A Graduation Certificate Verification Model via Utilization of the Blockchain Technology

Authors

  • Osman Ghazali School of Computing, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
  • Omar S. Saleh School of Computing, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia

Keywords:

Blockchain Technology, Graduation Certificate Verification, Graduation Certificate Authentication, Graduation Certificate Forgery,

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.

References

M. Warasart and P. Kuacharoen, “Paper-based Document Authentication using Digital Signature and QR Code,” no. Iccet, 2012.

Z. Chen, “Anti-Counterfeit Authentication System of Printed Information Based on A Logic Signing Technique.”

S. Balasubramanian, R. Prashanth Iye, and S. Ravishankar, “Mark sheet verification,” 2009 3rd Int. Conf. Anti-counterfeiting, Secure. Identify. Commun. ASID 2009, 2009.

A. Singhal, “Degree Certificate Authentication using QR Code and Smartphone,” vol. 120, no. 16, pp. 38–43, 2015.

T. Healy, S. Cote, J. Helliwell, and S. Field, “The Well-Being of Nations - The Role of Human and Social Capital,” Oecd, p. 118, 2002.

S. Baum, S. Baum, and J. Ma, “Education Pays 2010 The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society," Baum Ma Payea 2010.pdf,” 2013.

S. Marginson, Dynamics of national and global competition in higher education, vol. 52, no. 1. 2006.

S. Baum, “Higher Education Earning Premium Value, Variation, and Trends,” Urban Inst., no. February, pp. 1–12, 2014.

M. G. Moore, “A Sad Reminder That Diploma Mills Are Still With Us,” Am. J. Distance Educ., vol. 23, no. June, p. 175-178--, 2009.

G. Grolleau, T. Lakhal, and N. Mzoughi, “An introduction to the Economics of Fake Degrees,” J. Econ. Issues, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 673–693, 2008.

E. Ben Cohen and R. Winch, “Diploma and accreditation mills: New trends in credential abuse,” 2011.

E. Chiyevo Garwe, “Qualification, Award and Recognition Fraud in Higher Education in Zimbabwe,” J. Stud. Educ., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 119–135, 2162.

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, “Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud & Abuse,” Glob. Fraud Study, pp. 1–92, 2016.

N. M. Musee, “An Academic Certification Verification System Based On Cloud Computing Environment,” 2015.

E. Share, M. Memorable, and L. They, “Fifty-eight Percent of Employers Have Caught a Lie on a Resume,” 2014.

X. Technologies, “Blockchain imperative for educational certificates,” Xanbell Technologies, 2017.

J. Yli-Huumo, D. Ko, S. Choi, S. Park, and K. Smolander, Where is current research on Blockchain technology? - A systematic review, vol. 11, no. 10. 2016.

A. Roehrs, C. A. da Costa, and R. da Rosa Righi, “OmniPHR: A distributed architecture model to integrate personal health records,” J. Biomed. Inform., vol. 71, pp. 70–81, 2017.

R. Arendsen, M. J. Ter Hedde, and H. Hermsen, Electronic Government, vol. 6846. 2011.

H. Hou, “The application of blockchain technology in Egovernment in China,” 2017 26th Int. Conf. Comput. Commun. Networks, ICCCN 2017, 2017.

J. Sidhu, “Syscoin : A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System with Blockchain-Based Services for E-Business,” 2008.

N. Smolenski and D. Hughes, “Academic Credentials In An Era Of Digital Decentralization Academic Credentials In An Era Of Digital Decentralization Learning Machine Cultural Anthropologist contents preface,” 2016.

S. Nakamoto, “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” Www.Bitcoin.Org, p. 9, 2008.

Nomura Research Institute, “Survey on Blockchain Technologies and Related Services,” 2016.

S. Thompson, “The preservation of digital signatures on the blockchain - Thompson - See Also,” Univ. Br. Columbia iSchool Student J., vol. 3, no. Spring, 2017.

C. F. Bond, F. Amati, and G. Blousson, “Blockchain, academic verification use case,” 2015.

J.-F. Blanchette, “The digital signature dilemma Le dilemme de la signature numérique,” Ann. Des Télécommunications, vol. 61, no. 7, pp. 908–923, 2006.

MIT Media Lab, “What we learned from designing an academic certificates system on the blockchain,” Medium, no. December, p. 2016, 2016. [

P. Schmidt, “Certificates, Reputation, and the Blockchain,” MIT Media Lab, 2015.

Downloads

Published

2018-09-26

How to Cite

Ghazali, O., & Saleh, O. S. (2018). A Graduation Certificate Verification Model via Utilization of the Blockchain Technology. Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering (JTEC), 10(3-2), 29–34. Retrieved from https://jtec.utem.edu.my/jtec/article/view/4707