Blockchain for Handling the Data in Higher Education

Data and digital resources are being used more and more in education. In modern education, data security, integrity, and privacy are crucial. The educational system maintains a vast quantity of personal data, including student records, certificates, and academic accomplishments, in a central location. Data modification, unauthorised access, and single points of failure are all possible threats in these centralised data storage locations. This requirement to protect this sensitive data is a significant challenge that must be addressed. The access control provided by blockchain technology protects sensitive data from unauthorised access. Its decentralised storage guarantees that the data is stored in numerous locations and is accessible. The data stored in the blockchain is tamper- resistant because any change must be authorised by consensus among all participating nodes. Transparency and accountability on the blockchain enable stakeholders to keep track of the history of data modifications, and smart contracts on the blockchain enable automated and transparent processes, thereby reducing the need for manual intervention and augmenting precision. These characteristics make blockchain a possible solution to the challenges associated with handling data in higher education. The chapter begins with an introduction to the types of data in higher education, a discussion of various challenges in handling data in higher education, and a review of works on handling data in higher education. It is followed by an overview of blockchain, the motivation to implement blockchain, various technical aspects, and projects, and ends with a conclusion and future direction.