As interest in the financial technology is growing, US business schools are keen to offer training in the software that underlies digital currency Bitcoin (TIKER: BTC.EXANTE). In January, the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley will offer its first ever course in blockchain software, Agence France-Presse reported.
The Haas School 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."We believe it will have the biggest impact on contracting, logistics and supply chains, healthcare, public administration, assets clearing, property, transactions," he said.
Barbara Hewitt, senior associate director in the career services office at the University of Pennsylvania, home to the Wharton School, also noted the rising interest in new skills and technology.
"I increasingly see students opting to explore technical minors, such as in computer science, to be well prepared for the growing use of technology in many fields," she told AFP.
However, although exposure to fintech has become more important to hireability, traditional skills such as accounting, mathematics and understanding of economics remain the top criteria for recruiters, the schools say.