SAIT Graduates are the Largest Canadian Class to Receive Blockchain-Based Diplomas
ODEM, the premier blockchain-based education marketplace, is joining with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, Canada to grant digital diplomas to more than 4,800 graduating students. SAIT’s Class of 2019 will receive the blockchain-based documents along with their traditional parchments.
The virtual diplomas will enable graduates to directly share their academic achievements with recruiters and potential employers around the world without requesting their paper or electronic records from SAIT. Blockchain technology features a decentralized digital ledger to cryptographically assure the security and authenticity of recipient-controlled credentials.
“Education is one of life’s most valuable assets,” said ODEM Chief Executive Officer 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 on the Ethereum blockchain to test the issuance of digital diplomas. The pilot included twenty five graduates from the Pre-Employment Automotive Service Technician program -- the first Canadian post-secondary graduates to receive their academic credentials on a blockchain. This month’s SAIT convocation marks the largest-ever graduating class at a Canadian higher-education institution to be issued blockchain-based diplomas.
“SAIT graduates are well-positioned for success with employers in today’s rapidly
changing digital landscape,” said Dr. David Ross, SAIT’s President and CEO. “By making valued SAIT credentials accessible through blockchain, our graduates and employers will continue to benefit from this innovative technology that’s responsive, authentic, and widely accessible.”
Blockchain technology extends a significant benefit to employers as well; the validity of academic credentials can be easily and efficiently verified. Background checks become instant confirmation of blockchain records, ensuring against fraudulent education claims.
"We're delighted to play a role in empowering SAIT graduates to own their education over a lifetime of learning," said ODEM’s Maaghul. "By working together, we've only just begun to explore how blockchain technology can make education more accessible, affordable, transferable, and verifiable."
About ODEM
ODEM (On-Demand Education Marketplace) is a platform for seeking and providing education and employment. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, it 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 that secures data records. Passionate about higher learning, ODEM is working to make education and employment more affordable, accessible, verifiable, and transferable.
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.
