PhD thesis defense to be held on July 29, 2025, at 17:00 (Via internet)
Thesis title: Blockchain Application in Higher Education
Abstract: In recent years, blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution for enhancing security, transparency, and efficiency across various sectors, including higher education and the labour market. Traditional methods of storing and verifying academic credentials face significant challenges, such as inefficiency, lack of trust, and vulnerability to fraud. This dissertation presents a comprehensive methodological framework for the application of blockchain in higher education, ensuring both functional effectiveness and compliance with legal, ethical, and user-driven requirements. The contributions of this dissertation are structured around three main pillars: (1) the development of a methodology for deriving non-functional and functional requirements, (2) the development of a methodology to ensure compliance with privacy and data protection regulations, and (3) the experimental implementation of the QualiChain educational platform in a university environment.
The QualiChain platform, developed as part of the corresponding research project, was piloted at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), involving over 100 students and faculty members. The pilot study provided direct insights into the usability, feasibility, and effectiveness of blockchain in managing academic credentials and student achievements. Within the context of this dissertation, the platform successfully demonstrated its ability to prevent certificate forgery, streamline verification processes, and integrate smart badges in a university setting to reward students for their academic progress. An in-depth analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) confirmed highly positive user feedback, while the lessons learned from the pilot highlight practical challenges and offer recommendations for improving blockchain-based educational systems.
Beyond the experimental implementation, this dissertation examines the legal and ethical dimensions of adopting blockchain in higher education, with a particular focus on compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Critical issues such as the right to data erasure, privacy concerns, and obtaining user consent are thoroughly analysed. Additionally, specific technical recommendations are formulated to guide universities in selecting appropriate blockchain parameters for future implementations. These recommendations ensure that the integration of blockchain into higher education remains both legally compliant and technically feasible.
Finally, this dissertation proposes a set of policy recommendations aimed at supporting the sustainable adoption of blockchain in education. By bridging the gap between theoretical blockchain applications and their practical implementation, this work contributes to both academic discourse and real-world innovation, providing a clear strategic framework for universities seeking to leverage blockchain for academic credential management. Furthermore, the lack of real-world user evaluations in many existing blockchain-based educational systems underscores the originality and practical significance of this dissertation.
Supervisor: Professor Dimitrios Askounis
PhD Student: Kontzinos Christos