The document discusses the need for a blockchain-based system in higher education to mitigate issues of credential fraud and reduce the resources spent on validating transcripts. It outlines a process where higher education institutions create and encrypt transcripts, students manage their private keys, and employers verify transcripts easily through a public ledger. Potential benefits include reduced bureaucracy for students, lower administrative costs for institutions, and instant verification for employers.

1. Blockchain in Higher
education
Francisco Cordoba Otalora
University College London
January 2016
www.pachoman.com

2. The problem
“In a world of proliferating digital credentials the
potential for exaggeration, misrepresentation,
credential inflation and fraud is high” (1).
Therefore the transcripts validation process for
higher education institutions and companies take
a big amount of resources in staff, time and
money.
(1)https://www.pearsoned.com/wp-content/uploads/Open-Badges-for-Higher-Education.pdf

3. The solution
A Blockchain Higher Education Degree system.

4. How it works
The Higher Education
Institution:
1) Creates the transcripts
2) Using the Public key
encrypts transcripts.
3) Send the encrypted
transcripts to the
Public Ledger and to
the government.
4) Send the private key
Step 1

5. How it works
The student:
1) Receives the
private keys from
each HEI
2) Store the private
keys on the
academic wallet
3) In this way the
student could
store his lifelong
Step 2

6. How it works
How to send the transcripts
to interested parties:
1) The student encrypts
the information with
the private key.
2) Send the public key in
the message.
3) The HEI or employer
decrypts the
transcripts.
Step 3

7. Technical problems
- Malicious party creating multiple identities adding data.
- The process of changing a transcript.
- There is not a problem of scalability since the transcripts
are registered in a bimonthly basis.
- The development of the public ledgers within each HEI.
- The solution could involve a definition or rules including
type of encryption, the broadcast of transactions to the

8. Social problems
Convince the Higher Education Institutions (HEI)
into getting in this new kind of approach it would
not be easy. However if it is possible to
demonstrate the advantages and if we can
convince one of the ministries of the government
to promote as the new channel for a better
educational system, this could be done.

9. Beneficiaries
The student's: Reduction on bureaucratic procedures to obtain
transcripts. A verified and recognized academic wallet.
The Higher Education Institutions: They will reduce the
administrative costs.
The employers: Instant verification of candidates transcripts.
The government: More accurate data for further analysis by
different institutions.

10. Resources
Throughout the community select the best open
source blockchain technology to implement.
Adapt the blockchain technology within the
technical requirements.
Expert developers on cryptography.
Consulting on government laws and privacy.