UJ introduces blockchain-based digital certificates

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University of Johannesburg launches blockchain-based certificates

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has implemented blockchain-based certificates for its graduates to improve security features related to the certification process.

Each qualification document issued from this year onwards will feature a QR code unique to the holder, which anyone can scan to verify the information on the certificate.
 
I get really excited when universities introduce new types of tech and processes in the country. It's science backed and I trust they've done due diligence.

Unlike the government who use "Data", "AI" , "Spectrum" & "Bitcoin" as buzzwords to get the 30+ % unemployed individuals hyped up.
 
Why? If they are the only ones who control the blockchain (and I see no reason why anyone else would want to use their specific blockchain), then it adds no more security over a normal database. A malicious actor can just add transactions to the blockchain, and since there is only a single instance of the blockchain, there is no consensus which would invalidate those transactions.

Having the QR code to verify a persons qualifications is nice, but the blockchain stuff is just gimmicky. Maybe if they convince other education centres to adopt it as well it will work (ie. have a persons matric certificate in there, all universities use it etc)
 
SilverCode said:
Why? If they are the only ones who control the blockchain (and I see no reason why anyone else would want to use their specific blockchain), then it adds no more security over a normal database. A malicious actor can just add transactions to the blockchain, and since there is only a single instance of the blockchain, there is no consensus which would invalidate those transactions.

Having the QR code to verify a persons qualifications is nice, but the blockchain stuff is just gimmicky. Maybe if they convince other education centres to adopt it as well it will work (ie. have a persons matric certificate in there, all universities use it etc)
Click to expand...

Agreed.

It's kinda pointless to be on a "blockchain" if it's not decentralised (ie on the thousands of nodes worldwide) - that would make it mutable.

If it's not "Decentralised" it might as well be on a regular MySQL database to be honest.

On the side note, imagine the protests if they require students to pay 0.05eth in gas fees to view the certificate. /joke
 
charlieharper said:
Agreed.

It's kinda pointless to be on a "blockchain" if it's not decentralised (ie on the thousands of nodes worldwide) - that would make it mutable.

If it's not "Decentralised" it might as well be on a regular MySQL database to be honest.

On the side note, imagine the protests if they require students to pay 0.05eth in gas fees to view the certificate. /joke
Click to expand...
Lol so they are just referring to a qr code that allows you to read from the their db Blockchain
Wouldn't be surprised the only blockchaining involved is using some sort of "crypto" library to hash the URL
 
SilverCode said:
Why? If they are the only ones who control the blockchain (and I see no reason why anyone else would want to use their specific blockchain), then it adds no more security over a normal database. A malicious actor can just add transactions to the blockchain, and since there is only a single instance of the blockchain, there is no consensus which would invalidate those transactions.

Having the QR code to verify a persons qualifications is nice, but the blockchain stuff is just gimmicky. Maybe if they convince other education centres to adopt it as well it will work (ie. have a persons matric certificate in there, all universities use it etc)
Click to expand...
Let's look at the glass half full. Not quite there but it probably will be in a few years. Besides, don't you think Wits, UCT, UKZN will get upset and try to one up these oaks coming with something better and bigger, maybe implementing your suggestions. Competition is great, it will drive innovation.

Of course this is all just hypothetical. Then again, in a glass half full typa guy.
 
SilverCode said:
Why? If they are the only ones who control the blockchain (and I see no reason why anyone else would want to use their specific blockchain), then it adds no more security over a normal database. A malicious actor can just add transactions to the blockchain, and since there is only a single instance of the blockchain, there is no consensus which would invalidate those transactions.

Having the QR code to verify a persons qualifications is nice, but the blockchain stuff is just gimmicky. Maybe if they convince other education centres to adopt it as well it will work (ie. have a persons matric certificate in there, all universities use it etc)
Click to expand...
Well it uses triple entry accounting over double entry accounting, so there is an advantage. Where anyone can edit a database to add anything they want, you cant do that with a well setup blockchain. Its consensus based. So you cant just automagically add a certificate dated many years back as everyone would be able to see its fake based on their own database.

Yes edits can happen, but all previous versions and the information history would still be easy to track.
 
w1z4rd said:
Well it uses triple entry accounting over double entry accounting, so there is an advantage. Where anyone can edit a database to add anything they want, you cant do that with a well setup blockchain. Its consensus based. So you cant just automagically add a certificate dated many years back as everyone would be able to see its fake based on their own database.

Yes edits can happen, but all previous versions and the information history would still be easy to track.
Click to expand...
Is there consensus going on here?
 
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