Recently, blockchain technology has attracted considerable attention from researchers and practitioners. This is mainly due to its unique features including decentralization, security, reliability and data integrity. Despite this growing interest, little is known in terms of knowledge about the application of blockchain technology in practice.
Initially Blockchain was discussed by the masses as a fundamental technology of cryptocurrency. Today, it is considered as an opportunity to keep information steadily, which can be used in erstwhile unexplored industries and it can have an incredibly huge effect on the industries’ development. Prof. Dr. Maia Noniashvili and Prof. Tamta Batmanashvili have conducted a research in which they discussed the opportunities and challenges of using blockchain technologies in the education sector.
On one hand, the main goal of the research was, to analyse the benefits and point of view of blockchain’s establishment (introduction), and on the other hand, to study the use of blockchain as an action to simplify processes, and make them efficient. The paper addresses two important questions:
– First, how can blockchain technology improve the performance, processes, and financial conditions of the education system to stakeholders? This question will analyse three different segments that can benefit from decisions made using blockchain:
1) Educational organizations (e.g. universities, start-up organizations) looking for ways to increase student data storage and management efficiency and security;
2) Students who can access more attractive, reliable and sustainable ways of accumulating, certifying and sharing knowledge;
3) Employers looking for reliable, safe methods to assess the authenticity of students’ skills and certifications.
– Second – What are the obstacles to the implementation of the blockchain in the education sector? This question focuses on identifying and analysing problems that may arise for both private and public education organizations that aim to develop or implement blockchain solutions.
The research was conducted in the Republic of Georgia, in three different directions: a students’ survey, an employers’ survey and a survey and analysis of the opinions of representatives of higher educational institutions. The paper can be found in the EUMMAS Library.
