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Crypto Added To The Curriculum At Prestigious Universities

Created by TradeOr

Cryptocurrency 18 Apr 2022
For quite some time, universities have been assisting with blockchain-related research. Now some world-class universities have incorporated the technology into their curricula.

Last year saw a significant increase in the world of digital assets. The total cryptocurrency market cap has surpassed $3 trillion, prompting more people, governments, and universities to investigate the asset class. The presence of cryptocurrency in the world’s major economies has created a huge opportunity for a variety of start-ups. This is leading to a huge demand for digital assets. This newly formed market has aided in the development of more employment and educational opportunities, among other things.

Furthermore, some of the world’s most prestigious universities, such as MIT, Oxford, and Harvard, have incorporated cutting-edge technology into their curriculum. Let’s have a look at a few:

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Few universities can compete with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in terms of research (MIT). MIT is known worldwide for its revolutionary research and competitive academic curriculum and is ranked second only to Harvard. Without a doubt, the university is the leader in blockchain systems, taking a research-driven approach to the decentralized ecosphere.

The university has exceptional academic staff, including US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who teaches a blockchain course. The MIT Bitcoin Club, one of the oldest Bitcoin (BTC) clubs on campus, serves as the hub of blockchain discussions.

Back in 2014, the university launched the MIT Digital Currency Experiment, in which it distributed Bitcoin to students to encourage cryptocurrency adoption. The university has launched a peer-reviewed journal on Blockchain technology to track researchers’ growing interest in the field. The journal is freely distributed, in keeping with the decentralization ideology.

The following courses are available at the university:

  • Blockchain Ethics: The Impact and Ethics of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology
  • B Digital Frontier: Emerging Blockchain Havens
  • Shared Public Ledgers: Cryptocurrencies, Blockchains, and Other Marvels

Harvard University

Harvard is one of the oldest universities in the U.S. and is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. The Ivy League college, founded in 1636, has produced a record eight U.S. presidents, fourteen Turing Award winners, and multiple Nobel prize winners.

Harvard has incorporated blockchain education into its curriculum in line with the criteria of excellence and innovation. To begin, the university has partnered with Coursera to offer six free cryptocurrency courses ranging from the fundamentals to intermediate levels. An online introductory course titled “Breakthrough Innovation with Blockchain Technology” investigates the use of AI and blockchain in a multitude of sectors.

There is also a thriving blockchain student community at Harvard, with over 200 members. Students can construct and scale their projects thanks to weekly “Crypto 101” seminars and the availability of an incubator on campus.

Singapore National University

Singapore is one of Southeast Asia’s leading cryptocurrency hubs, and the National University of Singapore (NUS) is at the heart of crypto adoption. The university was founded in 1905, and its commitment to original research has consistently placed it among the continent’s top universities.

The university’s blockchain offering is heavily focused on research and entrepreneurship, with interesting essays on utilizing blockchain for decentralized computing and improving distributed consensus and smart contracts being published. NUS provides a comprehensive blockchain curriculum that spans several fields and levels, from novices to CEOs and mid-level executives.

The school offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as dynamic student-led crypto clubs. Furthermore, these crypto clubs enable students to learn from their peers while also publishing essays on the use and future of blockchain technologies.

The following are some of the most popular courses in the curriculum:

  • Enterprise Blockchain And DLT for Executives
  • Blockchain, Digital Currencies, And Distributed Ledgers Start From Here

The University of Oxford

Oxford University is a world leader in higher education and the second-oldest university in operation. The English university has the largest university press and academic library system, distinguishing it from its peers.

Because of its extensive research center, Oxford is one of Europe’s major centers of learning for blockchain technology. The Oxford-Hainan Blockchain Research Institute has made great gains, and the blockchain research center has published a litany of intriguing blockchain essays.

Oxford Foundry, the university’s entrepreneurship hub, has formed intriguing collaborations with Ripple to facilitate a broader blockchain technology. The Oxford Blockchain Society, a thriving student-run community at the university, competes favorably with its rivals at other institutions. The university has one of the most extensive blockchain learning programs.

Top courses at the university include:

  • Blockchain Software Engineering
  • Blockchain For Managers
  • Oxford Blockchain Strategy Program

Cornell University

Cornell University was founded in 1865 and has established itself as one of the world’s foremost research universities. With an estimate of more than $500 million spent annually on research and development, it’s easy to see why the university is ranked among the top five schools for graduates pursuing PhDs.

The university’s alumni list includes 33 Rhodes Scholars, ten CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and 35 billionaires. Cornell University also provides undergraduate and postgraduate blockchain technology courses. The academic staff is remarkable and includes people like Emin Gun Sirer, who has presented multiple academic articles at blockchain conferences since 2014.

Through the Cornell Blockchain Club, students from the university have procured positions at leading blockchain companies such as Coinbase and ConsenSys. The club is run by students, and it has gone on to publish interesting papers on blockchain technology as well as host its annual convention with an impressive line-up of speakers from the cryptocurrency industry.

The courses offered are the following:

  • Cryptocurrencies and Ledgers
  • Applications of Blockchain Technology
  • Introductions to Blockchains, Cryptocurrencies, and Smart Contracts
  • Cryptography Essentials

Berkeley, University of California

The University of California, Berkeley, which was founded in 1868, is a major institution for blockchain enthusiasts. Thousands of students benefit from the university’s variety, which is reflected in its fourteen colleges and over 350-degree programs.

One of the main reasons for the university’s inclusion on the list is that it has one of the longest records of blockchain research. The Berkeley Haas Blockchain Initiative, which is mostly sponsored by Ripple Labs, is the driving force behind blockchain research. Students can apply for research scholarships to delve deeper into the uses of the nascent technology, with notable progress in the area of stablecoins.

Through the online education platform edX, the university also offers a “Blockchain Fundamentals Professional Certificate Program.” In terms of coursework, the University of California, Berkeley provides students with a comprehensive blockchain program that includes:

  • Lattices: Algorithms, Complexity, and Cryptography
  • Blockchain, Crypto economics, and the Future of Technology, Business and Law
  • Blockchain Fundamentals
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