Schedule
Next Cohort Start
02 Oct 2024
Part Time (Evenings)
10 Weeks
6pm - 9pm
Mon - Wed - Fri
Study Mode
Online (Zoom Meeting)
Group Size (25 Students Max)
Group Projects (real clients)
Padagogy
Short Course
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Covers Core Topics
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Soft Skills
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Real-Life Projects (real customers)
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Seminars by Professionals
Blockchain
This course offers an introduction to blockchain technology, covering its core principles, architecture, and potential applications. Participants will learn how blockchain works, explore different types of blockchain networks, and understand its use cases across various sectors. The course also addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by blockchain, including issues of security, scalability, and regulation.
Prerequisites
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​Familiarity with Python as some exercises involve setting up a blockchain using Python.
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General knowledge of cryptography would be beneficial.
What will you gain after this course
By completing the Introduction to Blockchain Technology short course, students will gain the following:
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1- Foundational Understanding of Blockchain:
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Core Concepts: Grasp the key principles of blockchain, including distributed ledgers, cryptography, and consensus mechanisms.
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Blockchain Architecture: Learn how blocks, chains, and transactions are structured and how they work together to form a secure, decentralized network.
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Ability to set-up a basic Blockchain
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2- Familiarity with Blockchain Networks and Platforms
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Types of Blockchains: Understand the differences between public, private, consortium, and hybrid blockchains, and their respective use cases.
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Popular Platforms: Get to know major blockchain platforms like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and how they differ in terms of functionality and application.
3- Knowledge of Smart Contracts and Decentralized Applications (DApps)
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Smart Contracts: Learn how smart contracts work, their benefits in automating processes, and their role in decentralized ecosystems.
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DApps: Explore the concept of decentralized applications, their architecture, and examples of how they are used in various industries.
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Capability to build Decentralized Applications (DApps)
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4- Insight into Real-World Applications and Use Cases
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Industry Impact: Discover how blockchain is transforming industries like finance, supply chain, healthcare, and more.
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Practical Examples: Analyze real-world case studies that demonstrate the tangible benefits of blockchain technology in different sectors.
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5- Awareness of Challenges and Regulatory Considerations
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Technical Challenges: Understand the current challenges facing blockchain technology, including scalability, security, and interoperability.
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Legal and Regulatory Landscape: Gain insight into the regulatory environment surrounding blockchain and the importance of compliance and governance.
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6- Hands-On Experience
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Implement cryptographic functions
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Simulate consensus mechanisms
Understanding of Bitcoin's network architecture -
Transaction structure
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Set up a Bitcoin node and wallet
Proficiency in developing, deploying, and interacting with smart contracts using Solidity -
Integrating blockchain technology and decentralized storage
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7- Networking Opportunities
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Community Engagement: Connect with peers and professionals interested in blockchain technology, offering networking opportunities that could benefit your future endeavours.
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Training Mode
Short Course
Who is this course for?
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Beginners with an interest in blockchain technology and its applications.
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Professionals in IT, finance, supply chain, or legal sectors who want to understand blockchain’s impact on their industry.
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Entrepreneurs and innovators looking to explore blockchain for business solutions.
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Students considering a career in blockchain development or blockchain-related fields.
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Developers and Programmers
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Healthcare Administrators and IT Managers
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Supply Chain Professionals
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Financial Analysts and Advisors
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​Anyone Curious About Blockchain
This course entails
Introduction to Blockchain Technology and Bitcoin: The First Cryptocurrency
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Fundamentals of distributed ledger technology
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Cryptographic principles (hashing, public-key cryptography)
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Consensus mechanisms (PoW, PoS, etc.)
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Blockchain use cases and limitations
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Bitcoin whitepaper and history
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Bitcoin network architecture
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Transaction structure and UTXO model
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Mining process and difficulty adjustment
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Bitcoin scripting language
Introduction to Ethereum
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Ethereum basics and comparison with Bitcoin
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Account-based model vs. UTXO
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Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
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Gas and transaction fees
Decentralized Applications (DApps)
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DApp architecture and components
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Front-end integration with Web3
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IPFS for decentralized storage
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Ethereum Token Standards and DeFi
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ERC20, ERC721 (NFTs), and other token standards
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Introduction to Decentralized Finance (DeFi
Blockchain in Supply Chain and Healthcare
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Supply Chain Management with Blockchain
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Blockchain Applications in Healthcare
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Case Studies and Examples
Blockchain Project
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Form teams of 3-4 students
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Brainstorm project ideas and select a problem to solve
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Create a project proposal including:
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Problem statement
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Proposed blockchain solution
Activities
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Set up a basic blockchain using Python
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Implement simple cryptographic functions
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Simulate a basic consensus mechanism
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Set up a Bitcoin node and wallet
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Create and broadcast Bitcoin transactions
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Analyze the Bitcoin blockchain using block explorers
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Activities
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Set up an Ethereum development environment
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Create and deploy a simple Ethereum wallet
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Send and receive Ether transactions​​
Activities
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Build a simple DApp with HTML/JavaScript and Web3
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Integrate IPFS for decentralized file storage
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Implement a basic oracle service
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Create a DApp that interacts with smart contracts
Activities
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Create and deploy an ERC20 token
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Implement a basic NFT (ERC721) contract ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Activities
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Create a blockchain solution to track a product through the supply chain.
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Develop a blockchain-based application to manage patient records securely.
Activities
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Demo Project
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Topics
Book Your Spot
Mon, Wed, Fri - 6PM to 9PM
Starts Oct 2
2,000 British poundsLoading availability...
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What is a front-end developer?A front-end developer is a professional responsible for implementing visual and interactive elements that users engage with through their web browser. They work primarily with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build user-friendly websites and web applications.
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What are the key skills required for a front-end developer?Essential skills include proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, understanding of responsive design principles, knowledge of frameworks and libraries such as React.js, Angular, or Vue.js, and experience with version control systems like Git.
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How do HTML, CSS, and JavaScript work together?HTML provides the structure of the webpage, CSS controls the visual presentation and layout, and JavaScript enables interactivity and dynamic content manipulation. Together, they form the core technologies for front-end development.
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What is responsive design?Responsive design is an approach to web development that ensures web pages render well on various devices and window or screen sizes. It involves using flexible layouts, flexible images, and CSS media queries.
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Why are frameworks and libraries like React.js important?Frameworks and libraries help streamline the development process by providing pre-written code, tools, and best practices. They allow developers to build complex applications more efficiently and maintainable.
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What tools do front-end developers use?Common tools include code editors (e.g., Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text), version control systems (e.g., Git), browser developer tools, package managers (e.g., npm, Yarn), and build tools (e.g., Webpack, Gulp).
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What is the importance of version control in front-end development?Version control systems like Git allow developers to track and manage changes to the codebase, collaborate with team members, and revert to previous versions if needed, ensuring a more organized and efficient development process.
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How do front-end developers ensure website accessibility?Developers ensure accessibility by following best practices and guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This includes using semantic HTML, ensuring keyboard navigability, providing alternative text for images, and ensuring color contrast meets standards.
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What is a CSS preprocessor and why use it?A CSS preprocessor like Sass or Less extends CSS with variables, nesting, and functions, making the stylesheet code more maintainable and easier to write. It compiles into regular CSS that the browser can interpret.
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How do you optimize a website for performance?Performance optimization techniques include minimizing HTTP requests, compressing images, leveraging browser caching, using content delivery networks (CDNs), and optimizing JavaScript and CSS files by minifying and combining them.
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What is a single-page application (SPA)?A SPA is a web application that interacts with the user by dynamically rewriting the current page rather than loading entire new pages from a server. This provides a smoother, more fluid user experience. Popular frameworks for SPAs include React.js, Angular, and Vue.js.
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Can you explain the difference between CSS Grid and Flexbox?CSS Grid is a layout system designed for two-dimensional layouts, allowing developers to create complex, responsive grid-based layouts. Flexbox is a one-dimensional layout system aimed at distributing space along a single row or column, ideal for aligning items within a container.
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What is the role of a front-end developer in a development team?Front-end developers collaborate with designers, back-end developers, and other stakeholders to create user interfaces. They translate design mockups into code, implement interactive elements, ensure cross-browser compatibility, and optimize the user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr Shujaat is a seasoned Data Scientist and Blockchain expert with two decades of experience across research, industry, and academia. He is affiliated with the University of the West of Scotland as a researcher and also holds three industry-based patents.
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Shujaat is actively engaged in the paper industry, where he leverages data science and AI to enhance sales enablement, develops tamper-proof supply chain solutions using blockchain technology, and implements data cleaning and streamlining solutions to optimize business operations.
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Personal Achievements:
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Ph.D, Computer Science and Engineering
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Over 40 Publications
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Reviewer of over 20 IEEE/ACM international conferences and indexed journals
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Registered 3 international Patents (One Acquired by a multinational company)
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Research Interest:
Algorithm Design, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Systems, Data Science, Blockchain, Parallel and Distributed Systems, Knowledge Graphs
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