Table of Contents
Key Takeaways:
- Crypto-critics falsely assert that a blockchain is a less-effective database, that it has no practical applications, and that it is a Ponzi scheme.
- But when the best colleges and universities offer classes on blockchain and cryptocurrency, it makes me think there might be something there that’s worth looking into.
- A 2018 study found that 42 percent of the top 50 universities offered a course in blockchain or cryptocurrencies (the percentage is undoubtedly higher today).
Blockchain, which people in favor describe as a technological breakthrough conceivably as significant as the internet, is a permanent, digital public ledger. While blockchain is still in its early stages, some colleges and universities have undertaken to explore it as a means of verifying academic credentials such as degrees and certificates, and some have even adopted parts of blockchain learnings into their academic curriculum and coursework.
Cryptocurrency and blockchain are quickly becoming familiar and frequent terms in today’s world. Top universities all over the world are now incorporating cryptocurrency and blockchain technology into their campus environments.
The blockchain news site CoinDesk and a researcher from MIT and Stanford carried out the study in which 230 universities from around the world were analyzed and ranked.
Many of the universities on the list are located in top global financial cities such as London, Singapore, Zurich, and Hong Kong, as well as tech hubs such as California’s Silicon Valley. Hong Kong universities appeared four times on the list, while California universities claimed three spots in the top 25.
Here are some prestigious universities with an overview of the blockchain academia:
University of California, Berkeley:
According to the Coinbase study, the University of California, Berkeley came in third place. It’s no surprise that the university ranked so high, given its blockchain degree courses, clubs, amenities, research, and multi-million dollar crypto partnerships.
Berkeley also provides online blockchain and crypto courses, some of which last a few weeks and others a few months. These courses aim to increase blockchain literacy by delving into the mechanics and properties of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, as well as sharing practical and business applications of blockchain technology.
In addition to the core curriculum, you can take a variety of courses taught by the Blockchain at Berkeley association, such as:
Blockchain Fundamentals Decal: This course “traces the period of digital currency as well as the laws, organizations, trends, and communities that comprise the ecosystem.”
Blockchain Development Decal: A course aimed at students for programming experience. Students learn “how to prototype, test, and deploy [blockchain] using industry-relevant tools, providing you with the experience required to become a full-stack blockchain developer.”
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT is one of the world’s most prestigious universities. The university is well-known for its vital academic programs, excellent instruction, and highly regarded professors, among other things.
When it comes to financial technologies, this institution has one of the most blockchain publications. It hosts a number of prestigious conferences with well-known speakers from the financial industry.
Under its “Digital Currency Initiative,” MIT offers more than ten blockchain courses, two of which are free online programs and FinTech graduate courses. MIT offers a unique program called “Entrepreneurship Without Borders.” It is a graduate course that goes deep into the role of blockchain technology in global entrepreneurial opportunities and focuses on the creation of new ventures.
Harvard University:
According to our research on FinTech at Harvard University, the greatest number of students have gone on to work in the blockchain sector.
The private school at Harvard University offers a six-week FinTech course that examines contemporary financial technology in the banking, real estate, and other sectors, as well as a course on blockchain and Bitcoin. These open enrollment courses are available to anyone who is interested. This is the list:
- Specialization in blockchain
- Foundations and Use Cases for Blockchain
- Foundations of the Blockchain for Developers
- Blockchain Foundations
- Bitcoin and cryptocurrency technologies, as well as the basics of blockchain
Some futurists think that blockchain could improve pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.), in part by fostering more in-depth interdisciplinary collaborations. According to experts, blockchain may offer a useful new avenue for academics and researchers to produce and distribute intellectual property while still exercising control over its use. Additionally, blockchain is regarded as a key component of University 2.0, a platform for the next-generation library.
For instance, researchers at the San Josรฉ State University School of Information are looking into how libraries could use blockchain technology to improve their metadata repositories, safeguard the sale of digital rights to library materials, and streamline organizational collaborations.
Scope of blockchain application in career paths:
Pertaining Blockchain’s full capabilities, there are many claims. Many people have bet their reputations and fortunes on the distributed ledger database, which has been hailed as a game-changer. There have been claims made about its potential to reduce fraud for enterprise applications like financial systems or, for that matter, any system involving centralised control, as well as to help increase transparency in the manufacturing and health sectors. Realising Blockchain technology in the burgeoning shared economy could reduce the need for central control.
According to estimates from LinkedIn, hiring for positions involving Bitcoin or blockchain technology has increased by 73%. Therefore, the job market is attractive to those with expertise in those areas.
By making the process of obtaining information simple and unchangeable, blockchain demonstrates its capacity. For many days to come, blockchain technology will be a hot topic of discussion.
Insiders in the industry are very interested in gradually transitioning from Web2 to Web3, as new platforms are being created that are completely decoupling themselves from Web2 standards. Continually attempting to identify skill gaps in their human capital, developing efficient strategies to close these gaps (through skill training, upskilling, and other means), and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development are all practices used by crypto firms.
NFTs and the metaverse are two examples of new trends that call for both technical and non-technical skills, such as UI/UX developers, content producers, copywriters, community moderators, and legal experts.
As a result, As more and more strategies are used, technologies will continue to develop and progress globally. The blockchain concept has evolved into a platform for numerous applications that are used to run efficiently. Blockchain has the potential to alter the way we live and conduct business as a society, but it is still a young and rapidly evolving technology, according to many experts. Many people also think that blockchain is still in the early stages of adoption, much like the World Wide Web was before it became ingrained in our daily lives.