages and disadvantages of financial instruments
• calculate and interpret the values of different financial instruments

Methodological competences:

Participants can:

• apply their know-how about the financial services industry to new business models and con-cepts to analyse their potential
• explain the advantages and disadvantages of financial instruments
• calculate and interpret the values of different financial instruments

Self-competences:

Participants can:

• follow and lead discussions about in the fields of financial services and investment instruments

Social competences:

Participants can:

• work in international and intercultural teams and companies
• analyse and solve problems in the context of the financial services industry and of financial in-struments

Topic area I: The financial services industry

• History of Finance and Money (excursion)
• Functions of Banks and other Financial Intermediaries
• Retail, Corporate & Investment Banking and other Services
• Central aspects of the Financial Services Industry
• The Banking and Finance Market in Switzerland and around the Globe
• Current topics of the Financial Services Industry

Topic area II: Financial Markets, Financial Instruments, Return & Risk

• Financial Markets
• Asset Classes
• Types of Financial Instruments
• Return and Risk Calculations

Topic area III: Future of Finance

• FinTechs
• OpenBanking
• Blockchain, Decentralised Ledger Technologie (DLT), Decentralised Finance

Presentation, self-study, practical exercises

Mandatory:

• Slide deck
• Exercises and solutions
• Articles, videos and other covered media