Malaysia Will Deploy Blockchain Degree Verification Tool for Universities

During the last couple of months, several universities throughout the world have opted to implement a blockchain-based credential system, meant to help students store and access their diplomas digitally.

Now, recent reports indicate that Malaysia’s Ministry of Education will use the technology, as a measure to combat rising degree fraud within the country. With this in mind, the ministry has announced a degree issuance and verification platform, built on top of the NEM blockchain.

To put things better into perspective, it seems like more and more citizens prefer to purchase fake credentials from diploma mills, in order to prove they have finished their degree. While this helps pretenders get access to higher paying jobs, the trend is not fair to genuine students who study and put in hard hours of work in exchange for their diplomas. Additionally, fake degrees are also dangerous, since certain professions require actual expertise and knowledge. After all, nobody wants to be defended by a lawyer who hasn’t finished law school, or treated by a doctor without a degree.

According to the Malaysian Ministry of Education, “Realizing the need to safeguard the reputation and integrity of Malaysian universities, the Ministry of Education has taken a decisive action to prevent such degree fraud which also cheats and unfairly disadvantages genuine students.”

It is important to point out that Malaysia-based universities get numerous requests by employers, to verify whether certain individuals have actually graduated and received a diploma. Carrying out these verifications is bound to be time-consuming for both universities and employers. Additionally, many potential employers don’t even bother to verify the authenticity of diplomas.

As such, as e-Scroll system will provide a quick and efficient authenticity and traceability system. The platform works by printing a QR code on a certificate, which can then be scanned to verify its authenticity from anywhere in the world. Initially, the system will be deployed for PhD students that will graduate from the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Later on, the e-Scroll system will become available for all graduate levels.

Malaysia’s interest in blockchain technology seems to be at an all-time high. In fact, the country’s Ministry of Education has also initiated a blockchain consortium consisting of university memberships. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the technology, while also training professors and students in blockchain development.