TORONTO – George Brown College is launching the first comprehensive certificate program in blockchain technology offered by a Canadian college, helping address a serious shortage of developer talent in the growing field.
As implementation of blockchain has grown, so has the demand for professionals with an understanding of the technology and its applications. Starting September 4, George Brown’s Blockchain Development program will immerse students in the current technology, its architecture and potential uses for industry and society.
Blockchains are digital, decentralized ledgers that record transactions shared among many people. Once data is entered on a blockchain it is secure, easy to track and permanent. This can help businesses improve efficiency of transactions while lowering the chance of data mishandling and fraud. With the ability to track and trace products and record movement of information, blockchain has numerous business applications as well as far-reaching social and economic implications. On pace to be the new “cloud” of the 21st Century, blockchain is poised to revolutionize industries as diverse as finance, retail, healthcare, and logistics.
“This program was developed with input from leading industry professionals in response to skyrocketing demand for advanced blockchain skills and expertise,” says Albert Danison, Chair, School of Computer Technology, George Brown College. “The most significant challenge inhibiting growth in blockchain today is sourcing qualified talent. With this new program, we are helping build the workforce that Canada needs to harness and ensure mainstream adoption of the technology.”
As the only Canadian college to offer a full-time blockchain certificate program, George Brown joins educational institutions like MIT and Princeton in contributing to global leadership in blockchain education. The program offers an immersive and experiential approach to blockchain, providing students learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Over the three-semester, full-time program, students will learn to design and implement decentralized applications by leveraging blockchain. The program will also thoroughly cover full stack development, smart contracts, blockchain architecture, security practices, laws and regulations.
The first-of-its-kind program will be taught in an executive format, with 20 students receiving approximately 20 hours per week of study over a 26 week time period. Graduates will be prepared to work in banking, international finance, healthcare, government, and more.
“The blockchain industry is growing rapidly so more educational programs will help provide companies with access to top talent. Research by ICTC estimates that by 2024, more than 100,000 blockchain jobs will be created in Canada. I commend George Brown College for being one of the first educational institutions to address this gap in blockchain expertise,” said Marc Lijour, Solutions at ConsenSys. “In such a swiftly evolving sector, it is remarkable how local industry leaders and the community came together to help the college develop the program in a record amount of time. I’m calling upon my former colleagues in the education ministries to help us scale this program in the months ahead.”
The Blockchain Development program builds on George Brown’s commitment to put students at the forefront of the digital economy. For more information on the Blockchain Development program, visit www.georgebrown.ca/programs/blockchain-development-program-t175/
About George Brown College
Toronto's George Brown College has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. The college offers programs from its three campuses located across the downtown core. George Brown offers 167 full-time programs and 191 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to a student body of over 30,000 (full-time enrolment) students, including 23 per cent international students; and over 68,000 continuing education registrants. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships and degrees. www.georgebrown.ca
Media Contact: Rima Kar
External Communications Specialist
George Brown College
(416) 415-5000 ext. 4791
Rima.Kar@georgebrown.ca
