Blockchain and European Higher Education Systems A snapshot on the diffusion process of Blockchain In-novation into European Academia Comparative study of Blockchain in Higher Education Systems of Estonia, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain

Abstract

The task of this study is the comparative analysis of the diffusion process of Blockchain into the national higher education systems as well as analysis of best-practice examples. It is part of the EU Erasmus+ project BlockWASTE, which has as its overall objective to promote the application of Blockchain in municipal waste management through the development of targeted university curricula and study plans on the Circular Economy and Blockchain, training manuals and other educational tools. With this goal in mind, the first question to be answered is where there is a need for Blockchain. This again translates into questions like What is the status quo of the diffusion of Blockchain innovation in university education and research in the participating partner countries of the BlockWASTE project? What are the main drivers and reasons behind the fact that the diffusion process for the integration of Blockchain innovation in science and teaching is faster in some countries and slower in other countries despite good framework conditions? But the present study is not only intended to be a snapshot of the diffusion process of innovation in higher education of different European countries. A major focus of the study is to learn from best practice examples of university education in Blockchain. In the framework of the BlockWASTE project, this im-plies analyzing the innovation downstream and universities’ own development of curricular and educational material and tools.