The document discusses the integration of blockchain technology in education and research, emphasizing its potential for improving efficiency, transparency, and social value. It highlights various applications of blockchain, including credentialing, tracking academic progress, and supporting scientific research by ensuring data provenance. Additionally, it presents the vision of empowering students and educators to take charge of their learning experiences and emphasizes the importance of open-source innovation in achieving systemic change in higher education.

1. HRISTIAN DASKALOV
DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL STUDENT HOUSE
CO-FOUNDER OF THE CENTER FOR SHARED
SCIENCE AND BUSINESS – TU SOFIA
OPEN SOURCE UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH PROJECT LEAD
Young Scientists’ Cathedra
New Bulgarian University, April 6th 2019

2. LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

3. SOCIALIZING AND
CIVIL ENGAGEMENT

4. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

5. OPEN KNOWLEDGE

6. ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY IN
HIGHER EDUCATION & RESEARCH,
BASED ON THE APPLICATION OF
OPEN SOURCE INNOVATION FOR
SYSTEMIC CHANGE

7. Popular Open Source / Content ProjectsTypical Governance Model for an Open Source Project

9. Photo credits: Learning Machine
“We envision a world in which the
awarding and validation of
qualifications no longer occur
exclusively under the management
of an education institution or an
employer and individual students,
teachers, and peers take more
ownership of the learning
experience and its outcomes (...)"
Prof. John Domingue,
Director of Open University’s
Knowledge Media Institute
A SYSTEMIC CHANGE AHEAD

10. BLOCKCHAIN IN EDUCATION EXPLAINED (1)
• The blockchain is a distributed database that provides an
unalterable, (semi-)public record of digital transactions.
• Each block aggregates a timestamped batch of transactions
to be included in the ledger – or rather, in the blockchain.
• Each block is identified by a cryptographic signature.
• These blocks are all back-linked; that is, they refer to the
signature of the previous block in the chain, and that chain
can be traced all the way back to the very first block created.
• As such, the blockchain contains an un-editable record of all
the transactions made.
Source: http://hackeducation.com/2016/04/07/blockchain-education-guide

11. BLOCKCHAIN IN EDUCATION EXPLAINED (2)
• Is Jessica really a medical doctor? Should I let her perform
brain surgery on me?
• Jessica wants to transfer course to another university and take
her academic credit with her.
• Jessica doesn’t want to follow a university curriculum, but
rather follow a distributed one, recommended by an employer.
• Jessica has been doing a work placement and her employer
has some feedback to add.
• Jessica has lost her A Level / degree certificates…
Based on Jisc ''Blockchain in research and education'' - UKSG webinar - September 2017

12. BLOCKCHAIN IN EDUCATION EXPLAINED (3)
• “Blockchain provides a new way for universities to engage with
technology to reduce cost, improve speed and transparency
and integrate social value” - Nick Petford, University of
Northampton VC & CEO
• Jessica’s student loan is automatically approved and tuition
fees paid on confirmation of her place.
• Jessica’s institution tracks provenance of goods and services,
e.g. https://www.provenance.org.
• Jessica’s library fine is automatically deducted from her EDU
tokens’ account.
Based on Jisc ''Blockchain in research and education'' - UKSG webinar - September 2017

13. 13
• Recognized in the “Outstanding
Projects with Social Value” category
of the 2018 Presidential Awards for
research & development excellence
in the field of information
technology.
• Runner-up for the 2018 “Most
innovative Use of Blockchain for
Social Good” Award as part of ''The
Blocks" awards of the European
Blockchain Expo in Amsterdam.
• Part of the 5th cohort of the London-
based edtech incubator
"EDUCATE“, run by UCL - university
number one globally in the subject
of education, together with BESA
(British Educational Suppliers
Association) & NESTA.
OSU BLOCKCHAIN-BASED CREDENTIALLING MODEL KEY MILESTONES ACHIEVED THUS FAR

14. Download: https://bit.ly/2FDUArS

16. BLOCKCHAIN IN SCIENCE
Research provenance and reproducibility
• Blockchain could “reduce overhead and accelerate the scientific
process”, according to http://www.blockchainforscience.com/
• Where is the code and data linked to Jessica’s paper? (maybe stored on
IPFS?)
• Who has cited Jessica’s paper / code / data?
• Who has re-used Jessica code and data?
• What grants has Jessica brought in?
• What collaborators and what equipment has Jessica been working with?
• Has Jessica published in enough prestigious journals to get a bonus /
tenure?
Based on Jisc ''Blockchain in research and education'' - UKSG webinar - September 2017

17. Intellectual
Property
Protection
ACADEMIC PUBLISHING
FOR AN INTEGRAL SOCIETY
SDG - focused
multidisciplinary
merit-based governance
Interconnected
Interdependent
Rewards & Incentives for
a Sustainable Community

18. THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS’
CATHEDRA JOURNAL
Resumes &
Reports
Scientific
Announcements
Knowledge
Sharing
Inventions and
Innovations
Different, with purpose - at the cross-section of
scientific and professional publishing

19. THANK YOU!
DASKALOV.HR@GMAIL.COM