Swiss University Set to Launch Bitcoin Curriculum in March Next Year
The University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich plans to launch a Bitcoin (BTC) course next year. The unique course will teach people about Bitcoin, delve into the importance of cryptocurrencies in the economic and financial landscape, and help students learn to integrate Bitcoin into business. The university intends to start the course in March 2025.
According to reports, the course will cater to business professionals looking to use Bitcoin for innovation and increase business efficiency. Existing and would-be entrepreneurs will also learn how to use the BTC network across all industries, catering to everything from playing roulette with Bitcoin to payments for goods and services. Enrollees will learn using real-world case studies, lectures, and practical workshops. In addition, students will gain technical knowledge of Bitcoin and blockchain technology in general. The curriculum will contain a deep dive into Bitcoin and a comparative analysis of altcoins, exploring why BTC stands out among other cryptocurrencies.
In addition to specific knowledge about technicalities and business integration, the course will cover regulations, including details on compliance and laws. This will equip students with the information necessary to thrive in the regulatory landscape of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Students will also learn how to manage related risks, ensuring they mitigate these risks while navigating complex crypto laws around the world. This knowledge is important for students who need to stay on the right side of the law to launch various businesses, including payment, healthcare, or online gambling platforms that integrate Bitcoin.
The University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration Zurich’s curriculum will last 16 days and award participants 15 ECTS credits. The course will cost 9,950 Swiss francs, which is about $19,794. Unfortunately, this price point is a central criticism of the course, as some believe it is better to directly invest the fee in Bitcoin to learn about the network.
Over time, there have been several other attempts at cryptocurrency education by different stakeholders. For instance, USDT issuer Tether partnered with payment platform Bitnob to create an educational program to teach Bitcoin and stablecoins to university students in Ghana. According to an official Tether announcement, the collaboration was a series of events across three Ghanaian universities. It started on May 11th at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Hohoe and moved to the University of Ghana in Accra on May 15th. The last event was on May 18th at the University of Cape Coast.
In addition to these events, Bitnob plans an Ambassador program featuring 25 people who will receive extensive education on Bitcoin, stablecoins, and blockchain technology. These people are then expected to pass this knowledge on to people in their communities.
There are also efforts at Bitcoin education in El Salvador, the first country to officially make Bitcoin legal tender. The Central American nation launched the Node Nation initiative in February, targeting high school students between 15 and 17 years old, through its Bitcoin Office — an institution aimed at improving Bitcoin adoption in the country. The Bitcoin Office, along with technical education program Cubo+ and the country’s Education Ministry, will deploy the project throughout 2024 in five public schools, where students will receive weekly lessons.
The plan is to teach students how to use Bitcoin and Lightning Nodes. The students will learn how to run nodes and use Bitcoin mining equipment, hopefully to improve the country’s crypto-related human talent. Students who complete the lessons may join the Cubo+ program for deeper technical knowledge.