How blockchain technology could improve higher education

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology (DLT) which is both transparent and immutable. There are many benefits to using blockchain technology. Here, we will break down how the technology could improve higher education.

As the term ‘distributed’ suggests, a blockchain network is not controlled by a singular power. Rather, the power is distributed across the people who support and run the network using nodes (computer devices). The blockchain is essentially a ledger which publicly records all transaction data, at least within the cryptosphere. For a transaction to be recorded, the majority of the network must reach consensus. In doing so, the network is agreeing that a transaction is valid.

This is how transparency is achieved, because there is little room for false information to be added. Now, let’s look at how this technology could benefit higher education institutions.

Transcripts

When studying at a higher education institute, student marks are recorded on a transcript. This is important because academic credentials must be universally verifiable. Proving credentials from a higher education institute is largely done by manual processing.

By applying blockchain technology, this process could become streamlined to make it more efficient, as well as mitigating against fraudulent claims of false credentials.

Attendance monitoring

This use may not come as good news for students who skip classes regularly. Blockchain could be utilised to monitor student attendance using ‘smart contracts’. A smart contract can only come into effect when both/all parties have completed their end of the deal. So, for example, once both the tutor and student have entered the classroom, their ends of the deal can be considered completed.

Oxford faculty members have recently discussed this possibility. It has been noted that a series of student and tutor “check-ins” are key to executing a series of smart contracts, which ultimately would validate attendance and assignment completion.

Improving background checks

Since all data can be recorded onto a blockchain, in theory, the process of completing a background check can also be streamlined. Human Resources departments often need to manually sift through documents relating to employment and criminal records, but distributed ledger technology could potentially make the vetting process more efficient. This doesn’t solely apply to students, either. For example, it could be utilised to vet tutors to check whether they have the relevant qualifications, such as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate.

Improving online courses

For those who are not able to attend university or higher education classes, taking online courses is an invaluable option. This isn’t necessarily routed in higher education, either. Many people learn foreign languages online.

Blockchain technology could help decentralise classrooms, enabling a system that exchanges real-time information. This, in turn, would help ensure that the education provided is decentralised, and not solely controlled by an entity who enforces a set syllabus. In effect, a classroom could become a space which is governed by majority consensus.

The tutors could also be paid in the blockchain’s native cryptocurrency token, meaning there can be a set fee agreed upon, without having to figure out how different fiat currencies will be exchanged.

Bursary/scholarship transparency

There is a debate within the higher education world centred on who rightfully deserves additional funding in the form of a scholarship or a bursary. Governments do not have a useful system in place to achieve this. Additional funds are awarded on external factors the government believes are correct. However, situations are circumstantial.

If one student’s parents earn a lot of money, that student will receive less funding. If their parents are insistent on not supporting them for whatever reason, that student is at a disadvantage. Another student’s parents might earn less money, and cannot afford to support the student. They are also at a disadvantage.

However, a different student’s parents might be willing to support them, even on a lower paycheck. That student is also likely to receive additional funding because their parents earn a lower amount of money compared to somebody else’s parents. This student may then use the additional funding to go on holiday, rather than purchase their textbooks.

Unfortunately, there is not a clear cut, definitive solution to this issue simply because each case is circumstantial. However, blockchain technology could help remedy this by ensuring the additional funding is used correctly. If a student spent all of their additional funding without using it to purchase any items that would help them at higher education, it would be apparent on the blockchain.

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