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A Study on Blockchain Technology as a Dominant Feature to Mitigate Reputational Risk for Indian Academic Institutions and Universities

Author

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  • Rangi, Pradeep Kumar
  • Aithal, Sreeramana

Abstract

The paper-based certification is prone to manipulation and vulnerable to fraud. Instances of fraudulent degrees, manipulation of academic records, or compromised academic programs adversely impact and damage an academic institution's credibility. It also affects the Indian universities’ mission and prospects of the students graduating from such a university. What makes reputational risk a unique risk is that it may arise both from the university or institution's failure or the action outside the university. It is, therefore, essential to take an enterprise risk management approach to mitigate reputational risk. Robust credential verification and validation protocols are the most important protections against fake certifications. The legacy certificate verification solutions are highly centralized, i.e., utterly dependent on the issuing authority for certificates. Despite the University Grants Commission (UGC) taking strict measures against individuals, Indian universities, colleges, and associations, we do come across several acts of torts. Some of the technology-savvy institutions have moved to digital certificates and digital signatures. However, this has an inherent weakness, i.e., they still need to rely on a trusted third party. Blockchain technology has three foundational components, data structures based on cryptography that make it secure and tamperproof, consensus protocols that allow it to function truthfully and without any central authority or a third party smart contracts, which provide efficiency and business value transactions. These key features of blockchain, if implemented appropriately, effectively has the potential to mitigate the inherent reputational risk arising from fraudulent academic certificate matters. Niti Ayog is currently developing a blockchain-based proof of concepts to solve traditional educational qualifications related to identity misrepresentation and document forgery. The immutability attribute of the blockchain ensures that tampering and manipulation of the record are not attainable. This paper focuses on the reputational risk Indian universities and institution may face when its certifications are not easily verifiable. Therefore, it becomes easy targets for bad actors to exploit vulnerabilities by issuing counterfeit certificates. Secondary published data, including various scholarly journals, reports, industry publications, and website sources, are utilized to develop this case study. The paper also explores how blockchain technology with specific reference to the proof of concept SuperCert proposed by Niti Ayog for Indian academic institutions may provide effective preventive control to overcome such reputational risk using the ABCD analysis framework as a research case study.

Suggested Citation

  • Rangi, Pradeep Kumar & Aithal, Sreeramana, 2020. "A Study on Blockchain Technology as a Dominant Feature to Mitigate Reputational Risk for Indian Academic Institutions and Universities," MPRA Paper 105347, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:105347
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aithal, Sreeramana, 2015. "Study on ABCD Analysis Technique for Business Models, Business Strategies, Operating Concepts & Business Systems," MPRA Paper 71989, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Gilles Grolleau & Tarik Lakhal & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2008. "An Introduction to the Economics of Fake Degrees," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(3), pages 673-693, September.
    3. Ernst Csiszar & Gregory W Heidrich, 2006. "The Question of Reputational Risk: Perspectives From An Industry," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 31(3), pages 382-394, July.
    4. Min Xu & Xingtong Chen & Gang Kou, 2019. "A systematic review of blockchain," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 5(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Alexander Grech & Anthony Camilleri, 2017. "Blockchain in Education," JRC Research Reports JRC108255, Joint Research Centre.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Reputational risk; Academic Certification; Blockchain; SuperCert; Enterprise Risk Management; Indian Universities;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I2 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • M15 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - IT Management
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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