BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Desislava  Ivanova

doi:10.46687/jsar.v28i1.440

Authors

Desislava Ivanova DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, FACULTY OF TECHNICAL SCIENCES, KONSTANTIN PRESLAVSKY UNIVERSITY OF SHUMEN, SHUMEN 9712,115, UNIVERSITETSKA STR., E-MAIL: d.n.ivanova@shu.bg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46687/jsar.v28i1.440

Keywords:

Blockchain, Education, Credential verification, Smart contracts, Decentralization

Abstract

Blockchain technology has gained significant attention in education due to its potential to improve the verification of diplomas, certificates, and skills. By ensuring decentralization, transparency, and immutability, it offers a secure and efficient alternative to traditional systems that are often slow and vulnerable to fraud. This paper reviews key applications of blockchain in the educational sector, with a focus on credential verification and smart contracts. It also discusses current challenges such as scalability, regulations, and energy consumption. The findings suggest that blockchain can contribute to greater trust, efficiency, and global mobility in education.

Author Biography

Desislava Ivanova, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, FACULTY OF TECHNICAL SCIENCES, KONSTANTIN PRESLAVSKY UNIVERSITY OF SHUMEN, SHUMEN 9712,115, UNIVERSITETSKA STR., E-MAIL: d.n.ivanova@shu.bg

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, FACULTY OF TECHNICAL SCIENCES, KONSTANTIN PRESLAVSKY UNIVERSITY OF SHUMEN, SHUMEN 9712,115, UNIVERSITETSKA STR., E-MAIL: d.n.ivanova@shu.bg

References

Grech, A.; Camilleri, A.F. (2017). Blockchain in Education. JRC Science for Policy Report, European Commission. https://doi.org/10.2760/60649.

UNESCO (2019). Blockchain in Education. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (https://unesdoc.unesco.

org/ark:/48223/pf0000384003/PDF/383,003eng.pdf.multi) (visited on 14.10.2025).

Alammary, A.; Alhazmi, S.; Almasri, M.; Gillani, S. (2019). Blockchain-Based Applications in Education: A Systematic Review. Applied Sciences, 9(12), 2400. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122400.

Sharples, M.; Domingue, J. (2016). The Blockchain and Kudos: A Distributed System for Educational Record, Reputation and Reward. European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning (EC-TEL). SpringerOpen. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45153-4_48.

Fedorova, E. P., & Skobleva, E. I. (2020). Application of blockchain technology in higher education. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 9(3), 552–571. https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2020.3.552.

Sun, J.; Yan, J.; Zhang, K.Z.K. (2016). Blockchain-based sharing services: What blockchain technology can contribute to smart cities. Financial Innovation, 2(26). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-016-0040-y.

Casado-Vara, R.; Prieto, J.; la Prieta, F.D.; Corchado, J.M. (2018). How blockchain improves the supply chain: Case study alimentary sector. Procedia Computer Science, 134, 393–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2018.07.193.

Dimanova, D., Kuzmanov, Z. Development of an integrated security and communication system, International Scientific Refereed Online Journal, Issue 63, November 2019, ISSN: 2367-5721, www.sociobrains.com. pp.83-91.

Turkanović, M., Hölbl, M., Košič, K., Heričko, M., & Kamišalić, A. (2018). EduCTX: A Blockchain-Based Higher Education Credit Platform. IEEE Access, 6, 5112–5127. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2789929.

Park, J. (2021). Promises and challenges of Blockchain in education. Smart Learning Environments, 8(33). https://slejournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40561-021-00179-2 (visited on 14.10.2025).

Chen, G.; Xu, B.; Lu, M.; Chen, N.S. (2018). Exploring blockchain technology and its potential applications for education. Smart Learning Environments, 5(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-017-0050-x.

Steiu, M.F. (2020). Blockchain in education: Opportunities, applications, and challenges. First Monday, 25(9). https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/10654 (visited on 14.10.2025).

Metodieva, TS., Simeonova, I., Migration security as a component of corporate security, Journal Scientific and Applied Research, Konstantin Preslavsky University Press, Vol. 27, Shumen, 2024, ISSN 1314-6289 (Print), ISSN 2815-4622 (Online), pp. 163-169, DOI: https://doi.org/10.46687/jsar.v27i1.416.

Ivanova, I. S. (2024). Communication modules for data transmission in photovoltaic performance monitoring and analysis systems. Journal Scientific and Applied Research, 27. Retrieved from https://jsar.ftn.shu.bg/index.php/jsar/issue/view/32.

Boyanov, P., Implementation of the network vulnerability scanner Armitage for security weaknesses detection in the computer network and systems. A refereed Journal Scientific and Applied Research, Konstantin Preslavsky University Press, ISSN 1314-6289 (Print), ISSN 2815-4622 (Online), 2019, 15, pp.47-54, DOI: https://doi.org/10.46687/jsar.v15i1.254.

Atanasov, V., T., Intelligent educational structure model, Annual of Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, vol. IX E, Konstantin Preslavsky University Press, 2019, pp:190-196, ISSN: 1311-834x.

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS