Universities have long operated beyond the boundaries of traditional classrooms. Their value lies in academic instruction while also acting as connectors, linking students, researchers, employers, and industry leaders in ways that accelerate learning and innovation.

This symbiotic ecosystem matters as it exposes students to real-world expectations early, gives companies access to emerging talent, and allows research to be tested against practical industry needs.

This was evident at the NTU FinTech Industry Day 2025, hosted by the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) in November.

The event brought together more than 450 participants and over 20 industry partners, supported by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA), creating a curated environment where ideas, expectations, and emerging trends converged.

Emerging Trends and Shifting Talent Expectations

Discussions throughout the event converged to deliver first-hand exposure on career pathways in digital finance, real-world fintech use cases, and hiring expectations and in-demand skills, all of which are reshaping how fintech works today.

Industry leaders delivered insights on emerging technologies, industry shifts, and talent expectations in the digital finance field.

Building on these observations, Professor Boh Wai Fong, NTU’s Vice President of Lifelong Learning and Alumni Engagement, highlighted the broader national context.

She reiterated that Singapore’s Smart Financial Centre vision depends on developing a world-class talent pool equipped for emerging roles across AI, blockchain, and other technology-driven sectors.

Citing the World Economic Forum, she emphasised that 39% of today’s skills will be outdated by 2030. She added that this shift will intensify demand for capabilities in areas such as regtech, compliance, blockchain and Web3, and cybersecurity.

Kenneth Gay, Chief Fintech Officer at MAS, shared how the next decade of finance will be shaped by three forces: agentic AI, programmable money, and quantum-safe infrastructure in his industry keynote speech. Following the event, he shared on LinkedIn,

“Singapore needs your curiosity, your boldness, and your commitment to innovation that creates trust. The world is watching what you’ll build next.”

The conversations underscored what future professionals already foresaw: that fintech will need more than technical proficiency to truly come alive.

Exclusive Real-World Exposure Through Industry Participation

The exhibition grounds served as a lively ecosystem of ideas, with companies ranging from global financial institutions to emerging fintech innovators.

Students engaged directly with teams from Fiuu, Huawei, Bank of Singapore, EY, GfK, Monee, Citadel, Murex, Quantedge, and GFI, as well as spotlight partners including FOMO Group, AXS, Marex Group, UOB Kay Hian, and Fintech News Network.

These interactions gave students a clearer view of market expectations and provided clarity on career trajectories, helping them connect their academic training with the dynamic realities of the industry.

For Jinsheng (Justin) Chong, an incoming MAS intern and undergraduate student from NTU SPMS, the keynote address by Kenneth Gay stood out as a defining moment of the day.

In his LinkedIn post, Justin shared how the keynote covered AI’s transformation in the financial sector, from “behaviour-based fraud detection to Singlish-capable customer service models.”

The subsequent panel discussion further shaped students’ understanding of what drives long-term career success.

It featured Alvinder Singh, Head of Innovation, Acceleration Office at MAS; Holly Fang, President of the Singapore FinTech Association; Lim Keng Swee, Head of Product Management and Country Head at Fiuu; and Professor Boh Wai Fong.

For Justin, this panel provided him with crucial takeaways, like how academic proficiency delivers a strong foundation, but success in the industry increasingly hinges on curiosity and motivation.

He also noted the emphasis recruiters place on team contribution, observing that individuals who elevate team performance create the greatest impact.

“As an incoming intern, I appreciated the chance to speak with MAS. I also enjoyed visiting the company booths, including Citadel. Grateful to the school for organising this for us students.”

These insights and interactions left him and his peers feeling more confident and better prepared for their futures in the fintech sector.

Alumni Reflections and the Strength of Community

A standout moment of the NTU FinTech Industry Day 2025 was the return of NTU alumni who have since carved out notable careers across research, banking, technology, and fintech.

Their reflections gave students a glimpse into what it would take to thrive in competitive fields, from deepening technical expertise to staying adaptable and in-the-know as industries evolve.

Louis Liu, Founder and CEO of FOMO Pay, shared how his journey began at NTU, where he received the NTU Excellent Graduate Award in 2015 before going on to be included in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2018.

Louis spoke about the opportunities and challenges ahead for the industry, touching on evolving regulatory frameworks for stablecoins and tokenised assets, as well as how global corporations such as Visa are beginning to adopt stablecoins at scale.

Another such voice was Hazelle Lim, now a business analyst at Standard Chartered Bank. Hazelle completed her Bachelor’s in Communications with a second major in Business at NTU, and is now pursuing her MSc Fintech at NTU’s School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

She is also a recipient of the SG100 Women in Tech Award 2025.

Hazelle spoke openly about life after graduation and offered grounded advice on building a career, reminding students that their network is, quite literally, their net worth.

Speakers like Hazelle reinforced the strength of the NTU community, showing students that there is no single path into fintech. Instead, success is built on continuous learning, resilience, and the willingness to grow alongside a dynamic industry.

Strengthening Singapore’s Fintech Talent Pipeline

The strong turnout, high-quality dialogue through industry spotlights, and multi-sector participation affirmed NTU’s position as a key contributor to Singapore’s fintech talent landscape.

The event showcased the university’s commitment to equipping students with the analytical, quantitative, and technological competencies needed to thrive in a digital-first economy.

But beyond the technical takeaways, the NTU FinTech Industry Day 2025 also highlighted something less tangible yet equally important: the power of a connected community working together to prepare future talent.

In line with the themes discussed during the event, NTU offers a range of postgraduate fintech programmes in areas such as applied AI, analytics, and enterprise AI. These programmes represent some of the academic pathways available to individuals who want to deepen their capabilities in the fields discussed during the event.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Singapore based on image by Nanyang Technological University Singapore