Australia’s first university short course on blockchain technology has been launched by RMIT University in a bid to meet the changing demands of the workforce and diversify its target student market.
Developing Blockchain Strategy, built in partnership between the university and its Blockchain Innovation Hub, Stone & Chalk, and Accenture, is an eight-week course which sees RMIT branching out into the entrepreneurial and business leader market.
“There’s a great connection we’re trying to create with the Australian blockchain startups and international students”
“When Forbes compare blockchain to ‘where the internet was 20 years ago,’ businesses and leaders sit up and take notice,” said Helen Souness, RMIT Online chief executive.
Speaking with The PIE News, Souness said RMIT chose to create the course to keep in line with its ambitions to promote life-long learning, with an emphasis on delivering content specific to the workplace.
“This [is a course] for people who want to build real-world strategies to take back and apply to their business. We’re incredibly excited, and the response from industry and prospective learners has matched our enthusiasm,” she said.
According to fintech hub Stone & Chalk Melbourne general manager Alan Tsen, understanding the form of cryptology has become an increasingly important tool for businesses both within Australia and abroad.
“I think this year we’ll start to see more proof of concepts going from concept to production,” he told The PIE.
“More products will be powered on the backend by blockchain tech, as corporate players start to really take the leap into building meaningful live products that will be used by large consumer bases.”
Riley Batchelor, whose online business school Masterly created Australia’s first course on the subject, said the country was in a unique position to use its knowledge in the sector to attract international students and collaboration.
“We already are a leader and I think that’s going to continue as well if we can continue building the local blockchain community in Australia,” he said.
“There’s a really strong community sitting there. Some of the startups are not that well known yet, but there’s a fantastic community that’s there and our students who are in our blockchain course are from all around the world.
“There’s a great connection piece there that we’re trying to create with the Australian blockchain startups and international students.”
Developing Blockchain Strategy will commence on 19 March.
