Varsities leverage blockchain expertise to verify degrees

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry yesterday announced the setting up of a university consortium on blockchain technology and launched the e-Scroll system — a university degree verification system based on blockchain technology.

Quoting a BBC Radio report in January, the ministry said fake degrees were being sold internationally.

“Such scenario is also not unheard of in Malaysia,” said the ministry.

Realising the need to safeguard the reputation and integrity of Malaysian universities, the ministry said it had taken decisive action to prevent degree fraud.

“The idea was first mooted in January by the Council of ICT Deans (Madict) at universities in Malaysia. Madict and the ministry proposed using blockchain technology, which is believed to be secure, and has potential to increase the efficiency of authenticating a genuine certificate.

“Currently, Malaysian universities receive thousands of requests to verify their graduates. Such verification is done via telephone and emails, which contributes to its inefficiency.”

Since universities had their own technology experts, the ministry proposed the formation of a “Consortium of Universities on the Blockchain Technology” to study its adoption.

“The consortium initially comprised six public universities — the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

The main objective, the ministry said, was to teach and develop blockchain technology among students and academics.

In the long run, it added that the consortium should also produce industry-standard solutions which could generate revenue for member universities.

“The ministry has also appointed IIUM to head the consortium. Today’s announcement and launching by Higher Education director-general Datin Paduka Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir marks another step in the ministry’s determination to reform and safeguard the quality of Malaysian higher education.”

The ministry said the current system was developed by a team led by Professor Datuk Dr Norbik Bashah Idris of IIUM, which used the NEM blockchain technology that could be verified by scanning a QR code embedded on degrees.

“A verification process can be done from anywhere in the world as long as there is Internet connectivity, and the process takes only a few seconds.”