Educational Blockchain: A Secure Degree Attestation and Verification Traceability Architecture for Higher Education Commission

Degree attestation verification and traceability are complex one-to-one processes between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and universities. The procedure shifted to the digitalized manner, but still, on a certain note, manual authentication is required. In the initial process, the university verified the degree and stamp seal first. Then, a physical channel of degree submission to the receiving ends is activated. After that, the degree is attested while properly examining and analyzing the tamper records related to degree credentials through e-communication with the university for verification and validation. This issue poses a serious challenge to educational information integrity and privacy. Potentially, blockchain technology could become a standardized platform to perform tasks including issuing, verifying, auditing, and tracing immutable records, which would enable the HEC, universities, and Federal Education Ministry (FEM) to quickly and easily get attested and investigate the forge proof versions of certificates. Besides, decentralized distributed data blocks in chronological order provide high security between distributed ledgers, consensus engine, digital signature, smart contracts, permissioned application, and private network node transactions that guarantee degree record validation and traceability. This paper presents an architecture (HEDU-Ledger) and detail design of blockchain-enabled hyperledger fabric applications implementation for degree attestation verification and traceable direct channel design between HEC and universities. The hyperledger fabric endorses attestation records first, and then validates (committer) the degree and maintains the secure chain of tracing between stakeholder peer nodes. Furthermore, this HEDU-Ledger architecture avoids language and administrative barriers. It also provides robustness in terms of security and privacy of records and maintains integrity with secure preservation as compared to that of the other state-of-the-art methods.

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An Investigative Study on University Students’ Statistical Literacy in Pakistan

sjesr ◽

10.36902/sjesr-vol3-iss1-2020(159-164) ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 159-164

Author(s):

Anisul Hassan ◽

Dr. Abdul Ghaffar ◽

Dr. Amir Zaman

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Public Sector ◽

University Students ◽

Survey Research ◽

Research Design ◽

Human Life ◽

Statistical Literacy ◽

Education Commission ◽

University Level ◽

The University

The main aim of universities is to conduct research studies on different aspects of human life for the purpose of development and prosperity. In this regard the importance of statistical literacy cannot be denied in every discipline of knowledge. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the statistical literacy of the university students at BS level. Quantitative survey research design was employed where sample of the study comprised of randomly selected 360 BS level students from 9 public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). The data were collected through self-developed instrument namely Instrument for Statistical Literacy (ISL). The study demonstrated that students had low statistical literacy at BS level; it was therefore, recommended that Higher Education Commission of Pakistan may include a significant portion of practical work in the approved curriculum at university level for the enhancement of statistical literacy.

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Experimental Analysis of the Scalability of Ethereum Blockchain in a Private Network

10.5753/wblockchain.2019.7481 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Iago S Ochôa ◽

Rafael Piemontez ◽

Lucas Martins ◽

Valderi Reis Quietinho Leithardt ◽

Cesar Albenes Zeferino

Keyword(s):

Experimental Analysis ◽

Security And Privacy ◽

Blockchain Technology ◽

And Performance ◽

Private Network

Blockchain technology has aroused the interest of researchers as it ensures security and privacy in decentralized applications. One of the platforms currently used for the development of new blockchain-based solutions is the Ethereum network. This article presents an experimental analysis of the scalability of this network to identify its cost and performance for several contracts in a simulated private Ethereum network. The results obtained demonstrate that storage operations for large amounts of data can prevent the use of blockchain due to the high cost of gas charged for this type of operation. The experiments also pointed out that processing operations which do not store information have a small cost of gas.

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN UKRAINE: TRAJECTORIES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONDITIONS OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ORDER

Information Technologies and Learning Tools ◽

10.33407/itlt.v64i2.2083 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 128

Author(s):

Oleg Ye. Kaminskyi ◽

Yulia O. Yereshko ◽

Sergii O. Kyrychenko

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Business Processes ◽

Industrial Revolution ◽

Content Management ◽

Digital Transformation ◽

University Education ◽

Educational Content ◽

Blockchain Technology ◽

It Architecture ◽

The University

The article substantiates the role of the digital transformation of higher education in Ukraine in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. There was proven the need to develop the strategy of the university education digital transformation, as well as the formation of new information and communication competencies. According to the authors, the strategy of digital transformation of the university education system has to include the modernization of corporate IT architecture management, which should be implemented as a cloud-based platform. The authors analysed the main possible directions of the educational services transformation and the accompanying business processes. The use of blockchain technology for the educational content management module construction is proposed. The integration of the educational content management modules of different Ukrainian universities should become the basis for creating a global cloud-based platform for higher education.

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Plagiarism at a glance: a case study of University of the Punjab

Journal of the Bangladesh Association of Young Researchers ◽

10.3329/jbayr.v1i1.6842 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 127-132

Author(s):

Haseeb Ahmad Piracha

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Academic Writing ◽

Faculty Members ◽

Education Commission ◽

The University ◽

Young Researchers

The purpose of this writing is to guide and facilitate the students, faculty members as well as professionals of University of the Punjab to identify ways and means to prevent plagiarism among academic writing and to develop an awareness of ethical writing. In addition this article will highlight the efforts being carried out by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan combined with the University of the Punjab in order to curtail plagiarized and questionable writing in academic research.DOI: 10.3329/jbayr.v1i1.6842Journal of Bangladesh Association of Young Researchers Vol.1(1) 2011 pp.127-132

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A Model for Decision-Makers’ Adoption of Big Data in the Education Sector

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132413995 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (24) ◽

pp. 13995

Author(s):

Maria Ijaz Baig ◽

Liyana Shuib ◽

Elaheh Yadegaridehkordi

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Big Data ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Service Providers ◽

Education Sector ◽

Security And Privacy ◽

Relative Advantage ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

The University

: Big Data Adoption (BDA) has already gained tremendous attention from executives in various fields. However, it is still not well explored in the education sector, where a large amount of academic data is being produced. Therefore, integrating Technology Organization Environment (TOE) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), this study aims to develop a theoretical model to identify the factors that influence BDA in the higher education sector. To do so, significant technology-, organization-, and environment-related factors have been extracted from previous BDA studies. Meanwhile, the moderating effects of the university size and the university age are added into the developed model. A sample of 195 data was collected from the managerial side of virtual university (VU) campuses in Pakistan using an online survey questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the research model and developed hypotheses. The results showed that relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, top management support, financial resources, human expertise and skills, competitive pressure, security and privacy, and government policies are significant determinants of BDA. However, the results did not support the influence of IT infrastructure on BDA. Based on the findings, this study provides guidelines for the successful adoption of big data in higher education sector. This study can serve as a piece of help to the ministry of education, administrators, and big data service providers for the smooth adoption of big data.

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The impact of higher education commission of pakistan’s funding on the collection development budgets of university libraries

The Bottom Line Managing Library Finances ◽

10.1108/bl-06-2015-0008 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 12-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ghalib Khan ◽

Rubina Bhatti

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Public Sector ◽

Financial Management ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Collection Development ◽

University Libraries ◽

Content Type ◽

Education Commission ◽

The University ◽

The Impact

Purpose This study aims to investigate the annual financial management of university libraries in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, and its relationship with Higher Education Commission (HEC) grants to examine libraries’ share. Design/methodology/approach Using survey methods, this study explores the annual budget allocation of well-established university libraries in the province of KPK in the past five years and its relationship with HEC grants to determine libraries’ shares. The survey followed a qualitative design based on an interview technique of data collection. The scope of this study covers all those public sector universities which are chartered by the Government of KPK, recognized by HEC, and eligible for HEC grants on annual basis. Based on this formulation, 15 public sector universities were selected for the survey. Findings The data analysis of the present study revealed that no specific norms are followed by the university administrations in allocating funds for libraries out of HEC annual grants. University libraries in the province either do not have funding polices or are administered by the concerned establishments where Library and Information Science professionals have no role in the financial management of libraries. The study also found that university administrations in KPK either do not provide sufficient share to libraries out of HEC grants or specify an inadequate share which is in violation of the clear instructions of HEC ordinance 2002, Section 10(h). Originality/value This study is the first of its kind in Pakistan as it provides an insight into how much budget is allocated for collection development in the university libraries, compares it with HEC grants to calculate libraries’ share in percentage and suggests to the HEC to encourage university administration to allocate sufficient budget for libraries to improve collection development, service provision, acquisition, selection and patronage.

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Pandemic Preparedness and Techno Stress among Faculty of DAIs in Covid-19

sjesr ◽

10.36902/sjesr-vol3-iss2-2020(383-396) ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 383-396

Author(s):

Mahwish Zeeshan ◽

Dr. Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry ◽

Shaheer Ellahi Khan

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Online Teaching ◽

Private Universities ◽

Pandemic Preparedness ◽

Public And Private ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Education Commission ◽

Interview Guide ◽

Online Readiness ◽

The University

Amid COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan announced the closure of all public and private universities and Higher Education Institutes from mid of March 2020. The paper highlights the issues faced by the university faculty in terms of techno-stress due to a lack of pandemic preparedness. The data gathered for this research is qualitative using the exploratory methodology. The methods of the study are In-depth interviews and FGDs. Interview guide and FGD Checklist are tools employed to gather data from the faculty of sixteen Pakistani universities which is sorted thematically and illustrated through descriptive statistics. The findings of the study suggest that the global pandemic has seriously affected the higher education sector in Pakistan. The private universities and the heavily funded public universities have taken off in a bullish mode. However, the public sector universities are coping up in a bearish trend. The faculty's response also corresponds with the transition to online teaching. Besides the university's efforts to ease out learning through an online interface, the majority of the faculty is feeling overburdened with additional responsibilities about online teaching. The study highlights the gap between policymaking and the on-ground situation of the universities in terms of online readiness.

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Re-thinking Higher Education Curricula in the Era of Knowledge Economy: A Case Study of Course Codes in the National Curriculum of Pakistan

sjesr ◽

10.36902/sjesr-vol3-iss1-2020(89-96) ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 89-96

Author(s):

Itbar Khan ◽

Iftikhar Ahmad ◽

Rashid Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

General Education ◽

National Curriculum ◽

Coding System ◽

Undergraduate Level ◽

Education Commission ◽

Subject Specific ◽

General Education Requirements ◽

The University

The study reviewed the course codes at undergraduate level in selected universities and Higher Education Commission (HEC). The objectives of the study were to investigate the coding system of courses and propose a system for coding the courses at tertiary level in Pakistan. The coding system of different universities, inside and outside Pakistan, was analyzed and a system of coding was proposed. The study found discrepancies in the coding of courses that cause difficulties for academic bodies and transfer of credits from one university to another. It is recommended that courses of a degree required may be divided in 1) General Education requirements, 2) Subject specific foundation courses, 3) subject specific major compulsory courses, and 4) subject specific major elective courses. For codes 2, 3 or 4 capital letters for a subject along with three numbers (xxx) may be used to specify each course of the university. The left digit of the three may be used for the hardship level. The courses 1xx, 2xx, 3xx and 4xx will be taught in the first, second, third and fourth year, respectively and research may be given 500 at undergraduate level, courses of 5 year may be placed in 5xx and research may be coded as 599. The graduate level courses for MPhil /MS /PhD may be coded as 6xx, 7xx and 8xx for MPhil and PhD all over the country.

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Leadership Effectiveness in Implementing Quality Assurance Programs at Private Universities of Lahore

International Review of Management and Business Research ◽

10.30543/10-2(2021)-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 56-72

Author(s):

SEEMA ARIF ◽

SAFIA IQBAL ◽

MUHAMMAD NADEEM

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Quality Assurance ◽

Leadership Effectiveness ◽

Private Universities ◽

Education Leadership ◽

Higher Education Leadership ◽

Leadership Characteristics ◽

University Leadership ◽

Education Commission ◽

The University

Quality assurance has become acceptable, and all private universities are trying hard to achieve better standards executed by Higher Education Commission Pakistan (HEC) every year. The implementation of quality assurance (QA) programs rests upon the performance of university faculty. An exploratory study was conducted with the faculty of seven private universities in Pakistan to determine the leadership effectiveness regarding the implementation of QA programs. The strengths and weaknesses of the university leadership were measured in a three-fold exercise by identifying leadership characteristics, values, and actions taken to implement QA. For this purpose, a questionnaire was constructed, comprising both close-ended and open-ended responses. Data was collected from 430 faculty members from five private universities in Lahore, Pakistan. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to meet the research objectives. The results indicate that leadership attempts are yet superficial and inadequate to reach the transformational quality. The effectiveness of higher education leadership needs much improvement to meet the needs of the 21st century. Unless the leaders align their efforts with the faculty's expectations and involve them in shared decision making, reaching transformative quality would remain barred; therefore, the sustainability of higher education will remain in danger. Keywords: Higher Education, Leadership Characteristics, Leadership Effectiveness, Private Universities, Quality Assurance.

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Decentralization of Credential Verification System using Blockchain

International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering - Special Issue ◽

10.35940/ijitee.k9514.09101121 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 113-117

Author(s):

Priti P. Bokariya ◽

◽

Dilip Motwani ◽

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Human Resources ◽

Time Use ◽

Verification And Validation ◽

Successful Completion ◽

Validation Process ◽

Blockchain Technology ◽

Verification System ◽

Education Today ◽

The University

After successful completion of graduation, students receive the credits of the courses in the form of certificate issued by the respective University. A Student have to produce his/her documents to the employers or the authorities for employment or higher education. Today ,as the system is centralized all the data resides on the server which can be hacked or the data can be lost if the system crushes down. However, verifying a certificate by authorities, is a time-consuming process as there is an involvement of human resources ,for validating the details of the candidate from its University. Today , with the advancement in technologies and due to the easy availability of many efficient soft wares that have led to the forgery of credentials/certificates. The lack of anti-tampering mechanisms resulted in incidents where the forged graduation certificates are often found. Also ,in case certificates are out of place , applying for duplicate certificates and its issuance by the University consumes a lot of time. Use of blockchain technology in this process will make the system decentralized as blocks as cryptographically connected and all the nodes in the network shares the entire chain .Hence the proposed decentralized certificate verification system, uses blockchain technology incorporating all the essential features in developing a DAPP. This system is proposed to address the issue of certificate counterfeiting, faster certificate verification and issuance. Putting across all the issues, the system aims at addressing the problems and provide solutions to the current Certificate Issuance, verification and Validation Process.

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