IS484 IS Project Experience (FinTech)

Course Description

• This is an SMU-X course designed in collaboration with participating Banks, FinTechs, and other FIs, to serve as project sponsors. Collectively, industry sponsors will supply a minimum of 5 projects ideas to select from.
• Students will form teams of 5 or 6, and select one the project ideas to work on. Project selections do not need to be unique, meaning multiple teams can select the same project idea.
• Each student project team will be assigned to a sponsor/mentor and an SMU faculty supervisor.
• Sponsors will provide project scope and management for student teams to have practical industry learning experiences.
• Student teams will have weekly check in meetings, either virtually or physically, with their sponsor.
• Sponsors will specify the technologies to be used, including; development tools/languages, OS, database, 3rd party libraries, target deployment environment e.g. cloud environment.
• Student project teams will be expected to develop a working software application prototype, to be delivered to the sponsor at the end of the course.

Course Prerequisites

1. Software Project Management (IS212) is a pre-requisite or a co-requisite.
2. Any two (2) track courses from the track that you are declaring for your project. One of these courses can be a co-requisite.

Grading Breakdown

• Proposal 5%
• Midterm Presentation 30%
• Final Presentation 65%

Project Timeline

Activities	Timeline	Term 1/ Term 2	Action By
Form and Register Teams	Before Week -17	Fill in team details the Project Team Signup Sheet at the link below, listing your preferred projects. FT Track Coordinator will finalize the matching of teams to projects.	Students
Project Review and Preference Selection	Week -16 to Week -13	Review the set of predefined projects provided by financial institutions and Fintech companies. Attend sponsor project briefings. List your preferred projects in the Project Team Signup Sheet at the link below. FT Track Coordinator will finalize the matching of teams to projects.	Students
Project Matching	Week -12	FT Track Coordinator will finalize the matching of teams to projects.	FT Track Coordinator
Proposal	Due before the start of Week -8	Submit your project proposals to your Track Coordinator(s). For mixed-track teams, both track coordinators need to review your proposal.	Students
Decision on Proposal	Week -4	Your Track Coordinator(s) will confirm that the project has sufficient scope to fulfill your respective track requirements for IS Project Experience.	Track Coordinator, Students, (Optional: Sponsor)
Start of Project	Week 1	Supervisor - Teams	Student
Midterm	Week 8	Presentation	Students, Supervisor, Reviewer (Optional: Sponsor, Track Coordinator)
Finals	Week 14 to Week 16	Presentation	Students, Supervisor, Reviewer (Optional: Sponsor, Track Coordinator)

Key Dates for AY2025/26 Term 2

• ✓Students submit team registration and prerequisites forms: by 14 Sep 2025
• Sponsor project descriptions available: by 29 Sep 2025
• Sponsor info session with students: week of 6 Oct 2025
• ✓Students submit project preferences: by 13 Oct 2025
• Student teams assigned to projects: week of 20 Oct 2025
• ✓Students submit project proposals: by 16 Nov 2025
• SMU track coordinator approves proposals: around mid-Dec 2025
• Students start working on projects: in early Jan 2025
• Midterm review: around the beginning of Mar 2026
• Final presentation/demo: around the beginning of Apr 2026

Project Team Signup Sheet:

AY2025/26 Term 2
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1q-2qNkXGcjPxybU52s-1cazP5k4zhHTYRn7SKxz5Hjg/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Current Projects - FY2025/26 Term 1

To be announced

Sponsor Briefing Session Schedule - FY2025/26 Term 2

To be announced

Archived Past Projects

AY25/26 Term 1
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11drNR9efEo9Yx2UNKskiSSatRiQPT3JCaAB4UsZTmpQ/edit?usp=sharing

Previous
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f7r2y1n6USWAYVTVyWkZkYxJt7HCoxlc-z3jAGzX7LQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0