There has been an influx of trade and business relations between the United Kingdom and Florida because of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in late 2023 by the state and the UK government. This influx has also brought the University of East London (UEL) to Tampa Bay to strengthen their partnership activity in exciting ways: signing an MoU with Tampa Bay Wave—a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating Florida’s innovation economy—hosting a roundtable between Tampa Bay Wave and UEL and collaborating with the USF Fintech Center to develop a joint fintech research symposium.
“This is an industry that is evolving at an extraordinary speed, so it is essential to develop strong international networks to stay ahead of those emerging challenges, but also to take advantage of opportunities,” Paul Marshall, Vice-President and Pro-Vice Chancellor at UEL says. “I think it’s therefore timely that it’s actually universities like UEL and USF that are coming together to embark upon that journey.”
In May 2024, a formal collaboration between the University of South Florida and UEL was announced, highlighting a pledge to work together in four key areas: sustainability, business and psychology, global student mobility and financial technology (fintech). In October 2024, MA Professional Landscape Architecture students from UEL and USF presented their joint research at a symposium on sustainability. In continuation of this flourishing collaboration, the eagerly awaited USF/UEL Joint FinTech Research Symposium occurred on February 20th, 2025, held in the Muma College of Business with the USF Fintech Center.
The Fintech Center at the Kate Tiedeman School of Business and Finance at USF aims to be a leading Fintech center and entrepreneurial ecosystem in this innovative and rapidly advancing field. Fintech—short for “financial technology”— refers to the technology used to support and deliver financial services, such as online banking or mobile payments. “The Fintech Center currently supports an expanding pipeline of fintech programs and strategic engagements such as this joint research symposium” Micheal D. Wiemer, the Director of the USF Fintech Center, says. “For example, we launched an online fintech certificate program which has engaged more than 1900 learners from around the world.”
“This symposium is a testament to the power of global collaboration bringing together scholars and practitioners who are shaping the future of Fintech,” Jean D. Kabongo, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Accreditation and Compliance, says. “Our two institutions are separated by an ocean, but united by a common goal to push the boundaries of knowledge and impact. This partnership…is about creating a system of scholars, students, and industry leaders who are working together to address real world challenges.”
“This symposium is a testament to the power of global collaboration bringing together scholars and practitioners who are shaping the future of Fintech,” says Jean D. Kabongo.
The discussion covered some of the most pressing developments in the rapidly developing and changing field of fintech, bringing together the leading academics, industry professionals, and policymakers who are actively determining the future of finance. The symposium, with panelists from both UEL and USF, focused on innovative topics such as AI-driven finance, decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain applications and ethical considerations and dimensions of fintech innovation.
“We know that the future of fintech is global, and we know that—just as we sit within that hive of new fintech activity—that Tampa itself is a global hub of innovation in that space,” Paul Marshall says. “By working together, we can expand opportunities of research, industry engagement and entrepreneurial activity across two major financial technology markets.”
During his time in Tampa, Paul Marshall met with Kiki Caruson, Vice President of USF World, to discuss how to deepen collaboration between the two universities, as well as pinpoint new areas for growth, which included: enhancing fintech collaboration, exploring ways for student collaboration and transition between institutions, and creating more international opportunities for students.