We have observed that different institutes of higher education are educating the seekers of knowledge in technological movements, from Blockchain to Fintech. On this occasion we present the case of the University System of Georgia (USG), who announced the launch of a Fintech academy at the state level on September 11. It is the largest educational effort of its kind in the United States.
While individual colleges have offered Blockchain courses, such as Stanford and NYU, Georgia is opening the program to all current students at all colleges in the state's public university system. In addition, professionals and graduates who wish to enter the Fintech sector can enroll in the academy.
GA Fintech Heavy curriculum in Blockchain Tech
Called Georgia FinTech Academy, the program will have two in-person locations in the downtown Atlanta area for classes on campus. The courses will also be conducted online and in departments within the universities of Georgia. The completion of these programs will result in credentials or accredited degrees.
The scale is great. The mission is to make Fintech education accessible to everyone in Georgia, with a focus on learning experience through internships.
Although the big effort could be considered risky and premature, Jim Senn, founding director of the program, makes a clear separation between core technologies and individual cryptocurrencies.
Senn declared in an exclusive interview with CCN:
"Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, should be considered separately from Blockchain or distributed ledger. Bitcoin is an application. Blockchain is a new base technology that features a distributed ledger ".
He admits that Blockchain technologies are still new, but USG seems to have bet on an increasing adoption.
Reflecting on the industry, Senn said:
"The industry around Blockchain and distributed ledger is in its infancy. In many ways, it feels like in the early days of the Internet, before the introduction of the web throughout the world. The technology community is just now beginning to develop the tools and practices to make Blockchain a viable technology for businesses and government. "
As a center for Fintech innovation, Atlanta draws on experts from private companies to teach specific curricula for Blockchain applications, which include commercial banking, software development and supply chain logistics.