Blockchain-Based Education Platform Offered to Schools Struck by Coronavirus

Blockchain-based education technology provider Odem has announced it will provide its platform to schools and universities that were disrupted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a press release published on March 9, Odem states it is offering its “online integrated learning platform and certification management system free for use to schools and educators to continue educating students until it is safe to return to campus.”

Odem freely offers platform to schools disrupted by coronavirus

In an interview with Cointelegraph, CEO and co-founder of Odem Richard Maaghul stated that the coronavirus “is a big concern for us and we want to make sure that we do everything possible to assist in keeping the education doors open, even if it has to be virtual.” 

“We are able to track students' activity working remotely so that when students go back to school, the institutions are able to track what they've accomplished and register that on the blockchain and even bring it back into their traditional accreditation systems,” Odem co-founder and COO Johanna Maaghul adds.

U.S. university to upload 500 courses on Odem blockchain

Maaghul describes Odem as “an on-demand education marketplace that allows students, educators, employers, and institutions of higher learning come together and be able to access [and] request education, education verification, and credentialing of their academic records and skills that come along with it.” He adds that Odem’s records can also be used to connect potential employers with candidates.

The Odem co-founders state that they have received interest from Italy, Ireland, Germany and Cairo, adding that a United States-based university is exploring uploading numerous courses onto the Odem blockchain in response to the coronavirus threat.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Michael Mathews, the vice president of technology and innovation at Oral Roberts University, stated that the institution has “used numerous blockchain vendors for testing and validating purposes.” Mathews added that the university used Odem based on its ease of integration with existing learning systems. 

Blockchain technologies deployed to fight coronavirus

By mid-February, Chinese media outlet Xinhua estimated that China’s central government had deployed blockchain technologies for at least 20 applications related to its response to the coronavirus.

Major Chinese payments platform Alipay partnered with the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission and the Economy and Information Technology Department to launch a blockchain-based platform. The system would enable charity organizations to collaborate with greater efficiency and transparency by tracking the allocation of relief supplies and medical supplies.

In Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, blockchain has also been used to facilitate patient consultations and screening, and to manage health records.