A process-aware approach for blockchain-based verification of academic qualifications

【Author】 Nousias, Nikolaos; Tsakalidis, George; Michoulis, George; Petridou, Sophia; Vergidis, Kostas

【Source】SIMULATION MODELLING PRACTICE AND THEORY

【影响因子】4.199

【Abstract】The global trend of credentialism as well as increased mobility in studies and work bring new requirements regarding the verification of academic qualifications. So far, traditional nostrification processes face challenges related to high process cycle times, elevated fees, and fraud incidents. In the higher education domain, blockchain-based approaches have emerged to revitalize the verification of academic qualifications, but they mostly rely on closed concepts offering their facility to a limited circle of entities. As a result, the verification of degrees is not publicly available to any third party. Moreover, in most cases, a concise process-aware approach describing the intended functionality with appropriate models is missing; this absence raises ambiguity and trust issues in the implemented application. This paper presents the design and early implementation of the VerDe (Verified Degrees) platform; a proposed blockchain-based application for registration and verification of academic qualifications. The novelty of the approach presented in this paper is the implementation of VerDe as a decentralized application utilizing Business Process Model & Notation (BPMN). This work demonstrates that usage of BPMN constructs provides an efficient method in addressing blockchain usability and complexity issues and facilitates the design and implementation of blockchain-based applications. The benefits of deploying VerDe in conjunction with BPMN are an efficient and transparent facility able to handle mobility consequences, detect fraud, and overcome administrative barriers by offering the verification capability to any third-party, and employing a custom-made token that emulates the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

【Keywords】Blockchain vertical application; BPMN process modeling; Ethereum blockchain; ERC-20 token; Academic qualification; Verification

【发表时间】2022 DEC

【收录时间】2023-03-10

【文献类型】理论模型

【主题类别】

区块链应用-实体经济-科研领域