Polkadot Blockchain Academy (PBA) is set to host its sixth advanced developer course in Lucerne, Switzerland, in March 2025, marking its return to Europe after two years. Partnering with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the course aims to equip developers with practical skills in Web3 technologies. The curriculum includes a Protocol course focusing on Polkadot's architecture and a Dapps course for decentralized application development. The program, funded by the Polkadot Treasury, covers fees and accommodation, making it accessible to a wider audience. Participants will undergo a rigorous selection process, including exams and interviews. The course will be facilitated by experts like Dr. Gavin Wood, focusing on real-world applications. Polkadot's development framework, Substrate, and initiatives like asynchronous backing and the Join-Accumulate Machine (JAM) are highlighted as key innovations. The academy aims to foster a community of developers ready to lead in the blockchain industry.

The Polkadot Blockchain Academy (PBA) will host the sixth edition of its advanced developer course in Lucerne, Switzerland. This edition will begin in March 2025 and mark the academy’s return to Europe after two years. PBA will collaborate with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and use this training to empower developers with practical skills and Web3 technologies.
Lucerne University: A Nexus of Innovation
The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is undoubtedly the perfect choice for the training, considering the institute’s commitment to applied research and innovation. Its newly established institute for blockchain research positions the University as an ideal partner for PBA. This institute offers the latest facilities and a conducive environment for aspiring blockchain developers.

The upcoming training in Lucerne is well-suited for all developers irrespective of what stage they are in their career. The curriculum is divided into the Protocol (on-chain) course and the newly introduced Dapps (off-chain) course. The Protocol course will focus on Polkadot's architecture and blockchain engineering, while the Dapps course will address the growing demand for decentralized application development.

Experts, including Dr. Gavin Wood, will facilitate the academy. They will focus on practical training, ensuring participants acquire skills they can apply to real-world scenarios. The inclusive program caters to blockchain developers across all ecosystems, including Web2 engineers transitioning into Web3.
Bridging the Gap in Blockchain Education
The PBA, funded by the Polkadot Treasury, covers course fees, accommodation, and half board for Cohort 6 participants, having recognized the financial barriers in blockchain education. This support significantly lowers the entry threshold, making the program accessible to a broader audience.

The rigorous selection process involves a blockchain fundamentals exam, a programming assignment, and an interview. Aspiring participants can utilize PBA-X, Polkadot's online school, to prepare and enhance their chances of acceptance. This approach ensures that the approximately 100 developers selected are technically proficient and motivated to contribute to the blockchain industry.
Decoding Polkadot’s Secret Sauce
Substrate is the core of Polkadot's development framework. This modular blockchain development toolkit allows developers to build customized blockchains efficiently. Substrate is developed with Rust, a systems programming language best known for its performance and security features. This enables developers to implement runtimes in any language that targets WebAssembly (Wasm), providing flexibility in blockchain development. 

Polkadot's architecture supports multiple implementations, allowing the use of various programming languages that can be interpreted or compiled into Wasm. This design fosters a diverse developer ecosystem, encouraging innovation across different programming paradigms. Polkadot continues to enhance its scalability and performance through initiatives like asynchronous backing, which optimizes the parachain consensus protocol. This will increase the network's throughput and lay the groundwork for future scaling optimizations. 

Furthering this vision, Dr. Gavin Wood recently proposed the Join-Accumulate Machine (JAM), a protocol that combines the best elements of both Polkadot and Ethereum. JAM aims to provide a scalable and secure environment for decentralized applications, representing a significant evolution in Polkadot's roadmap. 
Back in Europe for Live Learning
Polkadot Blockchain Academy's return to Europe, in partnership with the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, will make blockchain education accessible to developers willing to travel to the campus for close to three weeks of intensive training. By integrating advanced programming paradigms and scaling solutions, Polkadot continues to lead in blockchain innovation. The upcoming cohort provides technical knowledge and fosters a community of developers poised to drive the future of decentralized technologies.

The demand for skilled developers will only increase as the Web3 space matures. Polkadot Blockchain Academy plans to meet this demand and shape the space. By promoting learning and innovation, PBA ensures that the next generation of blockchain developers is well-equipped to solve the industry's most pressing challenges.  

PBA aims to generate ideas and create leaders who will define the future of blockchain technology. For developers ready to enter this transformative industry, the Polkadot Blockchain Academy represents an unparalleled opportunity.

Polkadot Blockchain Academy to Host Developer Course in Switzerland in 2025