Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has approved a plan to move the entire process of degree verification online, eliminating the need for students to visit HEC offices in person. The initiative will leverage blockchain technology to make the system more secure, transparent and efficient.
Blockchain-Based Verification to Simplify Process
According to HEC officials, the new system will allow students to complete all degree attestation steps digitally. Once students verify their records, the system will safely store them on the blockchain, allowing authorized institutions and organizations to access them directly without risking tampering or forgery.
Acting HEC Chairman Nazir Mahmood has instructed relevant authorities to prioritize the project, and the team expects to make it fully operational within six months. The authorities have already completed procurement for the blockchain system and are now developing it.
Universities to Automate Degree Integration
HEC has identified 25 universities that have already implemented full Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Graduates from these institutions will automatically have their degrees integrated into the blockchain system upon graduation, removing the need for students to submit physical documents.
In universities without ERP systems, students will submit their degrees and transcripts through the online portal. The documents will be transferred directly to the university dashboard, verified, and then uploaded to the blockchain.
Transparent, Secure and Paperless Certification
Officials said the blockchain-based system will be entirely paperless and secure from forgery. Government agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies, and private companies will be able to access verified records instantly, streamlining recruitment processes and applications for education abroad.
The HEC emphasized that this system will permanently remove the need for manual stamps, long queues, and time-consuming procedures, allowing students to obtain verified degrees from home with just a few clicks.
