A Graduation Certificate Verification Model via Utilization of the Blockchain Technology

Abstract

The graduation certificates issued by universities and other educational institutions are among the most important documents for graduates. A certificate is a proof of a graduate’s qualification and can be used to apply for a job or other related matters. The advance of information technology and the availability of low-cost and high-quality office equipment in the market have enabled forgery of important documents such as certificates, identity cards, and passports. However, verification of certificates using traditional methods is costly and very time-consuming. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to propose a theoretical model that can offer a potential solution for academic certificate issuing and verification using blockchain technology. The blockchain technology contains several functions including hash, public/private key cryptography, digital signatures, peer-to-peer networks and proof of work. The model uses various elements to formulate the block which is divided into two main processes, namely issuing a digitally signed academic certificate and verifying the academic certificate. The proposed model showed that academic certificate authentication could leverage the blockchain technology. It meets all the conditions necessary for a modern academic certificate verification system. In addition, it closes the gaps and challenges in the existing methods to verify academic certificate authenticity.