World's First School to Issue Academic Certificates via Bitcoin Blockchain

[avatar_kiyoshi]

Holberton Software Engineering School announced it will become the first school to deliver academic certificates that are secured and accessible via Bitcoin’s blockchain. To this end, the school has collaborated with Bitcoin startup Bitproof that specializes in document certification on the blockchain.

The new blockchain-powered certificates should make it easier for employers to verify job candidates’ backgrounds and reduce the number of false resumes.

According to the information in Holberton school blog, each graduate will be given a paper certificate and a Digital Certificate Number (DCN). Graduates can include this number in their CV. Thus, the employer can easily verify this information just by checking this number in the blockchain explorer available online.

The blockchain is the future of certification, and we believe that in the following years, more schools will use the public blockchain to secure their certificates and diplomas.

"It is much more efficient, secure, and simple than what you can find today in the industry,” Kalache continued. “We think first about our students – we want to make sure that our certificates will always remain valid and verifiable by employers. It will also keep them safe and impossible to copy or hack."

Full read:
http://cointelegraph.com/news/115453/worlds-first-school-to-issue-academic-certificates-via-bitcoin-blockchain

[Kakmakr]

It is great to see the blockchain being used for other application now, and not just the currency token. The validation of these certificates on the blockchain would help with fraudulent CV's being submitted for job openings.
It gives other potential applicants with valid qualifications a fair chance, to get the job.

[designerusa]

Blockchain technology is future. That's why I say my friends, Bitcoin will always stay powerful.
Also does this new bitcoin startup accept investments right now? Lots of people would want to invest them I think. (especially angel investors)

[batesresearch]

It is great seeing applications (Or just simple uses) for the blockchain in different real world scenarios.

[Bitcoininspace]

This is awesome news! it's good to see the younger people rising to the occasion to look into new technology and have a more open mind about it than the older generation that have learnt the old ways of the Economy and how it works.

[AtheistAKASaneBrain]

Finally, this was meant to happen sooner or later. Soon, all certificates of any kind will get certified through the blockchain. This will create unemployment because a new way to do this will be more efficient than a lot of people doing it manually by doing data entry, but guess what, that's what happens with progress.

[Mickeyb]

Very nice news! This come to show how versatile Bitcoin actually is and how many different use cases, bigger or smaller it actually has.

This is also a great advertisement for Bitcoin!

[AdopterOfCoin]

How big is the size of the certificate. If it is too big, it will bloat the block chain. Can they use other block chain service established for this purpose?

[QuestionAuthority]

Why couldn't I just pay to upload my forged certificate?

[Kprawn]

How big is the size of the certificate. If it is too big, it will bloat the block chain. Can they use other block chain service established for this purpose?

You not reading the OP's post... It says : " According to the information in Holberton school blog, each graduate will be given a paper certificate and a Digital Certificate Number (DCN). Graduates can include this number in their CV. Thus, the employer can easily verify this information just by checking this number in the blockchain explorer available online. "

They only post the DCN on the blockchain, not the whole certificate. 

[7788bitcoin]

I am not sure if there are any HR hiring managers who know how to use blockchain explorer... 

[Wilhelmus]

This is a good new because more people will be aware of Bitcoin and the academic certificates fraud will surely decrease.

[maokoto]

Whenb I first heard of storing other things (not Bitcoin) in the blockchain, I thought it made no sense. Sounded me like using a screwdriver as a hammer to drive a nail. However it is beginning to make sense when I see news like that. I hope this furthers the usage and adoption of Bitcoin too.

[beepboopbeep]

I am not sure if there are any HR hiring managers who know how to use blockchain explorer... 

Well they better start learning 

[franky1]

is the an actual demo of this..
like has the school actually demonstrated this by ptting a certificate on the blockchain..

.. or is this still theoretical

[ashour]

If it shows to be useful then more schools/universities should do the same. Its always great to see blockchain uses in unique ways such as this one.

[fish731]

My old school certificates are a bit crumpled up after years stuffed into a cupboard. I'd want new ones if I needed to show them to someone, and if I had the option I'd prefer to show them a blockchain secured digital certificate. Paper certificates are too easily damaged, he blockchain ones are more durable.

[NorrisK]

Why couldn't I just pay to upload my forged certificate?

I guess you wouldn't be personally uploading a certificate. The authorized body e.g. university uploads the certificate from a known address associated to the university.

This way, you don't need to think about your certificate ever again, you can just link to the blockchain where it is safely stored forever. Also potentially makes searching your skills or making a CV overview very easy if they make the system searchable for your specific certificates.

[QuestionAuthority]

Why couldn't I just pay to upload my forged certificate?

I guess you wouldn't be personally uploading a certificate. The authorized body e.g. university uploads the certificate from a known address associated to the university.

This way, you don't need to think about your certificate ever again, you can just link to the blockchain where it is safely stored forever. Also potentially makes searching your skills or making a CV overview very easy if they make the system searchable for your specific certificates.

Is that how they're doing it? I was wondering how a certificate could be secure considering the whole world can upload anything they want to the blockchain.

[Blue_Tiger73]

Wow. It's nice to see Blockchain being used for other things than just currency. Helping out society from retards that put out false resumes. It is also nice to see that more people, including schools now, are getting into bitcoin. But I just have one question. How does this all actually work? The reason behind it seems good enough, but does it actually help catch the bad guys.