In an innovative leap for academic transparency and data integrity, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan has embraced next-generation blockchain technology to revolutionize how student credentials and learning histories are verified and stored. Moving beyond traditional paper-based certificates, NCKU has adopted IOTA’s distributed ledger technology—specifically its Tangle architecture—to develop TangleID, a self-sovereign identity system that securely records students’ academic journeys in an immutable, decentralized environment.
This initiative not only addresses long-standing challenges in verifying academic achievements but also sets a precedent for how educational institutions can leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance trust, streamline administrative processes, and empower students with full ownership of their academic data.
Why Blockchain in Education Matters
Educational institutions worldwide face growing concerns over credential fraud, inefficient verification processes, and fragmented student records. With increasing numbers of applicants submitting awards, certificates, and extracurricular achievements during university admissions, the burden on evaluators to verify authenticity has become overwhelming.
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Traditional systems rely heavily on manual checks, phone calls to issuing organizations, or physical document submissions—all time-consuming and prone to error. As Assistant Professor Huang Jing-qun from NCKU’s Department of Computer Science points out, “Verifying a single certificate can be incredibly difficult. Some organizers don’t even keep winner lists after events end.”
Blockchain offers a compelling solution: a tamper-proof, transparent, and decentralized way to store and verify data. By anchoring academic records on a distributed ledger, institutions like NCKU ensure that every transcript, certificate, or project submission is permanently recorded and instantly verifiable.
Overcoming Limitations of Traditional Blockchains
While the potential of blockchain in education is clear, early implementations faced technical hurdles. Legacy blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum suffer from scalability issues, high transaction fees, and energy-intensive consensus mechanisms such as mining.
NCKU’s development team evaluated multiple blockchain platforms before settling on IOTA, widely regarded as a third-generation distributed ledger technology. Unlike conventional blockchains that organize data into sequential blocks, IOTA uses a unique architecture called Tangle—a directed acyclic graph (DAG).
Tangle eliminates the need for blocks and chains entirely, enabling feeless transactions and infinite scalability. In Tangle, each new transaction must validate two previous ones, creating a self-sustaining consensus mechanism without miners or staking. This makes it ideal for high-frequency, low-latency data recording—perfect for tracking student activities across semesters.
“Tangle breaks the limitations of traditional blockchains,” says Prof. Huang. “There are no blocks, no chain, and no transaction fees. The larger the network activity, the more efficient it becomes.”
Introducing TangleID: A Self-Sovereign Identity System
At the heart of NCKU’s innovation is TangleID, a self-sovereign identity (SSI) system built on IOTA’s Tangle. TangleID allows students to own and control their academic identities, storing not just final grades or diplomas but entire learning trajectories—including submitted assignments, course participation metrics, competition awards, and even classroom attendance patterns.
This holistic approach transforms the concept of academic credentials. Instead of a static PDF or paper transcript, students now have a dynamic, verifiable digital portfolio that grows with them throughout their education.
Starting in August 2024, NCKU began using blockchain to store official transcripts for undergraduate and graduate admissions reviews. With plans to roll out a new cross-departmental bachelor’s program in August 2025—where degrees are awarded based on accumulated credits rather than fixed curricula—the need for a flexible, accurate record-keeping system has never been greater.
“Blockchain isn’t limited by paper,” explains Prof. Huang. “We can store vast amounts of data—from homework submissions to class sizes—all securely linked to the student’s identity.”
Beyond Academia: Real-World Applications of Proof of Existence
The implications of this technology extend far beyond campus walls. At its core, TangleID leverages Proof of Existence (PoE)—a cryptographic method proving that a piece of data existed at a specific point in time without revealing its content.
PoE has critical applications across industries:
- Verifying pharmaceutical production timelines
- Ensuring integrity in logistics and supply chains
- Authenticating environmental sensor data
- Supporting legal evidence in accident investigations
Prof. Huang is already collaborating with Germany’s IOTA Foundation and Taiwan’s LASS (Local Air-quality Sensing System) network to integrate TangleID with air quality sensors. By anchoring real-time pollution data onto the Tangle, they ensure that environmental reports cannot be altered retroactively—crucial for regulatory compliance and public accountability.
“In environmental monitoring, inspectors can’t be everywhere at once,” he notes. “We rely on sensors. But if the data can be tampered with, so can the truth. Blockchain ensures consistency and trust.”
The Rise of the IOTA Data Marketplace
IOTA’s growing ecosystem further amplifies these possibilities. Recently, the IOTA Foundation launched the IOTA Data Marketplace, a decentralized platform where organizations can securely buy and sell real-time data streams.
Major global players—including Microsoft, Fujitsu, Cisco, Volkswagen Group, and Samsung—have joined the initiative, signaling strong industry confidence in IOTA’s vision of a decentralized data economy.
This marketplace aligns perfectly with NCKU’s goals. In the future, anonymized educational datasets could be shared with researchers or policymakers via secure, permissioned channels—unlocking insights into learning behaviors while preserving privacy.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is TangleID?
A: TangleID is a self-sovereign identity system developed by NCKU using IOTA’s Tangle technology. It enables secure, decentralized storage of academic records and learning histories.
Q: How does Tangle differ from traditional blockchains?
A: Unlike blockchains that use blocks and chains, Tangle is a directed acyclic graph (DAG) that requires no mining, supports feeless transactions, and improves scalability with increased usage.
Q: Can students control who sees their data?
A: Yes. With self-sovereign identity principles, students own their digital identities and can grant or revoke access to institutions or employers as needed.
Q: Is this system being used outside education?
A: Yes. Similar technologies are being applied in environmental monitoring, supply chain tracking, healthcare records, and industrial IoT through partnerships like LASS and the IOTA Data Marketplace.
Q: Are there any privacy concerns with storing academic data on a ledger?
A: No personal data is stored directly on the ledger. Instead, cryptographic hashes of documents are recorded, ensuring authenticity while protecting sensitive information.
Q: When will this system be available to all NCKU students?
A: The system is currently piloted for select programs and transfer students. Full rollout is expected by 2025 with the launch of the new interdisciplinary bachelor's degree program.
The Future of Trust in Digital Education
NCKU’s adoption of IOTA’s Tangle represents more than a technological upgrade—it’s a shift toward a trust machine, where data integrity is guaranteed by cryptography rather than bureaucracy.
As universities face increasing pressure to modernize credentialing systems and combat fraud, solutions like TangleID offer a scalable, sustainable path forward. They empower students with lifelong ownership of their achievements while giving institutions faster, more reliable verification tools.
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With collaborations expanding into environmental science, industry data markets, and cross-border education networks, Taiwan is emerging as a leader in practical blockchain applications—one verified learning journey at a time.