How much interest are you seeing from higher ed about incorporating blockchain for transcripts and credentials, and what can administrators do to prepare for the technology?
“We’re certainly seeing a lot of interest, but mostly a wait-and-see attitude at this point. We think blockchain has the potential to address some thorny problems in the exchange of educational value, like credit articulation, access to personally identifiable information, and verification by accrediting organizations. Administrators should keep an eye on the initiatives at MIT and the Central New Mexico Community College, which are testing the blockchain idea in two very different settings. And we’re intrigued by Woolf University, a U.K. startup that envisions using blockchain technologies to carry out virtually all administrative functions.”
—Ron Yanosky, director of research delivery, EAB
LINK TO MAIN ARTICLE: College transcripts transformed
“Paradigm Inc. has seen great interest from higher education in blockchain over the last few years. However, like most emerging technologies, some caution has materialized as current limitations have been revealed. We expect interest to reemerge as the technology evolves. We look forward to participating should this occur.”
—Chris Jackson, CEO, Paradigm
“Offering future-proof access to and verification of credentials is a growing imperative among institutions of all types, and blockchain is part of that story. Implementing a strategy that employs blockchain starts with bringing data and transparency to all credentials that an organization issues, and putting learners in control of their own verified achievements.”
—Jonathan Finkelstein, founder and CEO, Credly
“As blockchain-based credentialing moves from the lab into real-world tests, we see increased interest not only in its value as a trusted record, but also in the value it can bring to institutional processes. Administrators should consider: What campus processes might benefit from blockchain? Are there pilot groups interested in exploring it for verifiable digital records?”
—Austin Laird, product director for higher education, Unit4
Nancy Mann Jackson is an Alabama-based writer who frequently contributes to UB.
