Open Source University

A global platform for decentralized and tokenized education

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The best changes (or better, revolutions) involve rethinking what has stayed the same for years and years, and questioning what has been seen as unquestionable. Academia, for all the involved parts, is an area that has remained close to its roots and traditions ever since the first academic associations way back in History. But with the apparition of new technologies, the blockchain and a globalized, interconnected society, it is time to reinvent how we treat education in our lives.

I am glad to talk today about the newest, brilliant initiative of Open Source University, an online platform that integrates online education, the blockchain and tokenization as a spark that will definitely modernize Academia in the 21st century.

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What is OS University?

Before we start talking about this platform, let's check how Open Source University defines itself:

Open Source University shall be a distributed education and certification platform, operating on the public Ethereum blockchain.

OS University is, then, the next logical step and a first approach into integrating the blockchain with one of the most important aspects of our everyday life: education. It aims to connect three different groups or networks directly through the blockchain:

1. Businesses
2. Learners
3. Academia

OS University won't use traditional currency to organize itself. Instead, it will work with a blockchain-based token system: the EDU tokes, as well as Ether. All courses will be paid with these tokens, and these will be used for professors and businesses alike. (Note that the initial coin offering (ICO) is on November 20th).

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The platform

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OS University will integrate all its services through the blockchain. The objective with this is to eliminate the need for a "middleman": as a self-regulating body, each user will be able to find the professors or businesses that appeal more to their needs and tastes, with "sophisticated matching algorithms". No more having to deal with massive online course hosting companies and their interests, and no more having to rely on third parties to find courses or professors. This will improve transparency and accuracy for all involved parties.

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Smart contracts

Thanks to its base on the Ethereum blockchain, Open Source University will let you minimize the effort needed to find courses, professors and academic opportunities online: you will be able to match businesses with your academic needs, or job opportunites with your qualifications, and everything will hover over a system of reputation and tokens, to give more credibility to each user and business.

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In short: an overview of the features

There is a whole lot of information that can be said about Open Source University. But we can shorten up with the following list of concrete features and ideas of the platform:

• It will delete the need for third parties, storing and distributing certificates through the blockchain.
• It will become an independent, transparent, global and decentralized marketplace for Academia.
• It will include sophisticated matching algorithms using smart contracts, for businesses and learners alike.
• Every transaction though OS University will be subject to low fees, minimizing the cost of education.

Improving education, one opportunity at a time

Open Source University is an innovative, smart and secure platform that will allow education to become global and decentralized, reaching out to small countries and people with low resources or income, taking in consideration the opinions of the whole community. I am confident it will bring every user a vast range of professional and academic opportunities and serve as the start of the future of Academia.

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This post is an entry into @OriginalWorks most recent contest, sponsored by Open Source University. Read more about it here!
https://steemit.com/cryptocurrency/@originalworks/150-sbd-sponsored-writing-contest-open-source-university
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