Solana-Focused 3-Unit Course Now on its 2nd Sem in UP Diliman

The BLOKC and Superteam Philippines relaunched the Solana Fellows Development Program at the University of the Philippines Diliman, offering a university-accredited course in web3 development focused on the Solana blockchain.

What’s the significance: A Solana-focused program is set to equip students from the country’s top university with the skills and industry connections needed to thrive in the rapidly growing web3 space. (Read more: [Open to Pinoys] List of Current Active Solana Hackathons)

Photo for the Article - Solana-Focused 3-Unit Course Now on its 2nd Sem in UP Diliman

Key details:

The program will offer a course titled, “Fundamentals of Web3 Development (Solana).”
It is available as a course elective for the second semester of academic year 2024 to 2025.
Duration: The program will run for eight weeks and is credited as a three-unit course at the UP Diliman Department of Computer Science.
Who Can Enroll? It is exclusively available to UP Diliman students but also welcomes sit-ins for collaboration on blockchain projects.
Involved Personalities:
- Instructor: Renzo Cabarios, The BLOKC Mentor
  - He is also a Full-Stack Software and Blockchain Developer.
- Program Manager: Nickjohn Ibuyat, The BLOKC Mentor
  - He is also a Business Analyst at the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI).
- Academic Support: Dr. Adrian Roy Valdez, Associate Professor of Department of Computer Science
  - He is also the Director of the Center of Blockchain Research and Applications (COBRA).
  - He obtained his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from UP Diliman.
Experience: The course promises to offer hands-on experience in Solana blockchain development and entrepreneurial skills with industry-supported topics.
Output: Students who will enroll in the course are set to develop and deploy their own projects on the Solana blockchain, with opportunities to present their work at events like the Solana Radar Hackathon.

Key Quote:

“The Department has been offering courses like web3 development with the help of industry partners, as these collaborations provide the practical and industry-relevant perspectives that aren’t always present in the traditional academic setting. With each semester, we’re witnessing the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the hands of our students. The Solana Fellows Development Program is more than just an elective; it’s a gateway for future innovators to bring their visions to life and make a real impact in the decentralized world.”
Dr. Adrian Valdez, Director of Center of Blockchain Research and Applications, UP Diliman

Other Statements

Emerson Fonseca, The BLOKC CEO: “Through this partnership with UP Diliman, we aim to inspire other universities to integrate a 3-unit accredited program into their curricula, fostering innovation in blockchain development across institutions.”
- In a Facebook Post, he further shared: “We have been bringing the Blockchain Education in the Academe since 2017. Not too late for Solana and other protocols to be part of our current tech education in the Philippines. Expect more Universities and Colleges to onboard Solana programs.”
Renzo Cabarios, Solana Fellows Development Program Instructor: “I think the future is looking bright.”
Nickjohn Ibuyat, Solana Fellows Development Program Manager: “We aim to equip students with both the technical skills and the entrepreneurial mindset needed to thrive in the blockchain space.”
Eli Becislao, Superteam Philippines Country Lead: “And this is a 3-unit University Accredited Program offered by the University of the Philippines. Not the first, but the most consistent. Now on it’s second semester.”

Prior Program Success: Last semester, the program produced five blockchain projects with MVPs deployed on the test network.

Between the lines: The initiative highlights the increasing importance of practical, industry-focused education in emerging fields like blockchain technology, which can significantly impact students’ career prospects and the broader tech landscape.

Worth reading: While these enrich the students academically, these Solana Hackathons allow them to apply what they learn.