Polkadot Blockchain Academy Adds Remote Option for Select Students

Since its inception in Cambridge, in the summer of 2022, all the way through waves 2, 3 and 4, in Buenos Aires, Berkeley and Hong Kong, one of the core tenets of the Polkadot Blockchain Academy has been in-person learning.

In order to maximize the benefits of classroom-based education - with all the additional add-ons like engagement, networking, and collaboration - PBA was imagined as an experience that would initially be best provided without a remote element.

Now, the stage is set to row back on this philosophy ever so slightly. The Academy has reached a level of maturity whereby we feel it’s right to allow access to a select number of students joining us for Wave 5 in Singapore from wherever they may be in the world.

So, from May 20th to June 20th, not all of our students will be on-campus in Singapore. Whilst we have closed applications for the in-person course and are sorting through those at present, we have now opened applications exclusively for students who prefer to join us remotely. But you must apply before April 5th!

Why have we decided to do this?

In order to continue to attract top developer talent at PBA, we feel it’s important to look at options to widen the net of applicants. Not everyone can easily travel to all of our locations. Some people may find the cost and logistics of travel difficult, for example. Others may have personal reasons for preferring to learn remotely.

By catering for some of these developers, we feel we’ll be even better positioned to maintain our standing as one of the leading blockchain courses in the world.

How will PBA Remote work?

Students will be able to attend lectures in real time, or close to real time. This way they can participate synchronously with students attending in person in Singapore, asking questions, receiving answers and generally participating in the course as though they are actually in Singapore.

Clearly, this means that if you are thinking of being a PBA Remote student and are in a time zone that is very different to Singapore’s, ideally you’ll need to make some temporary lifestyle adjustments.

We also recognize we need to make some adjustments too. To ensure smooth sailing, we are planning to set up an online synchronous chat channel monitored by a teaching assistant.

Is PBA Remote for me?

One thing we need to flag straight up front is that you will need to pass our Rust-based entrance exam as part of the admissions process. This is not a Rust or engineering course; this is a blockchain course, so we need people to be ready for this in advance.

Remember, the PBA Developers Track is a highly demanding and intense program - there are no concessions for being a remote student.

Many things stay exactly the same

Other than you being hundreds or thousands of miles away from the teachers and most of the other students, most aspects of PBA Remote will duplicate the in-person Developers Track.

That means you will get your education free of charge, and you will be expected to complete assignments alongside the onsite students. You will also enter the Alumni program once you graduate, with the aim of helping you to play your part in the Polkadot ecosystem.

All that remains is for us to encourage you to apply now if you see yourself as a strong candidate for the initial PBA Remote intake. Good luck!