Introducing Blockchain, Smart Contract and Distributted Application concepts and practices from an extra-curricular university training

Abstract

Despite all advantages proportionated by Blockchain, Smart Contracts and Distributed Applications technologies (trust, accuracy, security, savings, transparency, clear communication, storage & backup, etc.), we have experiencing in last years an increasing lack of qualified professionals having these technical skills, and this fact can be justified by high failure rates in STEM majors, and a reduced amount of technological practical activities in university classes. In such a way to mitigate such issues, we propose an extra-curricular training where undergraduate and graduate students can learn and practice such technologies, not usually presented in university programs. Such framework was experienced by students in three different universities in Bahia, Brazil, and the results found point out this training as an interesting and promising proposal.