Goals

The main goal of this course is to equip the students with the knowledge and tools necessary to:

  1. Understand what is blockchain and how it works
  2. Understand how blockchain technology can change the way people, organizations and institutions interact with one another
  3. Understand the impact that blockchain can have on the business models of various industries and activities
  4. Identify opportunities that blockchain offers in various domains

Content

In this course, we will discuss numerous aspects related to blockchain technology. This includes cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether, wallets, smart contracts, NFTs, tokenization of assets, the evolution of the web, and the support that blockchain offers to facilitate collaboration among organizations. More details can be found in the table of contents of the course.

Table of contents

Chapter 1: The First Block of Your Journey

  • Bitcoin and the Emergence of Blockchain
  • Ethereum and Smart Contracts – Part I
  • Ethereum and Smart Contracts – Part II
  • Tokenization of Assets and Web 3.0

Chapter 2: Blockchain for Businesses and Organizations

  • Delivering value with NFTs
  • Blockchain for Business Process Management + Assignment Details

Chapter 3: Blockchain Implementation and Blockchain in Practice

  • Let’s use Blockchain Together (Guest Lecture)
  • Programmable Money (Guest Lecture)
  • Design of Blockchain Applications & Platform Choice (Guest Lecture)
  • Assignment Presentations

Chapter 4: Conclusion and Q&A


Note: this table of contents is tentative and might be subject to minor changes.


Teaching methods

There are 3 types of sessions in this course:

  1. Traditional lectures given by the professor
  2. Guest lectures and practical work sessions
  3. One session for the presentation of student assignments 


In all the sessions, we alternate between theoretical concepts and practical applications and implications. Some sessions are dedicated to practical exercises where we actually use blockchain. Finally, sessions are designed so as to be interactive and to encourage students to think for themselves.


While most of the course material is in English, all sessions are taught in French.

Assessment method

  1. Individual oral exam during the exam session: 50% of the final grade
  2. Written assignment to hand in before the exam session: 40% of the final grade
  3. Oral presentation of the assignment before the exam session: 10% of the final grade
  4. Possible bonus point (between 0 and 1 bonus point out of 20 for the final grade)


The grades obtained for the written assignment and oral presentation will be carried over for students who retake the exam in the second session.


The oral exam and oral presentation must be taken in person, at the university. It will not be possible to do it remotely. This also applies for the oral exam in second session.

Language of instruction

English