Partnering with ODEM allows graduates to validate their education on the Ethereum blockchain

Zug, Switzerland (June 11, 2019) — ODEM, the premier blockchain-based education marketplace, has partnered with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) to bring digital certificates and diplomas to over 4800 graduating students. The 2019 graduates will receive a cryptographic record of their certificate on the Ethereum blockchain, along with their traditional parchment.

ODEM’s platform leverages blockchain technology to ensure the security and immutability of academic records. “Education is one of life’s most valuable assets,” said ODEM CEO Richard Maaghul. “We believe that students should have control over their own records, and blockchain technology makes that possible.”

The partnership with SAIT began as a successful pilot project in December to text the issuance of digital credentials. The pilot included 25 grads from the Pre-Employment Automotive Service Technician program — the first Canada post-secondary graduates to receive their academic credentials on a blockchain. The June convocation marks the largest ever number of graduates that a Canadian institution has recorded certificates for on the blockchain.

The Ethereum blockchain provides students with a central record of their academic experiences and certifications, granting digital ownership of their achievement. It also makes it easy for students to transfer or share their diploma and instantly verify their graduate status with future employers and recruiters. Most importantly, blockchain technology creates a unique, tamper-proof record of the diploma that only the student has authority over.

“SAIT graduates are well-positioned for success with employers in today’s rapidly
changing digital landscape,” said SAIT Exec. “By making valued SAIT credentials accessible through blockchain, our graduates and employers will continue to benefit from this innovative technology that is responsive, authentic and widely accessible.”

The technology extends a significant benefit to employers as well; the validity of academic credentials can be easily and efficiently verified. Background checks become an instant confirmation of on-chain records and ensuring against fraudulent education claims.

“We’re thrilled to partner with SAIT to bring this technology to students,” Maaghul explained. “Education should last forever, and blockchain technology helps to make that possible.”

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About ODEM

ODEM (On-Demand Education Marketplace) is a platform for seeking and providing education and employment. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the Platform offers a variety of courses and the opportunity to earn credentials, showcase skills, and connect with employers. The Ethereum blockchain is a distributed, public network and ledger that secures data records, securing and validating records of academic achievement. Passionate about effective higher learning, ODEM is working to make education and employment more affordable, accessible, verifiable, and transferable. https://odem.io/

ODEM contact

Ashley Chen,
Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

About SAIT

Established in 1916, SAIT was the first publicly funded technical school of its kind in North America. Today, SAIT is a global leader in applied education, serving 50,000 students annually through more than 100 career programs and 1,300 part-time courses. Action-based learning, solution-focused research and enterprising collaborations with industry partners ensure SAIT students are career-ready when they graduate. SAIT is honoured to be selected by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2019. Sait.ca

SAIT contact

Chris Gerritsen
Associate Director of Communications
Direct: 403.284.8473 / Cell: 403.975.6366
[email protected]

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In a new program unveiled today, ODEM, creator of the On-Demand Education Marketplace, is partnering with the School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR), a member of The University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland (HES-SO), to offer a class including blockchain-based academic certificates with ECTS (European Credits Transfer System) credits.

The entrepreneurship & innovation and digital finance course will follow a four-week program with two modules. The first module covers entrepreneurship and innovation across cultures. Students will get the chance to explore the Swiss entrepreneurial ecosystem and discover the conceptual framework to undertake entrepreneurial activities in an international environment. The second module covers digital finance and fintech for the entrepreneur where students will learn about the basic concepts and models of modern financial theories.

There is also a cultural and networking aspect of the program, which enables students to fully experience a new culture. It includes trips, networking events, and the chance to sample Swiss fondue.

“The summer program has always been very well-received by our students since we first introduced it seven years ago. Through this partnership, we are now offering everyone this chance to learn more about entrepreneurship and innovation in a very practical approach. The class is a great opportunity for personal development, professionally and interculturally, and will give the participants a competitive edge in an increasingly tough marketplace.” said Prof. Rico J. Baldegger, Ph.D., Director, and Professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, School of Management Fribourg.

Blockchain technology empowers students to show that they have specific knowledge and skills to employers and recruiters around the world without the hassle of requesting their records from their higher education institution. Plus, the inclusion of ECTS credits in this program means that students can transfer them to their higher education institution, which will go towards their final degree.
Also, ODEM’s OSP (Occupations, Skills Profiling) data framework will tie the program curriculum to specific skills in association with the ESCO (European Skills, Competencies, Qualifications, and Occupations) framework. This means that students will be able to acquire real skills associated with the curriculum taught in these programs and have even broader access and visibility in the European employment marketplace.

“We want to reframe education so we can break down the barriers between education and employment. By offering a program that is blockchain verified and that offers ECTS credits means that we are one step closer to our goal,” said Richard Maaghul, ODEM CEO.

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The course starts on July 1st and will run until July 26th. Please see the course information for more details. The enrollment deadline is 6th June 2019 for modules 1 and 2, and 15th June for module 2 only.

Media Contacts

ODEM

Ashley Chen,
Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR)

Priscillea Stettler-Lengkong
Project Manager, International Office
[email protected]
Chemin du Musée 4
1700 Fribourg, Switzerland

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It seems like barely a week goes by without a headline warning about the risk of unbridled development of robots and AI.

Are Robots Coming for Your Job? The New Yorker

At ODEM, we believe mankind must strike a balance between exploiting the benefits of AI and avoiding the most-negative consequences of aggressive development of thinking machines. 

Elon Musk and others (including the late Stephen Hawking) have spoken out about the dangers of rapidly advancing AI research as we move toward singularity — the point where machines overtake us on the intelligence scale.

Last year’s 50th anniversary of the release of 2001: A Space Odyssey probably did little to ease Musk’s concerns. Remember HAL, the film’s terrifyingly polite, lipreading computer that decides that the crew on a mission to Jupiter is incompetent?

“Dave,” HAL says to one of the astronauts. “This conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.”

Musk, the founder of SpaceX and co-founder of electric-car maker Tesla, has said that extreme development of AI is more dangerous than the threat of nuclear war. He has repeatedly called for AI research to be regulated. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg last year dismissed Musk’s doomsday comments as “pretty irresponsible.”

Still, at ODEM we’re excited about putting AI to work. We’re moving ahead to use blockchain technology and AI to improve the quality of interactions between students and educators toward making higher-quality education more accessible and affordable.

ODEM will use smart contracts, a blockchain-based category of AI, to streamline and automate the laborious process of organizing and delivering international academic programs.

We believe that AI also has a role to play in guiding students in their choice of academic courses and soft skills to protect them from the danger of being displaced in the workforce by the application of AI.

“In times of change, learners inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists,” said the late Eric Hoffer, an American philosopher.

History shows us that technological advances tend to create more jobs than they eliminate over the longer-term, some job categories will be more vulnerable to disruption than others.

In Thinking Machines: The Quest for Artificial Intelligence and Where It’s Taking Us Next, the author Luke Dormehl says society must do better at educating up-and-coming generations of workers.

“Currently, education is stuck in the same Industrial Revolution paradigm it has been in for more than 100 years,” he writes.

Dormehl believes that formal education is too focused on standardized training that doesn’t adequately prepare students for a working life in fast-changing industries.

“In today’s world, learned skills routinely become obsolete within the decade they’re learned — meaning that continual learning and assessment are needed throughout people’s lives,” Dormehl writes.

ODEM is empowering students to actively own their training and education. Our Platform provides tools for students to proactively search globally and to register for relevant courses to ensure they stay ahead in the evolving marketplace of skills.

ODEM is actively harnessing the power of blockchain technology, untapped market forces, and the process of higher learning to help ensure that for millions of people around the best is, indeed, yet to come.

Rich Maaghul,
CEO
ODEM

Join the conversation on Telegram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

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The first multi-day blockchain conference in Egypt explored the world of blockchain technology, digital currencies, and their potential to transform education. A highlight of the invitation-only event was a comprehensive demonstration of the ODEM Platform a global education marketplace.

“It was a great honor to showcase the ODEM Platform and blockchain technology at the American University in Cairo,” said ODEM CEO Richard Maaghul. “We look forward to a continuing dialogue around blockchain and higher education with AUC and its students.”

Built on the Ethereum blockchain, the ODEM Platform streamlines the organization and delivery of academic courses and certifications. The Platform, officially launched on Feb. 28 at the #SWITCH! Educators Forum in Vilnius, Lithuania, empowers students to customize their education through interaction with educators and employers.

The two-day ODEM – AUC conference in Cairo included a discussion panel on the subject of blockchain fundamentals chaired by ODEM Co-founder and Chief Integrator Johanna Maaghul. The gathering also featured a “codathon” led by ODEM Blockchain Architect Lee Smith and a demonstration of ODEM’s academic certification services by ODEM’s Chief Technology Mentor Dr. Adel ElMessiry.

“This interaction between scientists from different areas of the world will help to increase awareness of blockchain technology in Egypt, where it’s still in its infancy,” Ahmed Rafea, an AUC Professor of Computer Science, said. “This summit will really push blockchain forward to be applied in different domains.”

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AUC was founded in 1919 and is a major contributor to the social, political, and cultural life of the Arab Region. An independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian, and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.

Media Contacts

ODEM

Ashley Chen,
Sr Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

AUC Media Contact

Rehab Saad ElDomiati
Director of Media Relations
[email protected]
Tel: +2010 68815048

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ODEM Announces Early Access Launch of its Decentralized Education and Employment Marketplace.

VILNIUS, Lithuania, and ZUG, Switzerland – Feb. 28, 2019 – ODEM announces today its first public access to the ODEM Platform, its blockchain-based education and employment marketplace.

ODEM is offering early onboarding for students and educators with functionality to create and offer educational programs on the Platform. The education portal uses blockchain technology to streamline the organization and delivery of education programs and award blockchain-based digital certificates upon completion.

“We’re very excited to show the world how ODEM is making education and employment more accessible, affordable, transferable, and verifiable,” CEO Richard Maaghul said today. “To begin with, students will be able to ‘stake’ and enroll in trending education programs initially using a credit or debit card.”

In this first early release, ODEM is showcasing a unique feature of blockchain and smart contracts called “staking.” This model of staking allows ODEM educators to test demand for specific educational programs by staking a percentage of the overall program’s value to reserve network space and offer the program to students leveraging blockchain-based smart contracts.

In turn, students stake a small deposit on the Platform to commit to a program. Once minimum viable participation is reached, the program is made live and final payments are requested from students to run a program through to completion and issue student certificates through ODEM on the Ethereum blockchain and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS).

For student registration on the Platform, click here. To register as an educator, click here.

ODEM’s technology is built on a combination of proprietary cloud-based and blockchain technologies. The company is excited to see its ERC-20 Ethereum token adopted as one of the first Ethereum applications to conduct business on the blockchain.

During initial early access, participants can make and receive payments by using a credit or debit card through Stripe, our fiat based payment gateway. We will not yet be offering remittance directly via the ODEM Token (ODEM-T). We will, however, be using this phase of development to stake ODEM-T privately on behalf of participants to process commitments, program and certification fees through the ODEM smart contracts and jointly through our payment gateway via credit or debit cards. ODEM will 1) rigorously test end-to-end its utility token, ODEM-T, as fuel for ODEM’s smart contracts on the Ethereum Mainnet and 2) ensure all contracts perform correctly, are secure, and can handle transaction volumes.

ODEM is committed to ensuring all participants experience a safe, secure, and efficient token remittance process upon completion of successful testing and the meeting of all requirements of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

ODEM officially launched its version of the ODEM Platform today at the #SWITCH! Educators Forum in Vilnius, Lithuania, pledging to use blockchain technology to transform education and employment. ODEM CEO Maaghul and Chief Technology Mentor Dr. Adel ElMessiry unveiled the blockchain-based marketplace before thousands of dedicated European educators, administrators, and students to show appreciation to educators worldwide for their efforts to lift up and inspire students everywhere.

The Platform:

• Inspires students to become lifelong users and create sustainable employment opportunities.
• Empowers educators using the education marketplace to become more impactful.
• Allows employers to more effectively and efficiently fill trending employment needs.
• Enables universities to better serve their students through blockchain technology.

ODEM is already unleashing the power of blockchain in education, through:

• Issuing blockchain-based academic certificates to students at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
• Integrating the European-wide ESCO skills and occupation framework to match job seekers with employment opportunities.
• Activation of its live, global education marketplace.

In addition to today’s launch, ODEM will showcase the Platform at an invitation-only two-day conference on March 4-5 at the American University in Cairo.

Join the ODEM conversation on Telegram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

For additional resources: Super Nova, Feb. 28, 2019 release notes; educator and student incentives; ODEM Help; and FAQs.

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Media Contact

ODEM Contact:

Katherine Banks,
Sr Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel: +1 (657) 254-7526

Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

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Committed to making education more accessible, affordable, transferable, and verifiable through blockchain technology, ODEM will showcase the ODEM Platform at exhibit booth D62 at the Feb. 26-28 event in Dubai.

“GESS Dubai is one of the most-important Middle East education conferences of year,” ODEM’s Maaghul said. “We’re looking forward to showing how our Platform and blockchain technology will transform education.”

In addition to CEO Maaghul, the ODEM delegation includes Chief Technology Mentor Dr. Adel ElMessiry, Business Development Head Ken Finch, Director of MEA Marketing Wael Hossny and Blockchain Solutions Manager Ashley Chen.

ODEM is developing the ODEM Platform on the Ethereum blockchain to streamline the organization and delivery of academic courses and certifications. The Platform empowers students to customize their education through interaction with educators and employers.

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Media Contact

ODEM Contact:

Katherine Banks,
Sr Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel: +1 (657) 254-7526

Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

Join The ODEM.IO Conversation on Telegram.
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ODEM was named in a Crypto Valley survey conducted by investment company CV VC AG, in collaboration with PwC Strategy, and IT provider inacta AG. As of the fourth quarter of 2018, ODEM had a crypto-market capitalization of US $41.6 million. Today, ODEM is worth about $50 million, according to CoinMarketCap. ODEM was among 15 ventures that entered the CV Top 50 in the latest survey.

“ODEM’s inclusion in the Top 50 is a testament to the value we’re creating at ODEM and the hard work of our team,” said ODEM Chief Executive Officer Richard Maaghul. “It’s also an endorsement of the fertile regulatory environment in Switzerland and Liechtenstein that encourages companies like ODEM to prosper.”

ODEM is among about 750 blockchain-related companies identified by CV VC in Switzerland and neighboring Liechtenstein. The average market value of the CV Top 50 was $400 million in the fourth quarter. Members of the entire group of blockchain ventures had an average valuation of $27 million, the survey showed.

ODEM is developing the ODEM Platform on the Ethereum blockchain to streamline the organization and delivery of academic courses and certifications. The Platform empowers students to customize their education through interaction with educators and employers. ODEM plans to roll out the Platform in the first quarter of 2019.

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Media Contact

ODEM Contact:

Katherine Banks,
Sr Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel: +1 (657) 254-7526

Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

Join The ODEM.IO Conversation on Telegram.
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Under the partnership, the technology companies will work to establish ODEM as a blockchain-services provider for ITWORX Education’s learning products, said ODEM CEO Richard Maaghul. The precise scope and breadth of the partnership will be determined during the next few months..

“I’m delighted to work in a collaborative relationship with ITWORX Education to explore the potential of blockchain technology,” said Maaghul. “There’s no limit to what we can achieve within ODEM’s mission to make education more accessible, affordable, transferable, and verifiable.”

ODEM is developing its ODEM Platform on the Ethereum Blockchain to address significant challenges facing students and educators around the world. The Platform specifically empowers students to customize their education through interaction with educators. Its official rollout is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019.

“At ITWORX Education we value partners as if they were our own company and we are truly excited about our upcoming partnership with ODEM,” said ITWORX Education CEO Erik Goldenberg. “While we are still discussing the outlines of the collaboration between ITWORX Education and ODEM, we are keen to incorporate blockchain technologies into our offerings, products and services to benefit our users and enable better learning experiences for academic, business and governments in the region, generating economic and social value for individuals, organizations and all up national levels.”

ITWORX Education is on a journey to disrupt traditional learning around the world through the power of technological innovation. In line with its mission to transform the learning and education industry by making learning more accessible to those who seek it, ITWORX Education supports lifelong learning through innovative solutions at the core of the industry’s value chain, driving learning outcomes and offering a digitally transformed experience to all citizens of the world.

With more than fourteen years of expertise in education-and-learning solutions, ITWORX Education has specialized in innovating solutions that can scale from nation-wide implementations deep down to class level; with deployment success stories in over 1,400 schools. Applying its experience, the company enables education authorities, private and public schools, academies, and colleges to achieve their learning visions effectively and efficiently through technology.

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Media Contact

ODEM Contact:

Katherine Banks,
Sr Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel: +1 (657) 254-7526

Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

Join The ODEM.IO Conversation on Telegram.
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ITWORX Contact:

Marwa Gad El-Hak
Worldwide Marketing Manager
[email protected]
Tel: +2-01200201172
Nasr City, Free Zone, Area 7B, Block J
Cairo, Egypt

http://itworx.education/
https://www.facebook.com/ITWorxEducation
https://www.linkedin.com/company/itworx-education/

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Blockchain Centre Vilnius is a dominant force in educating the next generation of blockchain entrepreneurs. ODEM, a sponsor of the Centre, is delighted to be a part of the first-anniversary celebration and looks forward to many more in the future.

“The Blockchain Centre has quickly established itself as a leading catalyst in the adoption of blockchain technology for the benefit of humanity,” says ODEM CEO Richard Maaghul. “We’re pleased to share in the Centre’s success and wish for its board, executives, and staff much more success in the future.”

Blockchain Centre Vilnius, established in January 2018, welcomes blockchain entrepreneurs, developers, investors, and regulators to share ideas, know-how, and best practices. The Centre is designed to be a hub for technical, legal, and financial advisory services, with a particular focus on helping blockchain startups achieve their business goals.

“Here in Lithuania, we’re pulling out the stops to bring the world’s top blockchain talent, ideas, investors, and regulators together to create value for both the private and public sectors,” said Antanas Guoga, Founder of the Blockchain Centre Vilnius and a Member of the European Parliament.”

ODEM is developing the ODEM Platform on the Ethereum blockchain to make higher education more accessible, affordable, transferable, and verifiable. The Platform is designed to empower students to customize their education through interaction with educators. Its official rollout is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019.

ODEM is also deploying blockchain technology for the creation and storage of academic certificates. In December 2018, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary partnered with ODEM to become the first post-secondary institution in Canada to issue blockchain-based certificates to a graduating class. For more information, please click here.

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Media Contact

ODEM Contact:

Katherine Banks,
Sr Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel: +1 (657) 254-7526

Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

Join The ODEM.IO Conversation on Telegram.
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Blockchain Centre Vilnius Contact:

Ruslanas Iržikevičius
Media and Communications Consultant
[email protected]
Tel: +37061431215

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ODEM and Blockchain Centre Vilnius jointly recognize the importance of education in advancing the use of blockchain-based solutions in the areas of trade, finance, public administration, and higher learning. ODEM is delighted to assist the Centre, which is acting in partnership with Blockchain Centres in Melbourne and Shanghai to spur the growth of early stage blockchain projects by training specialists in the technology.

“We applaud the Blockchain Centre’s guiding role in incubating worthy blockchain startups and linking like-minded entrepreneurs across Europe and around the world,” says ODEM CEO Richard Maaghul. “We also recognize the vision and foresight of Blockchain Vilnius Founder Antonas Guoga.”

Blockchain Centre Vilnius, established in January 2018, welcomes blockchain entrepreneurs, developers, investors, and regulators to share ideas, know-how, and best practices. The Centre is designed to be a hub for technical, legal, and financial advisory services, with a particular focus on helping blockchain startups achieve their business goals.

“We’re convinced that our new partner, ODEM, will play an essential part in finding innovative methods for educating creative blockchain specialists,” said Eglė Nemiekštytė, CEO of the Blockchain Centre Vilnius. “Our partnership will assist those who are eager to learn and those who are looking for such talents.”

ODEM is developing the ODEM Platform on the Ethereum Blockchain to make higher education more accessible, affordable, transferable, and verifiable. The Platform is designed to empower students to customize their education through interaction with educators. Its official rollout is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019.

ODEM is also deploying blockchain technology for the creation and storage of academic certificates. Last month, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary partnered with ODEM to become the first post-secondary institution in Canada to issue blockchain-based certificates to a graduating class. For more information, please click here.

Media Contact

ODEM Contact:

Katherine Banks,
Sr Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel: +1 (657) 254-7526

Bahnhofstrasse 10
6300 Zug, Switzerland

Join The ODEM.IO Conversation on Telegram.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/odem-io/
https://www.facebook.com/odemio/
https://twitter.com/ODEM_IO

Blockchain Centre Vilnius Contact:

Ruslanas Iržikevičius
Media and Communications Consultant
[email protected]
Tel: +37061431215

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