A SURVEY OF BLOCKCHAIN IN EDUCATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF APPLICATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

The blockchain technology is gaining considerable scientific and social interest among academicians, researchers, policymakers as well governments. Blockchain is widely disrupting the various sectors such as supply chain, health care, e-governance, smart cities as well education. The paper discusses the blockchain applications in education such as platforms for smart contracts, sharing information through distributed consensus, transaction verification, transferring value among peer and stakeholders, generating Cryptocurrency/Incentives, creating smart Property with features of security, immutability and uniqueness. The papers also addresses the various formats through which countries such as Japan, Singapore, USA, Netherland, Canada, Chile, Switzerland and India as well as institutes like University Grants Commission, Oxford University, MIT, Sony Global Education, Inc., Deft university of Technology, Netherlands etc. have taken steps for blockchain applications in education. However, certain challenges such as lack of regulatory support, lack of interest and knowledge among various stakeholders, privacy and security, illicit activities are being faced as well while implementing blockchain applications in the education sector. Hence governments have to make concrete and stringent efforts to ensure sustainable results of blockchain applications in education.