#learningwithoutboundaries

The final presentation for TEMG4952B Special Project: “Machine Learning and Credit Rating Prediction” was held on 7 August 2021. The goal of TEMG4952 series of project-based courses is for students from Dual Degree Program in Technology & Management (T&M-DDP), to gain deep insight into an industry domain by working with the corporate-sponsor, and to understand a new trend in that industry sector, appreciate the business challenges in the real-world setting, and develop a working prototype incorporating innovative business strategies and advanced software tools. For the project in the Summer term of 2020-21, the corporate sponsor is Mr. Angus CHAN, Executive Director, Corporate Banking at CIBC, who is an executive in wholesale banking investment assets across the Asia Pacific region. Mr. CHAN also coached students together with Mr. Dhruv BHALLA, Corporate Banking at CIBC as mentors.

Mr. CHAN challenged T&M-DDP students with the topic “How to use Machine Learning to predict financial institutions with highest probability of credit rating movement? And, supply supporting evidence?”. Through 6 weekends of intensive interaction with the sponsor, students learned how wholesale bankers make business decisions, interpret corporate finance ratios and macroeconomic indicators. Students improved communication applying appropriate business etiquette, and sharpened their teamwork skills by working closely with other T&M-DDP students across a multitude of disciplines and age.

At the final presentation, 4 teams of student consultants presented their proposals to a panel of judges including the sponsor, Mr. Angus CHAN,  Ms. Angie AU-YONG, Chief Compliance Officer from Citrix, Ms. Karen HO, Ex-group CFO of WeLab, and Mr. Thomas SO, Director of Strategic Accounts of Refinitv, part of London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Each team presented their design of a wholesale banking portfolio management dashboard with Machine Learning (ML) capabilities to predict financial institutions with highest probability for credit rating migration and early warning indicators, to compete for the most accurate prediction and clarity presentation challenge.

The judges commented that the end results had exceeded all expectations and, in many ways measured up to results from the few other available studies by professional bodies. They had an impossible task to pick out the winning team as they were stunned by the near professional presentations.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Angus CHAN, mentors, fellow judges, Mr. George Lo for Eikon Terminal support, and Mr. Andy Tsui (SVP & GM at Harman) for sponsoring JBL products. Congratulations to the winning team of Jacky LO, Ugo LEE, Umang CHAMARIA, Richie LEE and Nichola KWOK!