PROSPECTS FOR USING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY IN EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENT WORKFLOW

Abstract

This article examines the use of blockchain technology to improve transparency in the creation, validation, storage, and verification of diplomas, transcripts, certificates, and other academic records in higher education. While acknowledging the benefits of centralized information systems such as HEMIS, the study identifies structural limitations including a single point of failure, limited independent verification of internal changes, and time-consuming cross-bordercredential verification. A hybrid architecture combining SHA-256 hashing, Merkle trees, IPFS, and a permissioned consortium blockchain is proposed. Comparative results illustrate differences between centralized and blockchain-based models in terms of integrity assurance, verification time, dependence on a central server, and transaction costs. Percentage estimates are explicitly treated as theoretical scenario values rather than pilot-test results. The study argues that technical deployment must be accompanied by rules on personal-data protection, legal recognition, node governance, and measurable pilot-testing criteria.