Blockchain Master’s Degree offered by Dublin University

In collaboration with Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, the University of Dublin has launched the country’s first Master’s Degree in Blockchain technology. This groundbreaking announcement was made the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation on 29 May.

Technology Ireland ICT SKillnet was founded with their primary focus being to improve the skill sets of workers, particularly in areas of advanced technology. Increasing the knowledge of soft skills programs, enriches the lives of workers and creates the foundation for them to progress and achieve their goals.

This degree to be known as ‘The Masters in Blockchain: Distributed Ledger Technologies’ comes as a result of the continued efforts by the ICT Skillnet to ascertain and detail just what future blockchain engineers and pioneers need to study and what skills they need to acquire. Again, this was not done in isolation but with the assistance of the blockchain hub of education, Blockchain Ireland.

Blockchain Ireland is headed by the IDA Blockchain Expert Group and is invaluable in their promotion and disseminating of information on blockchain in Ireland.

Details of the Master’s Degree in Blockchain

The first intake of students for this two-year course is expected in September 2019. This course will be conducted on a part-time basis and entirely online.

IT professionals who ply their trade in Ireland and who ideally have successfully completed a Level 8 Honors Degree or above and who have majored in Computer Science, Computing, Computer Applications or courses of a similar nature, will be considered for the course.

In a recent comment, Dave Feenan, Acting Network Manager for Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, indicated that the intention of the introduction of this degree was to equip and further qualify IT experts for future job opportunities. This course will bring together the practical and intellectual knowledge which will be of huge advantage to Blockchain technology in an array of areas.

When and how was this degree launched?

The Government of Ireland recently hosted Blockchain Ireland week where the government strove to bring a greater cognizance of the industry and to garner support.

In the summer of 2018, IDA Ireland, an agency who has as their major focus, the encouragement of direct foreign investment into Ireland, launched a movement to develop the blockchain industry in Ireland. The low corporate interest rate in Ireland of 12,5% has been a major attraction for businesses specializing in technology, over past years for business.

With the favorable corporate interest rate accompanied by the welcoming approach of IDA Ireland, Ireland is internationally viewed as one of the most popular places to operate a business from and many companies from various sectors, including technology, have their head office in Ireland.

Programs offered globally

In the United States, the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania has also made an online course available on FinTech. The curriculum includes online crypto trading, buying crypto and most importantly blockchain technology and development. The Wharton School Division of the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton online, will be managing this program.