Recently, there have been many pushes to remove middlemen and make the connection between business and consumer much more direct. And this is exactly what dApps promise to do. dApps operate as a new form of applications - one that harnesses the power of blockchain ledger technology to allow users to interact with one another without the need for third parties. This module provides an introduction to dApps so that participants can be better acquainted with its mechanisms and implementations.

In a recent McKinsey survey, 83 percent of global CEOs said they look to marketing as a major driver for most if not all of a company's growth agenda. The rapid development of technology has made marketing inherently more complex which has resulted in more risk but also more reward for savvy campaigns. This course aims to empower participants with the integral marketing concepts, frameworks, and techniques needed to be successful in the modern world.

The fintech industry is one of the quickest growing markets and is becoming very competitive. Because of this, it is imperative that you take the time to do your homework and learn how to approach challenges you may face in a saturated market and how to properly approach your marketing campaign in order to realise success.

Financial services in Singapore are regulated under different legislative frameworks covering key areas such as banking, securities, financial advisory and payment services. In recent years, advancements in technology have accelerated the transformation of business models, and brought about new products and services, and the channels and platforms on which products and services are distributed or sold. Fintech innovation has brought many changes to the way people interact and transact.

Over the past fifteen years, ethics has come under the spotlight in the accounting profession. High profile accounting scandals involving prominent companies and business personalities have led to the public becoming more sceptical of the accounting profession’s ability and willingness to perform its role as a gatekeeper in the marketplace and protecting the interests of market participants. This course will introduce participants to key ethical concepts and considerations pertinent to accountants.

Design thinking and its related fields such as systems thinking and futures thinking are new types of problem-solving approaches that are suited for making sense of and navigating complex environments. This module will introduce participants to the concepts, frameworks and approaches of using design thinking in everyday work. It will use case studies from legal and non-legal domains to showcase the versatility of these approaches. In addition, the course will offer practice exercises, so participants gain finger-knowledge of the concepts.

Technology is redefining the legal field. Online research databases have replaced law books, digital contracts have replaced physical copies, and countless other advancements have transformed the legal industry. These modern solutions help make a law firm’s routine tasks easier and more efficient for everyone. Since technology isn’t going away, it’s time to make sure you are investing in the right tech solutions that fit your firm’s current needs.

Jointly offered by SMU Academy and RHT Legal Training Institute (RHT LTI), this certificate programme is put together to do just that, and hopefully to help fulfil the certification requirements set out for the allied legal professional by the legal fraternity in Singapore, in time to come.

Participants will learn about how problems for which policy responses may be required (whether legal or otherwise) are identified. This involves triangulating and evaluating multiple sources of information gathered using a variety of tools, such as data and stakeholder engagement. Participants will then learn about responding to the identified problems and translating policy intent into the design of legislative or regulatory frameworks.

Change should not be for its own sake. It is also vital that there is a plan for change management. It is not as simple as setting a destination and getting going: It does not matter how good your technology or process is if no one will use it. In many cases, the barrier is not technology but people. Law firms must learn how to overcome inertia and change conservative mindsets. The overall objective of this module is to help participants understand how to plan and execute transformation, digital and otherwise, within a law firm.