Why is blockchain a big deal? Big enough that it’s the new rage at US business schools
Training students for evolving roles in finance is altering curricula at universities and shifting how students structure their programmes
US business schools are strengthening training in the software that underlies digital currency bitcoin, a technology expected to be a game changer in many industries.
The move makes sense as more students seek careers in financial technology, or “fintech”, which has captivated leading Wall Street banks and been called “the most important technology since the internet.”
In January, the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley will offer its first ever course in blockchain software.
The Haas school, which is near San Francisco and Silicon Valley, will handpick 60 students from the departments of business, engineering and law and split them into groups of six to explore possible applications of the technology.
“When people think about blockchain they think about cryptocurrencies,” said Haas school lecturer Greg LaBlanc, who sees the technology as potentially disrupting many sectors.