Kerala Blockchain Academy (KBA), which is a government-owned initiative, has announced two free online courses: the Blockchain Foundation Programme and the Ethereum Fundamentals Programme in Blockchain Technology. Both of the one-month-long courses are online.
The Blockchain Foundation Programme is designed to provide candidates of any background with an understanding of blockchain basics and its key components. The programme provides a foundational study of how blockchain works and how companies use its potential to solve real business problems. According to a report, the foundation programme explores the mechanics of blockchain, including decentralisation, peer-to-peer networking, and smart contract automation, among others. It also offers a deeper understanding of the blockchain fundamentals, key concepts, capabilities, limitations, and the future of blockchain technology.
The fundamentals programme in Ethereum blockchain provides a step-by-step guide to building applications in the Ethereum blockchain domain. Those who pass with merit are offered a discount of 50% on their advanced learning of the respective subject. To avail of the discount, they should apply within 15 days of receiving the certificate and the last date for application is 30 October. Participants will be provided with a digital blockchain-powered certificate signed by KBA co-stamped by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategy Council (K-DISC). Registration is open for the November batch. The online courses also involve two instructor interactions. People of any educational background including students, graduates, and professionals can enrol in both courses. There is no distinction in the discipline of study.
As per a recent study, the global blockchain market size is expected to grow from US$3 billion in 2020 to US$39.7 billion by 2025, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 67.3% during 2020–2025. The increasing need for simplifying the business processes and the need for supply chain management applications integrated with blockchain technology will drive the overall blockchain market. Blockchain technology eliminates the requirement of a central entity/third party to validate the transactions over the peer-to-peer network. Transactions are validated by considering the history of transactions stored at each node of the network and the consensus of the participants.
Earlier in May, KBA and the Digital University of Kerala (DUK) launched an online certified blockchain start-up programme to help entrepreneurs sharpen their skills in cutting-edge digital technologies. The course covered blockchain basics and how the technology is applied over different business verticals, including government operations, banking, supply chains, real estate, environment, and healthcare.
DUK, India’s first digital university launched in February this year, conducted the course in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) in Ahmedabad, and KBA. As OpenGov Asia had reported, it was a 14-day virtual classroom training programme and intended to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to deal effectively with the issues, opportunities, and challenges concerning entrepreneurship. It also provided requisite information regarding the necessities for setting up start-ups in the blockchain technology sector. The programme analysed the concept of understanding entrepreneurship, defining start-ups, developing own tech start-up ideas, building the right legal foundations, start-up marketing, branding, and fund-raising. The online instructor-led training was made accessible from anywhere in the world and delved into the various use cases of blockchain, analysing real examples of how different industries are executing the technology and improving their businesses.
