University of Malta gears up for blockchain business

As Malta seeks to create a fertile environment for blockchain business, the University of Malta has been quick to react to the educational challenges which the new technology has raised with its offer of a number of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology-related study units commencing in October.

These units will be offered within existing undergraduate and Master’s level degree programmes. The study units starting in October include Blockchain and Smart Contracts (ICT3009) which is an ICT-focussed study unit offered within the BSc in Computing Science, the BSc in Artificial Intelligence and the Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.

A hands-on technical study unit (LAS3019) Blockchain and Smart Contract Programming is intended to help those with programming experience with a kick-start into Smart Contract and Blockchain development. This is offered as an evening course within the Programme for Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Blockchain World: An Introduction (LAS1062) is a general non-technical introduction to Blockchain and DLTs offered as an evening course within the Programme for Liberal Arts and Sciences.

A Blockchain and DLT Master’s by Research degree is also being developed and is intended to start by February 2019, while a Taught Master’s in Blockchain and DLT is being developed with plans to commence in October 2019.

In line with these plans, the university has approved a Centre for Distributed Ledger Technologies which will host and facilitate programmes related to Blockchain and DLT within the university.

These study programmes should be attractive to the public in general and in particular to those in ICT and practitioners from Law, Business/Economics/Management and Entrepreneurial backgrounds.