A Blockchain-based Certification System for Education: BCERTIFICATED

Abstract

This study is an attempt to solve the certificate validation problem in open and distance learning programs, and has been specifically designed for a professional development program provided by a state university in Turkey. The certification process of the training involves different actors (students, teachers, authorities) and the progress of trainees is tracked closely since completion of the training is based on process evaluation. Blockchain technology and smart contracts are used as a solution to document, validate, and verify the certification process. Hyperledger Fabric is used in order to develop an autonomous and decentralized system for this purpose. The users will be able to validate the certificates with this system, and this validation will have the credibility of the requested document. The codes of the prototype are also served with the GNU free software license. Methods and findings are presented and discussed in this paper.