Pakistan’s first digital bank, easypaisa digital bank, has formally partnered with the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES) – FAST University, Islamabad, to launch an industry‑driven elective course for undergraduate fintech and business students. The elective titled “The Fintech Lab: Product Design, Analytics & Emerging Trends” will be delivered by practitioners from easypaisa, providing students a unique opportunity to engage with the practical side of fintech innovation and product strategy.
At a signing ceremony held last week, easypaisa’s Chief Digital Officer, Farhan Hassan, and Dr Sadia Nadeem, Dean and Head of FAST School of Management, Islamabad, formalised the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The collaboration marks the start of a broader alliance aimed at combining academic knowledge with hands‑on industry exposure for students keen to thrive in the digital finance domain.
Under the elective course, students will explore several key facets of the fintech industry including product development, analytics, emerging technology trends and artificial intelligence. Industry professionals from easypaisa will lead course modules, giving students direct access to real‑world frameworks and decision‑making processes. The course will cover how fintech products are designed, analysed and scaled in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Commenting on the collaboration, Farhan Hassan remarked that easypaisa is deeply committed to sharing insights and know‑how with both academia and the broader financial ecosystem. He said the partnership with FAST University offers an opportunity to “cultivate the next generation of fintech leaders” by equipping them with practical tools and awareness necessary for success. He emphasised that by bridging classroom learning with industry practice, easypaisa hopes to shape future innovators in the fintech space.
Dr Sadia Nadeem added that the collaboration is a welcome signal of FAST’s commitment to equip its students with the skills and acumen required in today’s fast‑evolving fintech and digital banking landscape. She noted that by combining the strengths of both the university and easypaisa, the partnership will contribute to Pakistan’s digital financial ecosystem and better prepare management graduates to lead in this transformation.
The move comes at a time when easypaisa has firmly established itself as a major player in Pakistan’s financial ecosystem. As of 2024, easypaisa processed transactions valued at approximately PKR 9.5 trillion, representing around 9 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP. Its digital footprint and inclusion efforts make the bank a credible partner for educational initiatives aiming to prepare talent for the fintech economy. The bank’s user base includes a sizeable women segment (around 31 per cent), underlining its reach across demographics.
By introducing this elective, FAST University and easypaisa are responding to a growing recognition that fintech education must move beyond theory to offer experiential learning linked to real business challenges. Both institutions believe the partnership will help bridge the talent gap, equipping students with an understanding not just of financial technologies but of how products are built, analysed and positioned in the marketplace.
In summary, the easypaisa‑FAST University collaboration sets a precedent in Pakistan’s higher education and fintech landscape. By bringing fintech practitioners into the classroom, the partnership aims to deliver a well‑rounded, immersive learning experience that aligns academic theory with industry practice. As the digital finance revolution continues to gather pace in Pakistan, such efforts may help to cultivate a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to build and scale fintech products in a challenging and evolving market.
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