Web3 Masterclass for Academics: Teaching Web3
Web3 Innovation HUB
101179566 — W3IH — ERASMUS-EDU-2024-CBHE
Event Overview
The Web3 Masterclass for Academics: Teaching Web3 was a three-day intensive programme designed to strengthen university staff capacity to teach Web3. It combined current industry knowledge, practical classroom activities, curriculum-design methods and discussion of implementation challenges.
Hosted by the University of Split at the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences (MedILS), the Masterclass ran alongside the W3IH International Student Startup Competition, bringing teachers, students, mentors and industry representatives together in one setting.
Purpose and Theme
The Masterclass was designed to equip university staff with the knowledge, practical activities and curriculum-design methods needed to teach current Web3 concepts with confidence. It supported participants in translating industry developments into realistic learning outcomes, classroom exercises and assessments for their existing courses.
Its theme, Teaching Web3 Through Real-World Applications, focused on moving beyond cryptocurrency-only narratives. Participants explored how Web3 is applied across mainstream industries and how topics such as digital assets, verifiable credentials, AI × Web3, programmable money, governance and startup innovation can become meaningful academic learning experiences.
Programme
JULY 8 — Web3 Foundations and Career Pathways
The opening day established a contemporary baseline for teaching Web3, moving beyond crypto-only applications to wider digital infrastructure and the skills increasingly required by industry.
- Web3 in 2026: what academics need to teach
- Web3 beyond crypto: mainstream applications across industries
- Industry skills and career opportunities
- Verifiable credentials and micro-credentials in education
JULY 9 — Practical Teaching and Curriculum Design
Participants explored practical activities that can be adapted for introductory Web3 teaching, followed by workshops on integrating Web3 content into existing courses.
- Hands-on workshop: wallets, tokens and digital assets
- Classroom activities academics can replicate
- AI × Web3: building the AI economy
- Stablecoins, programmable money and digital finance
- Curriculum Design Workshops I & II
JULY 10 — Innovation Ecosystems and Next Steps
The final day connected Web3 education with startup and innovation ecosystems, and closed with a discussion of practical teaching constraints and opportunities for further exchange.
- Web3 startup ecosystems and innovation programmes
- Final discussion, Q&A and closing remarks
Impact and Highlights
- 17 participants received certificates, including 14 university staff from five partner universities.
- The target of 12 certified university staff was exceeded.
- 13 participants completed the evaluation questionnaire, a 76.5% response rate.
- 100% of respondents found the content relevant or highly relevant to their academic and curriculum-development work.
- Participants developed practical approaches for linking Web3 themes to learning outcomes, activities, assessment and implementation constraints.