Decentralized Academic Credential Exchange: A Blockchain-Based Solution on the Internet

Computer Protocol

By: Ojwang’ Briton – Kenyatta University

Melodius Nyaboke – Jomo Kenyatta University
Latifa Riziki – Kenyatta University
Geofrey Ongulo – Kenyatta University

Abstract:

This project introduces a decentralized and secure credential sharing system utilizing the Internet
Computer Protocol (ICP). The proposed system employs a novel blockchain-based architecture
within a decentralized application (DApp) on the ICP, ensuring the tamper-proof nature of
transactions for accountable credential storage. Inherent to the ICP's decentralized structure, the
system provides a reliable platform for students, universities, and recruiters, offering secure and
trustworthy credential sharing. The implementation on the ICP ensures computational efficiency
and scalability, with an assessment of smart contract complexity in terms of resource consumption.
Key features include an accountable mechanism for sharing students' credentials and
recommendation letters, coupled with a centralized dashboard for document showcasing, accessible
based on permission settings. This project demonstrates the ICP's capabilities in providing a
decentralized, efficient, and secure solution for managing and sharing educational credentials,
fostering trust in academic and professional interactions.

Make in a predictive market for students and lecturers: This should entail quizes, problems to
be solved, articles, PDFs, Past papers. For recruiters, let them share problems they wish to
solved available to students who solve them opening opportunities to them.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:
The real-life problem addressed by this project using blockchain is the secure and accountable
sharing of student credentials in the academic and professional domains. Traditional methods of
credential verification and sharing often involve centralized databases, which may be susceptible to
data breaches, tampering, or lack transparency in the verification process. Additionally, the current
systems may lack a standardized and efficient way for students to share their credentials with
potential employers or other educational institutions.

By implementing a blockchain-based solution on the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), the project
aims to address these challenges. Blockchain's inherent properties, such as immutability and
decentralization, provide a tamper-proof and transparent system for storing and sharing credentials.
This can significantly enhance the security and trustworthiness of the credential-sharing process,
ensuring that the information presented is accurate and has not been altered.

Furthermore, the decentralized nature of the solution ensures that no single entity has complete
control over the data, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or manipulation. The project's focus
on creating a permission-based system for sharing credentials with professors, universities, and
recruiters adds an additional layer of privacy and control for the students.

In essence, the real-life problem being tackled is the need for a secure, transparent, and efficient
method of sharing student credentials in a way that fosters trust among stakeholders, streamlines the
verification process, and enhances the overall integrity of the academic and professional credential-
sharing ecosystem.

ACTION PLAN
The solution for the project involves implementing a blockchain-based system on the Internet
Computer Protocol (ICP) to securely and accountably share student credentials. Here is a
summarized action plan:

1. Define System Architecture:

- Design a decentralized application (DApp) architecture leveraging the Internet Computer
Protocol.
- Develop a novel blockchain-based framework for secure and tamper-proof storage of student
credentials.

2. Implement Smart Contracts:

- Create smart contracts to manage the transactions related to credential sharing.
- Utilize the unique features of ICP for computational efficiency and scalability.

3. Integration with Ethereum Blockchain (if necessary):

- Depending on project requirements, integrate with the Ethereum blockchain for specific
functionalities.
- Ensure interoperability between the ICP and Ethereum for a seamless user experience.

4. Computational Complexity Analysis:

- Assess the computational complexity of the designed smart contracts in terms of resource
consumption on the ICP network.
- Optimize smart contracts to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

5. Credential Sharing Mechanism:

- Implement a permission-based system for sharing students' credentials and recommendation
letters.
- Enable accountable sharing with recruiters, professors, and universities.

6. Centralized Dashboard:
- Develop a centralized dashboard for students to showcase their documents.
- Implement access control features based on permission settings.

7. User Testing and Feedback:

- Conduct thorough testing of the implemented system, involving students, universities, and
recruiters.
- Gather feedback to identify and address any usability or functionality issues.

8. Security Measures:
- Implement robust security measures to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of stored
credentials.
- Employ encryption and access controls to protect sensitive information.

9. Documentation and Education:

- Provide comprehensive documentation for users, administrators, and developers.
- Offer educational materials to help users understand the benefits and functionalities of the
blockchain-based credential-sharing system.

10. Deployment and Maintenance:

 - Deploy the system on the Internet Computer Protocol.
- Establish a maintenance plan to address updates, patches, and any emerging security
considerations.

By following this action plan, the project aims to deliver a secure, transparent, and efficient solution
for sharing student credentials, addressing real-life challenges in the academic and professional
credential-sharing ecosystem.

Here's a roadmap for the implementation of the blockchain-based credential-sharing system on the
Internet Computer Protocol (ICP):

Phase 1: Planning and Design (1 Week)

1. Define Project Scope and Objectives:

- Outline the specific goals and outcomes of the project.
- Clearly define the features and functionalities to be implemented.

2. Research and Analysis:

- Conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing credential-sharing systems.
- Identify potential challenges and opportunities specific to the ICP.

3. System Architecture Design:

- Develop a detailed architecture for the decentralized application (DApp) on the ICP.
- Define the data structure and interactions between components.

Phase 2: Development (3-4 weeks)

4. Smart Contract Development:

- Begin implementing the smart contracts for credential storage and sharing.
- Integrate with the ICP's unique features and capabilities.

5. Integration with Ethereum (if applicable):

- Implement any necessary integration with the Ethereum blockchain.
- Ensure seamless interoperability between ICP and Ethereum.

6. Credential Sharing Mechanism:

- Develop the permission-based credential-sharing system.
- Implement accountable sharing with recruiters, professors, and universities.

7. Centralized Dashboard Implementation:

- Design and implement the centralized dashboard for students.
- Incorporate access control features based on permission settings.

Phase 3: Testing and Optimization (1 week)

8. User Testing:
 - Conduct usability testing with a diverse group of users, including students, universities, and
recruiters.
- Gather feedback on user experience and functionality.

9. Computational Complexity Analysis:

- Evaluate the computational efficiency of smart contracts on the ICP network.
- Optimize for performance and cost-effectiveness.

Phase 4: Deployment and Documentation (1 week)

10. Deployment on ICP:

- Deploy the blockchain-based credential-sharing system on the Internet Computer Protocol.

11. Documentation and Education:

- Create comprehensive documentation for users, administrators, and developers.
- Develop educational materials to help users understand the system.

This roadmap provides a structured timeline for the various stages of the project, ensuring a
systematic and organized approach to the development and implementation of the blockchain-based
credential-sharing system on the Internet Computer Protocol. Adjustments may be made based on
feedback, emerging challenges, or changes in project requirements.

Additionals

Decentralized AI-Powered Job Matching Platform: This platform uses AI to analyze job
descriptions and candidate profiles, making intelligent matches. Blockchain technology ensures the
integrity and security of the data, including work histories and credentials.