US-based open ledger software firm Consensys has launched a course to provide people with the knowledge and skills required to understand blockchain’s impact upon the world. It also enables students to identify problems to solve using blockchain in their domain of expertise.

“This foundational course is designed to give anyone in the world, curious individuals and professionals alike, an introduction to this increasingly popular next-generation technology,” says Coursera on its website.

Rising popularity of crypto

It adds that “with the rising popularity of cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology has become one of the hottest topics this year”.

And “though we typically hear about its applications in financial services — more than $6.3 billion has been raised through initial coin offerings (ICOs) in the United States alone – blockchain technology has started to transform many other industries, from voting to cloud computing to advertising”.

It also notes that blockchain-related jobs have become the second fastest growing in the current labour market.

“Like AI, blockchain has the potential to revolutionise all types of sectors, but most of us are still unfamiliar with the technology, how it might impact our daily lives and the benefits that come with it,” Coursera says. “That’s why we’re excited to team up with ConsenSys, the leading venture production studio building decentralised applications and tools for Ethereum, to launch Blockchain: Foundations And Use Cases.”

Designed for people without a tech background

The course is designed for those who want to learn about blockchain, regardless if they have technical knowledge, “Highly engaging and hands-on; learners have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in real-world scenarios and build their own use case.”

After completion of the course, students “will be able to explain the foundational concepts of blockchain and decentralisation as well as cryptography and consensus mechanisms”.

They will also earn a certificate from the Consensys Academy.