**3.1 Analysis of current state-of-the-art of the European digital education recognition using Blockchain in comparison to best practices in the world**

As it is said in Ref. [14], the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP) was established after EU member states and Norway signed a declaration with the goal of providing digital public services that meet the requisite degree of digital security and maturity in today's society.

In future, all public services will use Blockchain technology. Blockchain is a great opportunity for Europe and member states to rethink their information systems, promote user trust and the protection of personal data, help create new business opportunities, and to establish new areas of leadership, benefiting citizens, public services, and companies. The partnership launched today enables member states to work together with the European Commission to turn the enormous potential of Blockchain technology into better services for citizensk declared Mariya Gabriel, the commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, in 2018.

Many industries and colleges in Europe and beyond are becoming increasingly interested in Blockchain technology. Blockchain, a relatively new discovery in computer science, is a worldwide, cross-industry, and disruptive technology that is expected to drive global economic growth for another few decades.

When discussing a topic like Blockchain, it is natural to start with themes, such as technological transformation, digital economy, competency industries, and innovation system. This enables people to comprehend the context in which digital disruption occurs.

However, the socioeconomic forces that produce interest in technology (or alter in reaction to it) may be as essential, if not more so, than the digital technology itself. The most successful digital company concepts put people first and digital technology second. Within the educational setting, the phrase is quickly becoming associated with the ability of individual students to own, manage, and share information about their credentials without relying on the education sector as an authorized middleman.

Blockchain technology is perfect for securing, sharing, and verifying learning achievements as a new infrastructure. In the case of certificates, a Blockchain can maintain a list of the certificate's issuer and receiver, as well as the document signature (hash), in a public database (the Blockchain) that is replicated on thousands of computers all over the world [14].

#### *3.1.1 Results of case studies on the application of Blockchain technology in education*

As early Blockchain literature frequently refers to "self-sovereignty," or an individual's ability to own and control his or her own identity online, within an educational context, the term is quickly becoming synonymous with the autonomy of individual learners to own, manage, and share details of their credentials without relying on the education institution as a trusted intermediary [14].

#### *3.1.1.1 Open University UK*

Imagine a scenario where every learning activity is registered on the Blockchain, including informal learning, together with informal feedback. All assignment test scores will be mapped on learning environments across Europe. Europe-wide analytics could then be developed from the ground up. The best lecturers in Europe by the subject could be easily identified. Learning would become that much more interactive and reputations built on more tangible matricesk, declared Professor Domingue.

Professor Domingue suggests that the EU consider funding the development of an EU-wide Blockchain for educational experiments. Funding would be made available for more innovative projects on the same Blockchain. It should organize an education program as well as a series of informational meetings for various stakeholders. For example, colleges should use Blockchains to communicate with other colleges and universities and in different EU countries, fostering collaboration [14].

## *3.1.1.2 University of Nicosia*

The University of Nicosia (UNIC) has declared a number of "world firsts" in its commitment to maximizing the potential of Blockchain in education. UNIC claims to be the first university to [14]:


"It would be hugely valuable if high schools around the world had some common standard for accreditation and recognition. We cannot have 40 standards on a Blockchain. How does this become useful to higher education—which is being fed by secondary education? How can we get everyone to subscribe to the same standard? If any one institution like ours is doing it—it is limited; if a nation-state or all higher education institutions and schools in a country come on board—that would be very useful," claimed Mr. Polemitis.

In conclusion, it appears that Blockchain technology will likely be implemented by most EU member states. Some EU members will try to develop a national strategy for its use, and others are already testing specialized Blockchain applications.

Given the expense of implementing Blockchain technology, it is evident that, despite the excitement around the technology, it can only be applied to select use cases from a technical standpoint. As a result, a Blockchain-based application should only be used if it fits a specific set of requirements [14].
