web3 – Blockchain & AI Forum

Namaste Yogis. Welcome to the Blockchain & AI Forum, where your technology questions are answered! Here no question is too mundane. As a bonus, a proverb is also included. Today’s question comes from Patrick and he wants a quick overview of blockchain innovation in Ireland.

Patrick, you came to the right place. Recently I read an informative research report titled: Ireland’s Blockchain, Crypto & Web3 Strategy: A Vision to Establish Ireland as a Global Web3 Hub.

https://www.blockchainireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Blockchain-Ireland-Irelands-Blockchain-Crypto-and-Web3-Strategy-Paper.pdf Below I highlight the most critical findings, but I’ll start with the authors, list the report chapters, and conclude with five recommendations.

Report Authors

The report was prepared by researchers and academics on behalf of Blockchain Ireland. Blockchain Ireland is essentially an industry association. According to Blockchain Ireland, the report offers a “… strategy and roadmap for creating a national and international blockchain hub in Ireland.”

Table of Contents from the Report

Blockchain Ireland Overview: In this chapter the report explains the who, what, why, and how of the organization.
Blockchain Explainer: Within this chapter, the authors go into detail regarding what is blockchain technology, how it works, why it’s important, etc.
Areas to Benefit from Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Crypto Innovations. Here authors identify E-Governance & Digital Identity; Energy; Financial Services; Digital Assets; Healthcare and Supply Chain Management as the sectors where blockchain could have the greatest positive impact.
Government Regulations: In this second to last chapter, the authors explain existing blockchain laws and government regulations in Ireland.
Recommendations and Road Map: In this concluding chapter, the authors offer the government a series of recommendations and a “how to” narrative on implementing the ideas.

Report Highlights

After 25 years, Blockchain Ireland has grown to 1,400 members and 100 partnerships. Blockchain Ireland has the ear of government officials, so let’s explore a few recommendations of the report starting with the Blockchain Hub concept:

1. Develop a Global Blockchain Hub, a Multi-Institutional Centre for Excellence using the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). According to proponents, “… This Hub will bring together all the key components of the Blockchain ecosystem in an efficient and innovative way. The Hub, will contribute to drive the promotion of skills and talent in this area and position Ireland as a location of choice for Blockchain Technologies.” What do you think about a blockchain association asking government to facilitate their industry? Does it prove again that “free market” advocates want, need, and ask for government help when it’s convenient or did I miss something?
2. Create a Blockchain Skills Strategy and Roadmap. Blockchain Ireland is advocating for the government to adopt a blockchain strategy and of course, that it base the strategy on the report they produced and being reviewed here. Makes sense.
3. Create Public Trust in Blockchain. It is unclear why Blockchain Ireland believes the government is capable of creating public trust in blockchain as opposed to other institutions but nevertheless, this is what they said. The authors identified a number of ways to create public trust in blockchain technology, including: more academic studies, university degrees in blockchain, conduct test pilot projects in fields of law and property, for example.
4. Provide networking, mentoring, and financial support for emerging entrepreneurs and innovators to participate in national and EU-level innovation events, hubs and clusters.
5. Establish compliant sandbox and test-bed environments to iterate Web3 proof of-concepts, test implementations, and trial scaling propositions.

Time for a proverb from Ireland, where they say: “a cabin with plenty of food is better than a hungry castle.”

Until Next Time,

Yogi Nelson

Namaste Yogis. Welcome to the Blockchain & AI Forum. Here no question is too mundane. As a bonus, a proverb is also included. Today’s question, was submitted by Javier from Saint Petersburg, and he wants to how to master the metaverse?

Javier, you came to the right place. I had to research your question. I didn’t believe it possible to earn a degree in Metaverse, much less, a masters degree, from an accredited university. The good news is, it’s possible, the “bad” news is only one accredited university in the world offers the program, meaning it has a monopoly. Let’s go over the facts together.

We begin with the obvious, what university and where is it? The answer, the University of Nicosia (UON). UON is located on the beautiful island nation of Cypress. Cypress, for those unfamiliar, is located in the Mediterranean Sea. About 2/3 of Cypress is Greek speaking and aligned with Greece. In fact, UON has offices in Cypress and Greece. The other part of Cypress is aligned with Turkey. In 2013, UON was the first university to offer a masters degree in blockchain and crypto technology and in 2024 the only accredited university in the world to offer a masters in metaverse studies; hence, UON is recognized as a pioneer and a web three native institution.

How does one get accepted in the program? According to UON, only applicants with a B.A. from an accredited university need apply. No need to have a B.A. in computer science; any B.A. will suffice declares UON on its website. B.A. in any subject makes sense given the Metaverse is a new discipline and when I describe the graduate course work, I think you will agree also. The second requirement is English proficiency. UON says applicants must score 550+ on the TOEFL.

After completing 3 fully loaded semesters that require 1.5 years, graduates earn the distinction of MSc in Metaverse. Nice! According to UON:

“The MSc in Metaverse is designed to provide participants a specialized program of study to become competent professionals in the field of Metaverse. Graduates will be able to develop computational design, programming skills and acquire hands-on cutting-edge experience, while cultivating analytical and creative thinking on the applications of Metaverse.”

Now, let’s take a look at the six mandatory general requirement classes for all students.

NFTs and the Metaverse
Metaverse Technologies and Applications
Open Web Applications and Digital Assets
Extended Reality
Virtual Worlds Architecture
Social, Legal and Ethical Issues in the Metaverse

After completing the core classes, students must decide between two tracks: metaverse management or metaverse development. Let’s examine the options:

METAVERSE MANAGEGMENT	METAVERSE DEVELOPMENT
Metaverse Entrepreneurship	Smart Contract Programming for Metaverse Applications
Emerging Topics in the Metaverse	Virtual and Augmented Reality Development
Virtual Economies in the Metaverse	User Experience and Interactive Design
Data Science in the Metaverse	Metaverse Game Development
Metaverse Token Economics

For the grand finale, students must select between writing a thesis or a semester long internship approved by UON.

Seven of the 11 program professors are on loan from the School of Business, Department of Digital Innovation. The other 4 hail from social science, architecture, etc. Now that you know how to master the metaverse, would you enroll at UON and which track would you prefer? I would pick metaverse development!

Time to go but first a proverb from Somalia, where they say: “delayed gratitude belongs to the patient, and unfinished business to the persistent.

Until next time,

Yogi Nelson

Tag: web3

WILL IRELAND HAVE THE LUCK OF THE IRISH WHEN IT COMES TO BLOCKCHAIN INNOVATION?

How to Master the Metaverse: A Guide to UON’s MSc Program