Citation

CHUKWUKA, E. J., & MOEMEKE, C. D. (2026). The Strategic Effect of Entrepreneurial Education on Nigerian Economic Development. International Journal for Social Studies, 12(2), 48–59. https://doi.org/10.26643/ijss/9

Ernest Jebolise CHUKWUKA (PhD)

Department of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation

Faculty of Management Sciences

University of Delta, Agbor

ernest.chukwuka@unidel.edu.ng

Clara Dumebi MOEMEKE (Ph.D)

Department of Science Education

Faculty of Education,

University of Delta, Agbor

Orcid no: 0000 0003- 1848-0623

Abstract

This explorative study examined the effect of Entrepreneurial Education on Nigerian Economic Development. The main objective is to ascertain the exact nature of connection between entrepreneurial education and Nigeria’s economic growth. The study adopted systematic review methodology called thematic. Papers were selected from multiple databases thematically. Content analysis was used to examine the gathered data. Condensing lengthy textual information into fewer categories in accordance with clear coding standards is accomplished through the methodical and repeatable process of content analysis. The results demonstrated a substantial relationship or correlation between entrepreneurial education and Nigeria’s economic development. This implies that entrepreneurship education in Nigerian colleges has sparked a desire to capitalize on numerous business chances for Nigeria’s economic development. According to the findings, well-taught entrepreneurship courses that equip students with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills would encourage them to launch their own companies and contribute to Nigeria’s economic expansion. Determining the elements that affect economic development is one of the primary objectives of contemporary economics. The impact of entrepreneurship on a nation’s economy is enormous. This is known to economists and decision-makers. In actuality, entrepreneurship is now viewed as a catalyst for the growth and advancement of productive endeavors in all spheres of global economic life. The study concludes that there is a stronger correlation between economic growth and entrepreneurial education than with foreign assistance which contends that entrepreneurial education is essential for unlocking economic growth, generating employment, and lowering poverty, among other things, in developing countries like Nigeria. The study recommends, among other things, that entrepreneurship skills centers be set up in both rural and urban areas so that business owners can acquire new skills that will make them more productive and increase their contribution to economic development and growth.

Key Words: Entrepreneurship Education, Nigeria’s Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Development, Educators

Introduction

Entrepreneurship education seeks to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and motivation to encourage entrepreneurial success in a variety of settings. Variations of entrepreneurship education are offered at all levels of schooling from primary or secondary schools through graduate university programmes. It is focused on realization of opportunities where management education is focused on the best way to operate existing hierarchies (Chukwuka & Nwaka 2026). Entrepreneurship Education focuses on developing understanding and capacity for pursuit, of entrepreneurial behaviours, skills and attributes in widely different contexts. It can be presented as being accessible to everyone and not just the province of ambitious, high-achieving businesspeople.

The inclination to act in an entrepreneurial manner is not unique to any one person. A person’s capacity to exhibit and develop entrepreneurial behaviors, abilities, and traits will vary. All students should be exposed to entrepreneurship education because these behaviors may be learnt, developed, and practiced (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, 2010). Beyond their use in commercial endeavors, entrepreneurial abilities and mindsets serve society. The development of new and efficient Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) should be viewed as crucial to the creation of a healthy African economy since the business sector is the dynamic mechanism underpinning every successful economy.

There seems to be no nation in the world that is not directly or indirectly impacted by the problems associated with youth unemployment, making it an epidemic that is quickly turning into a worldwide disaster. In 2020, the worldwide youth unemployment rate was 15.28% due to the fact that over 621 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 do not have gainful job (International Labour Organization (ILO) 2022). The situation is worse in Nigeria, where 21.72 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35 are unemployed. By the end of 2022, the country’s youth unemployment rate is expected to reach 53% (National Bureau of Statistics 2021). Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, which is expected to reach over 840 million by 2050 (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2017) and is primarily made up of young people, is supposed to be the country’s greatest asset in terms of providing labor for industrialization. Sadly, this growing youth population has created a significant social burden for the government, the world, and even the young people themselves. If immediate action is not taken, the current situation has shown that this exponential expansion is more of a time bomb than an opportunity. Like other emerging nations, Nigeria faces a growing unemployment rate that has led to a number of social issues, including internet fraud, banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and ritual killings.

Raising young employment has been attributed to the nation’s inadequate educational system. Education stakeholders have long bemoaned the regrettable tendency of postsecondary schools producing graduates who wander the streets every day looking for employment that don’t exist (Gabadeen & Raimi 2016). The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) incorporated entrepreneurship education into the curricula of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education through their regulatory agencies, the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), in an effort to address this issue by turning graduates of Nigerian higher education into job creators rather than lifelong job seekers. With effect from the 2007–2008 academic year, entrepreneurship education was formally added to the curricula of higher education institutions (ILO, 2010).

The degree of development of a country’s human resources, as well as in the areas of social integration, psychological stability, functional education, and political stability, are used to determine its wealth. Any country that reaches this level of development will undoubtedly eradicate poverty, unemployment, and corruption and advance industrialization, peace, security, human and capital development, a sufficient supply of food, and fair wealth distribution among its people. This supports the ideas expressed by Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith in his book An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, which is commonly known by its abbreviated title The Wealth of Nations.

Incorporating entrepreneurship education into Nigerian university curricula was intended to equip students with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce and contribute to society once they graduated (Davwet, Damar, Goyit, & Kajang, 2019). This goal is reflected in Nigerian institutions’ strategic plans, which provide undergraduates with the chance to become entrepreneurs and lifelong learners. Entrepreneurship education was created to give undergraduates from a range of fields the entrepreneurial skills they would need to own requirements of life, be human, and be free from societal servanthood (Edokpolor, 2020). Undergraduates’ ability to obtain independence and the requirements of life is described in the literature on sustainability and economic development (Mensah, 2019).

Statement of Problem and the Justification of the Study

In Nigeria, entrepreneurial education has been extensively advocated as an essential strategy for addressing enduring issues like high young unemployment, sluggish industrial growth, poor levels of innovation, and an excessive reliance on crude oil earnings. Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and other postsecondary institutions have responded by establishing entrepreneurship centers and courses, frequently making them mandatory for students in all subject areas. However, despite these efforts, the nation still has a sizable unproductive informal sector and high rates of underemployment and unemployment, particularly among graduates.

This circumstance calls into question the true strategic impact of entrepreneurship education on Nigeria’s economic growth. In particular, there is no empirical knowledge about whether the way entrepreneurial education is currently designed, taught, and delivered in Nigeria truly results in quantifiable outcomes like the development of businesses, the creation of jobs, the capacity for innovation, and GDP contribution. Few studies examine how entrepreneurial education affects more general development indicators like employment structure, economic diversification, and poverty reduction; most concentrate on students’ attitudes or intentions. Because of this gap, it is challenging for educators and policymakers to assess whether current entrepreneurship programs are useful as tools for development or require substantial revision.

Additionally, there seems to be a mismatch between the skills taught in many Nigerian entrepreneurship programs and the real-world demands of the business environment, such as technology change, infrastructure deficiencies, regulatory restrictions, and financial access. As a result, graduates could learn about entrepreneurship theoretically without the skills, networks, or ecosystems needed to build long-term businesses that can spur economic growth. This discrepancy implies that entrepreneurship education’s strategic potential as a catalyst for national development is not being fully realized. The lack of data on how and to what degree entrepreneurial education, as it is currently organized and applied in Nigeria, strategically influences important aspects of economic development like job creation, innovation, enterprise expansion, and structural economic transformation is the issue this study attempts to solve. Without this proof, entrepreneurship education may continue to be funded and expanded without clear evidence of its developmental benefit or recommendations for enhancing its efficacy.

The urgent need for evidence-based solutions to Nigeria’s high youth unemployment, which has been recognized as a significant socioeconomic issue and a cause of instability and insecurity, justifies this study. The idea that entrepreneurial education might provide young people the mindset and abilities to make their own jobs instead of relying just on wage employment is frequently put forth. Determining if this widely held belief is true in the Nigerian context will require assessing its strategic impact on economic development (Bessant& Tidd 2011).

Policymakers and educational planners who devote significant funds to entrepreneurial initiatives at the federal, state, and institutional levels should also take note of the study. The research can direct changes in curriculum design, teaching strategies, and support systems like incubation, mentorship, and financial access if it makes clear how entrepreneurial education helps (or doesn’t help) employment, innovation, and economic diversity. This will make it possible to allocate scarce public and private funds to entrepreneurial education programs that have clear developmental benefits.

The report provides a foundation for universities and other educational institutions to match entrepreneurial education with national economic priorities, like boosting MSMEs, encouraging a knowledge-based economy, and advancing non-oil sectors. The study can help enhance course content, experiential learning, industry relationships, and evaluation techniques by determining which elements of entrepreneurial education are most closely associated with economic outcomes (Chukwuka et al 2026b). This will increase the relevance and efficacy of programs. Lastly, by examining entrepreneurship education’s wider strategic impact on economic development indicators in a developing-country setting, the study adds to the body of scholarly literature by going beyond attitudinal and intention-based studies. A targeted study helps close a conceptual and empirical gap and offers a model for comparable investigations in other African economies because current research on Nigeria is still developing and frequently dispersed.

This study main objective is to ascertain the exact effect of Entrepreneurial Education on Nigerian Economic Development.

Literature Review

The Concept of Entrepreneurship Education

Several authors have attempted to conceptualize entrepreneurship education. For example, entrepreneurship education is defined by Okifo and Ayo (2010) as the kind of education intended to alter the recipient’s orientation and attitude while acquiring the skills and information necessary to establish and run a business organization. Osuala (2010) defined entrepreneurship education as a program or component of a program that equips people to start and run small businesses, including franchise operations, for the purpose of carrying out all business functions related to a product or service with an emphasis on social responsibilities, legal requirements, and risks for the sake of profit involved in the conduct of private business enterprises. The primary goal of entrepreneurship education, according to Suleiman (2010), is to prepare young people to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers by providing them with real-world learning experiences that allow them to take risks, manage results, and learn from the outcome.

The process of teaching people to identify and cultivate essential entrepreneurial traits, abilities, and behaviors is known as entrepreneurship education. Since these abilities are necessary in the workplace, everyday activities, household management, and society at large, entrepreneurial skills like creativity, innovation, quick decision-making, and risk-taking are applicable to everyone, not just those who want to launch and expand their own business. As the saying goes, learning never ends, and entrepreneurship education should never end either (Chukwuka et al 2026). Successful business owners never stop learning during the course of their venture or business. Adesulu (2010) asserts that in order for Nigeria to achieve its Vision 20:2020 objectives, the nation must not just teach entrepreneurship in schools but also be ready to put it into practice. Another meaning of entrepreneurship education is someone who develops original concepts and transforms them into successful enterprises. Adesulu continues, “The act of combining creative and inventive ideas with organizational management abilities in order to combine people, money, and resources to solve a recognized need and create profit” is the definition of entrepreneurship. According to

Egunjimi (2012), the goals of entrepreneurship education are as follows: To provide adolescents with practical knowledge that will help them become independent and self-employed. Give the young graduates enough training so they can find new business prospects with creativity and innovation, to act as an accelerator of development and economic growth. Provide graduates of postsecondary institutions with sufficient risk management skills to ensure that certain bearings are viable. Migration from rural to urban areas has decreased. To lower the high poverty rate. Make jobs. Give the recent graduates adequate training and assistance so they can start a career in small and medium-sized businesses. To instill in young people and adults the spirit of perseverance that will allow them to persevere in any business endeavor they take on. Make the shift from a traditional to a modern industrial economy seamless.

Economic development is a primary concern for any competent government. It is a key campaign commitment during electioneering campaigns and has a prominent place in its growth strategy. Since education is widely seen as the cornerstone of progress, many governments in developing countries have focused on it as a way to achieve national development. A nation with educated citizens is more likely to see national progress than one with uneducated citizens. This is based on the idea that educated citizens are not only creative and productive but also socially and culturally tolerant people who apply moral and ethical principles in their daily lives with an entrepreneurial spirit that helps to create jobs and lessen poverty among the hordes of young people. Because of their beliefs and leadership abilities, they support political, economic, and technical advancement. Since man’s divine creation, education has been used largely as a reformative process in the sustainable development of a dynamic society for shared wealth and citizen harmony (Awofala & Sopekan, 2013; Oyekan, 2015).

The relationship between economic development and entrepreneurship

The following are some ways that entrepreneurship aids in economic development:
1) Balanced regional development: The growth of commerce and industry benefits the public in many ways, such as transportation, health, education, and entertainment. Development is limited to the cities where industry are concentrated. Due to greater rivalry in and around cities, there is a rapid development when new entrepreneurs thrive at a faster rate and are motivated to start their firms in smaller towns far from large cities. This aids in the advancement of underdeveloped regions.

2) Dispersal of economic power: As a result of industrial growth, economic power is typically concentrated in a small number of hands. One effect of this concentration of power in a small number of hands is monopolies. The growth of numerous entrepreneurs contributes to the population’s distribution of economic power. Consequently, it helps lessen monopoly’s detrimental effects.

3) Creating jobs: The country is worried about rising unemployment, especially among educated people. There are hardly 5% to 10% of unemployed people who can find work. There are two ways that entrepreneurs generate employment: directly and indirectly. Through their self-employment as entrepreneurs and the creation of many manufacturing facilities, they directly and indirectly create work for millions of others.

Therefore, the best way to fight unemployment is through entrepreneurship.
4) Innovation: An entrepreneur is a person who is always searching for new chances. He not only mixes the factors of production but also introduces new ideas and combinations of factors. He is always trying to implement more advanced techniques for producing goods and services. An entrepreneur advances economic growth through invention.

5) National income: National revenue is derived from both domestic and foreign goods and services. Both domestic consumption and export demand are the goals of the produced goods and services. As the population grows and living standards rise, so does domestic demand.

Export demand increases to meet the demands of growing imports for a number of reasons. An increasing number of entrepreneurs are required to meet the growing demand for goods and services. Consequently, entrepreneurship increases the country’s income.
6) Higher living standards: Increasing economic growth rates requires entrepreneurs. Depending on their demands, entrepreneurs can produce goods at a lower cost and provide the community with high-quality commodities at a lower cost. Customers can buy more items to meet their needs as commodity prices decline. In this way, they will be able to improve the standard of living for the populace.

Ogundele and Egunjimi (2017) list the following additional advantages of entrepreneurial education for the Nigerian economy:

a) Employment opportunities: There are more job openings as a result of entrepreneurial activity. Businesses need people to work for them. Additionally, entrepreneurship reduces the number of job seekers on the streets searching for open opportunities. Unemployment and idleness are other contributing factors to the high incidence of crime and violence among young people and on the streets.
b) Efficient use of natural resources: Entrepreneurship creates value for the economy and the entrepreneur by transferring resources from less productive to more productive areas. Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources are effectively used.

c) Equitable distribution of income and wealth: More entrepreneurial activity in rural areas generates more money, which spreads the economic prosperity of both communities and individuals. The rate of rural-urban migration will decrease as a result of more villages having more employment possibilities. In rural places, entrepreneurship creates new jobs, boosts local incomes, and enhances the standard of living. These kinds of entrepreneurial endeavors successfully link rural villages with larger urban areas. A nation’s increasing productivity and capital accumulation are further benefits of entrepreneurship education. In conclusion, the expansion of entrepreneurship is essential to the nation’s economic development. The role of entrepreneurship development can be summed up as follows: entrepreneurship is a cause of economic development, and economic development is a product of entrepreneurship (Kressel & Lento 2012).

According to Ogundele and Ogunjimi (2017), entrepreneurship has been a potent engine of economic growth and wealth creation for many developing nations, and it is essential for enhancing the quantity, diversity, and quality of employment prospects for the impoverished. Compared to other natural resources, which can run out, it is a better source of competitive advantage since it has several multiplier effects on the economy, encourages innovation, and encourages investment in people. Entrepreneurs launch new companies, economic sectors, and commercial endeavors.

They provide goods and services for society, develop new technologies, enhance or reduce the cost of outputs, generate jobs for others, and generate foreign exchange by increasing exports or replacing imports. With over 10% of the population living on less than $2 (two dollars) per day and 54% surviving on less than $1 per day, entrepreneurial activities have the potential to bring Nigeria out of poverty provided they are effectively carried out and supported by active government policies and infrastructures. Even while graduates who choose to pursue professional professions can find white-collar work, developing entrepreneurial abilities is also more practical. This is a way to generate more revenue for self-sufficiency (Adesulu, 2010).

Economic Development

In general, economic development refers to the persistent, coordinated efforts of communities and governments that raise the standard of living and economic well-being of a particular region. The quantitative and qualitative shifts in the economy are another name for economic progress. Human capital development, vital infrastructure, regional competitiveness, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, health, safety, literacy, and other activities are just a few of the topics that these measures may cover. Economic growth is not the same as economic development. Economic growth is a result of increased GDP and market productivity, whereas economic development is a governmental intervention effort aimed at improving people’s economic and social well-being (Abefe-Balogun & Nwankpa 2012).

As a result, “economic growth is one aspect of the process of economic development,” as noted by Amartya (1983). The method and policies that a country uses to enhance the social, political, and economic well-being of its citizens are included in the scope of economic development.  According to Mansell and When (1998), economic growth—that is, improvements in per capita income—and the achievement of a quality of living comparable to that of industrialized nations have been considered components of economic development since the Second World War. Another way to think of economic development is as a static theory that describes the condition of an economy at a particular point in time (Awofala & Sopekan 2013).

Development and economic growth are two different concepts. It involves more than simply the economy growing (in terms of increased output). It entails increasing real per capita income and significantly improving every area of the economy (Dungrit, Bahago, & Gotip, 2022). Actually, there are numerous facets of economic development that cooperate with each other. It has to do with how far human potential has advanced, how well a nation’s citizens live, how robust and resilient its institutions are, and how effectively society is functioning overall.

Methodology

The literature review methodology used is thematic. Papers were selected from multiple databases thematically. The recentness and relevant theme were used to arrange the papers. On the other hand, similar but older studies were refuted just like the unrelated ones. As a result, the remaining recent articles that are relevant to the topic of this work were examined closely, and any flaws or deficiencies were noted. Recommendations for the examined papers were appropriate.

Content analysis was used to examine the gathered data. Condensing lengthy textual information into fewer categories in accordance with clear coding standards is accomplished through the methodical and repeatable process of content analysis. It entails looking for recurrent themes, patterns, and trends in written, visual, or auditory content (Krippendorff, 2019). Content analysis makes it possible to transform qualitative historical data into a structured framework for comparative study and interpretation in historical research.

Results and Discussion

The relationship between entrepreneurial education and Nigeria’s economic development was investigated in this study. The findings showed a strong correlation or connection between Nigeria’s economic development and entrepreneurial education. According to Okuneye, Idowu, and Dansu (2009), this suggests that entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities has sparked a desire to take advantage of various entrepreneurship prospects for Nigeria’s economic development. The results suggest that well-taught entrepreneurship courses that give students entrepreneurial knowledge and skills would inspire them to start their own businesses and support Nigeria’s economic growth.

The study confirmed that Due to their various economies, both established nations like the United States and growing nations like Nigeria offer greater opportunities for entrepreneurs and are currently the focus of both domestic and international firms. In emerging nations like Nigeria, there is a clear correlation between economic growth and entrepreneurship. Consequently, it might be an answer to Nigeria’s financial issues. It is well known that entrepreneurship fosters skill development, creative thinking, product development, marketing, leadership development, and wealth creation. This leads to the development of successful micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) that produce profitable jobs, generate wealth, give women opportunities, diversify the economy, and ultimately expand it. The future of the Nigerian economy is primarily dependent on a new generation of entrepreneurs who must have the vision to create wealth and jobs in addition to coming up with innovative ideas and being committed to seeing them through to completion. Nigerian culture must change in order to achieve this. In the Nigerian economy, entrepreneurship education is necessary to build wealth and raise the standard of life while also reducing unemployment, crime, government spending, poverty, and social unrest.

Conclusion

This study examined the connection between entrepreneurial education and Nigeria’s economic growth. The results demonstrated a substantial relationship or correlation between entrepreneurial education and Nigeria’s economic development. This implies that entrepreneurship education in Nigerian colleges has sparked a desire to capitalize on numerous business chances for Nigeria’s economic development. According to the findings, well-taught entrepreneurship courses that equip students with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills would encourage them to launch their own companies and contribute to Nigeria’s economic expansion.

Determining the elements that affect economic development is one of the primary objectives of contemporary economics. The impact of entrepreneurship on a nation’s economy is enormous. This is known to economists and decision-makers. In actuality, entrepreneurship is now viewed as a catalyst for the growth and advancement of productive endeavors in all spheres of global economic life. The study concludes that there is a stronger correlation between economic growth and entrepreneurial education than with foreign assistance which contends that entrepreneurial education is essential for unlocking economic growth, generating employment, and lowering poverty, among other things, in developing countries like Nigeria.

Recommendation

The recommendations that follow are offered in order for entrepreneurship education at Nigerian institutions to be a tool for economic growth:
1. Regular training in entrepreneurial education should be provided to all instructors and lecturers. Lecturers should be hired, trained, and re-trained in this area. To increase their knowledge and successfully teach students entrepreneurial abilities, they should be financially supported to attend regional and global conferences.
2. Graduating students who choose to start their own business should have access to enough resources, including funding.

3. The various university administrations might get in touch with banks or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to offer grants or low-interest loans to entrepreneurship instructors so they can launch and manage their own companies. Through their own efforts, they will be able to obtain real-world experience that they may then impart to the pupils.
4. The provision of suitable educational resources, local infrastructure, and support services to guarantee their applicability to the Nigerian context.
5. In order to promote entrepreneurship and boost efficiency, the federal, state, and local governments should supply the necessary social amenities, such as electricity, roads, and other infrastructure.
6. Particularly in the more remote areas, governments ought to implement policies that would assist in enhancing the physical infrastructure, such as power, broadband internet, and transportation.

7. To help entrepreneurs acquire new skills that will make them more productive and contribute more to economic growth and development, entrepreneurship skills centers should be set up in both rural and urban areas.
8. Governments ought to grant subsidies and tax breaks to businesses that provide excellent employee value propositions to potential professionals, such as specialized training or stock option programs.
9. To support the nation’s expansion and development, workshops, seminars, symposia, and lectures ought to be arranged.

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Citation

Lariosa, Z., & Junio, O. (2026). Development of an Arduino-Based Smart Security System Integrating User Type, Authentication Method, and Access Status for Enhanced Access Control. International Journal of Research, 13(4), 189–196. https://doi.org/10.26643/ijr/edupub/19

Zandrex Lariosa, Oliver Junio

c1-241-02102@uphsl.edu.ph, omj@uphsl.edu.ph

University of Perpetual Help System Laguna

Abstract

The increasing trend of hacking attacks and security violations in addition to inefficiencies in access control mechanisms is one reason that calls for the implementation of an intelligent security mechanism. The purpose of this research is to design and implement the Arduino-based intelligent access control security system, which considers user type, authentication method sequence, and access status to strengthen multi-level access controls. With regards to the DiD security layer concept, the ABAC principle, and the IPO framework, the system features RFID and fingerprint-based sequential authentication to enhance the security process.

The designed system entails the use of RFID and fingerprint technology, attendance logging in real-time, intrusion detection, sending of alerts through email and SMS messages, remote monitoring via the Internet, and analysis of access pattern based on time and frequency of access. For this study, the descriptive developmental method of research was utilized, along with a waterfall software development process. The evaluation of the software was conducted among small business owners and IT personnel residing in the City of Trece Martires, Cavite, using the ISO/IEC 25010 software quality framework.

The results revealed that the proposed system is highly acceptable and efficient as a cost-effective smart security system. The inclusion of multi-factor authentication, real-time monitoring, and intelligent access control analysis improved the reliability of the security and access control system process. This study has contributed to the existing literature on Arduino and IoT security systems in that it demonstrated the practicality of implementing multi-factor authentication, role management, and intelligent monitoring into small business settings.

Introduction

The rapid advancement of technology has led to a corresponding increase in security threats, particularly in small businesses where resources for advanced protection are limited. Traditional access control systems, which often rely on single authentication methods, are becoming inadequate in addressing modern challenges such as unauthorized access, theft, and data breaches. These systems lack flexibility, real-time monitoring, and adaptive capabilities, making them vulnerable to exploitation. While previous studies have explored the use of RFID, biometrics, and monitoring technologies, many remain limited to isolated implementations without integrating multiple security layers or intelligent analysis.

To address these limitations, this study proposes the development of an Arduino-based smart security system that integrates multi-layered authentication mechanisms. The system utilizes a sequential process where RFID verification is followed by fingerprint authentication, ensuring enhanced identity validation before granting access. It also incorporates role-based access control for different user types and provides real-time monitoring of system activities, including detection of unauthorized access and intrusion attempts. This structured approach strengthens security by combining multiple authentication methods and improving overall access control efficiency.

In addition, the system introduces an intelligent access behavior analysis component that evaluates user activity based on time patterns and frequency of access attempts. This enables the detection of unusual or suspicious behavior, contributing to proactive security management. Designed as a cost-effective and open-source solution, the system is suitable for small businesses, offices, and similar environments. Overall, the study contributes to the development of a scalable and efficient smart security system that integrates multi-factor authentication, user management, and intelligent monitoring to address the limitations of existing access control technologies.

METHODOLOGY

This study employed a descriptive-developmental research design combined with the Waterfall software development model to design, develop, and evaluate an Arduino-based smart security system. The approach enabled the researchers to first assess existing security practices among small businesses, identify system requirements, and subsequently develop a solution that addresses identified gaps. The methodology followed a structured process consisting of needs assessment, system development, and evaluation, ensuring that the resulting system is both technically sound and aligned with user needs.

The system development process followed the Waterfall model, which consists of sequential phases: analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. During the analysis phase, system requirements and security challenges were identified. The design phase involved planning the hardware and software architecture, including the integration of RFID, fingerprint sensors, and web-based monitoring. Implementation focused on coding and assembling the hardware components, while testing ensured system accuracy, reliability, and performance. The Waterfall diagram is included in this study to illustrate the step-by-step development process followed.

The architecture of the system integrates both hardware and software components to support a multi-layered security mechanism. The system utilizes RFID and fingerprint authentication, a microcontroller (Arduino/ESP32), a web-based platform, and notification systems for real-time alerts. It enables role-based access control for administrators and staff, attendance monitoring, and intrusion detection based on unauthorized access attempts or irregular usage patterns. The design ensures secure, efficient, and reliable access control supported by real-time monitoring capabilities.

Data for system evaluation were collected from 100 purposively selected respondents, including business owners, staff, and IT professionals from Trece Martires City, Cavite. A structured questionnaire based on the ISO/IEC 25010 software quality model was used to assess system performance across nine criteria, including functionality, efficiency, security, and reliability. Data gathering procedures included surveys, usability testing, and interviews, while analysis was conducted using weighted mean and Likert scale interpretation. Ethical standards such as informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation were strictly observed throughout the study.

Results and Discussion

The results of the study revealed that most small businesses still rely on traditional security mechanisms such as manual locks and basic surveillance systems, which are often not actively monitored and lack real-time alert capabilities. These systems are vulnerable to unauthorized access and fail to provide immediate response during security breaches. The findings highlight the need for a more advanced and integrated security solution that addresses these limitations through automation and multi-layered protection.

Based on the identified needs, the proposed Arduino-based smart security system was designed to incorporate key features such as multi-factor authentication using RFID and fingerprint scanning, real-time monitoring, attendance tracking, and remote access via a web-based platform. The system also includes alert mechanisms that notify administrators through SMS and email in cases of unauthorized access. These features directly respond to the operational requirements of small business owners and staff, improving both security and administrative efficiency.

The evaluation results showed that the system achieved “Excellent” ratings across all software quality attributes based on the ISO/IEC 25010 framework. IT experts, business owners, and staff consistently rated the system highly in terms of functional suitability, performance efficiency, compatibility, interaction capability, reliability, security, maintainability, flexibility, and safety. Among these, security received the highest ratings, indicating strong confidence in the system’s ability to protect against unauthorized access. Slightly lower but still excellent ratings in interaction capability suggest opportunities for further improving user interface design.

Overall, the findings demonstrate that the developed system is highly acceptable, reliable, and effective for small business environments. The integration of multi-layered authentication, real-time monitoring, and intelligent alert mechanisms significantly enhances security operations compared to traditional systems. The results also confirm that the system is practical, user-friendly, and adaptable, making it a viable solution for improving access control and security management in small-scale enterprises.

Criteria	IT Experts	Employers	Staff	Overall Mean	Interpretation
Functional Suitability	4.83	4.53	—	4.68	Excellent
Performance Efficiency	4.80	4.33	—	4.57	Excellent
Interaction Capability	4.73	4.30	—	4.52	Excellent
Compatibility	4.85	4.55	—	4.70	Excellent
Reliability	4.80	—	4.46	4.63	Excellent
Security	4.92	4.64	—	4.78	Excellent
Maintainability	4.84	—	4.56	4.70	Excellent
Flexibility	4.70	—	4.59	4.65	Excellent
Safety	4.80	—	—	4.80	Excellent

The statistical results indicate that the developed Arduino-based smart security system achieved consistently high ratings across all nine ISO/IEC 25010 software quality characteristics, with all computed means falling within the “Excellent” range (4.20–5.00). The overall grand mean of 4.67 confirms a very high level of acceptability and performance among all respondent groups, including IT experts, employers, and staff.

Among the evaluated criteria, Security (4.78) obtained the highest overall mean, reflecting strong confidence in the system’s ability to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data protection. This is followed by Compatibility and Maintainability (4.70), indicating that the system is adaptable across different environments and easy to manage. These findings suggest that the integration of multi-layered authentication and real-time monitoring significantly enhanced system robustness.

On the other hand, Interaction Capability (4.52) received the lowest mean, although it still falls under the “Excellent” category. This implies that while users find the system highly functional and reliable, there is still room for improvement in terms of user interface design and ease of interaction, particularly for non-technical users.

Overall, the statistical findings validate that the system is highly reliable, efficient, secure, and user-acceptable, making it a viable solution for improving access control and security management in small business environments.

Conclusion

This study concludes that Chinese technology enterprises demonstrate a high level of effectiveness in contract management practices, supported by well-established governance frameworks and positive contractor relationships; however, these practices do not directly translate into enhanced contractor performance. While effective contract management significantly improves relationship quality, contractor performance appears to be influenced by additional factors such as innovation capability, technological competence, and performance-based incentives. This indicates that contract management, while essential, must be strategically integrated with performance monitoring mechanisms and outcome-driven evaluation systems to generate measurable improvements. Therefore, to maximize contractor performance, technology enterprises must move beyond compliance to adopt performance-oriented contracting models that promote accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of the study, several recommendations are proposed to further enhance the functionality, security, and usability of the developed system. First, the development of a mobile application is recommended to allow remote monitoring of access logs, user management, and real-time alert notifications. This will significantly improve user interaction, accessibility, and convenience, especially for administrators who need to manage the system off-site. In addition, the implementation of data encryption and secure communication protocols is strongly suggested to strengthen data protection, ensuring that sensitive information is safeguarded against potential data breaches and unauthorized access.

Furthermore, the inclusion of a device expansion module is recommended to improve system scalability. This feature may integrate an access point (AP) hotspot capability, enabling users to easily connect to Wi-Fi and manage multiple devices across different business branches efficiently. Another important enhancement is the incorporation of an emergency key mechanism, which can be used to grant access during unexpected situations such as power outages or internet interruptions, ensuring continuous system functionality.

Finally, the system can be further upgraded by incorporating advanced multi-factor authentication mechanisms that combine RFID technology, fingerprint scanning, and AI-based access behavior analysis. This enhancement will provide an additional layer of security by not only verifying user identity but also assessing access patterns for potential anomalies. Overall, these recommendations aim to improve the system’s adaptability, security, and reliability, making it more robust and suitable for wider implementation in various business environments.

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Citation

Olimpiada, A. E., & Junio, O. M. (2026). Development of a Blockchain-Based Tokenization Enhancing Diploma Security, Authenticity, and Verification at Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus. International Journal of Research, 13(4), 150–188. https://doi.org/10.26643/ijr/edupub/18

Ariel E. Olimpiada

Faculty of the Graduate School

University of Perpetual Help System Laguna

Oliver M. Junio

Faculty of the Graduate School

University of Perpetual Help System Laguna

Abstract

There is a growing need for credible, valid, and efficient certification of diplomas. These needs have exposed some inadequacies within the current diploma management systems, which can be susceptible to forging and inefficient manual verification. This research project proposed a blockchain-enabled diploma tokenization solution that would help manage the security, validity, and verification process at Cavite State University-Trece Martires Campus.

The diploma management platform was developed according to the Input-Process-Output design model. It was developed using the Waterfall development approach. React 18, TypeScript, and TailwindCSS were the technologies used in the development of the frontend. Meanwhile, Express 5 with Passport.js was used for developing the backend. PostgreSQL was used for database management. Blockchain technology integration was done by deploying the platform on the Ethereum Sepolia test network using ethers.js. Diploma hashes were then stored on the blockchain network.

The system was assessed based on factors such as functionality, efficiency, usability, reliability, security, and safety. The outcomes were consistent in showing highly favorable scores described as “Excellent” on all criteria, meaning that the system successfully addressed both user and technical needs.

The findings revealed that blockchain technology greatly enhances the trustworthiness and verification of academic credentials. The system created through this study offers a safe, reliable, and efficient mechanism for handling diploma credentials.

Keywords: Blockchain Technology; Diploma Tokenization; Academic Credential Validation; Data Protection; Credibility; Smart Contracts; NFTs; Decentralization; Hash Function; Higher Education System; Digital Credentials; Fraud Detection; Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI); Immutable Ledger; Cavite State University

Introduction

The exponential advancements in digital technology have dramatically impacted data management techniques in numerous industries, including higher education. Modern universities often employ digital solutions in managing their academic records and other organizational processes. Nevertheless, the process of issuing and verifying diplomas has remained rather conventional and still depends on physical paper documents. Paper diplomas are easily subject to forgery, decay, loss, and the lengthy process of manual authentication. These vulnerabilities contribute to administrative inefficiencies and pose credibility concerns for educational organizations, especially considering the rising cases of credentialing fraud on a global scale (Gupta et al., 2020; Juan et al., 2023). In this regard, there is an increasing demand for safe, tamper-proof, and reliable credentialing management systems.

Blockchain technology can be regarded as a promising solution to the above-listed issues. Blockchain technology refers to a decentralized distributed ledger system that provides data with immutability, cryptographic protection, transparency, and consensus validation capabilities. After the information is confirmed and stored in the blockchain infrastructure, it becomes resistant to any unauthorized changes (Tian et al., 2020; Juan et al., 2023). Thus, blockchain appears to be highly effective in dealing with critical information like academic credentials.

Tokenization is one application of blockchain technology that refers to the process of creating digital tokens of physical and non-tangible resources within a blockchain system (Gupta et al., 2020; Freni et al., 2020). Diploma tokenization is an approach through which physical diplomas are transformed into digitally verifiable resources through the creation of digital tokens for diplomas through smart contracts. Smart contracts are blockchain-enabled mechanisms used to carry out programmed transactions upon the satisfaction of certain predefined conditions (Anderson & Park, 2022). Smart contracts can therefore be used in learning institutions to issue and verify diplomas, hence minimizing chances of errors in the manual process and ensuring record accuracy.

Despite several successful cases in international literature showing the viability of blockchain-based credential systems, most cases have only been implemented through pilots or those conducted in technologically advanced organizations (Zhuang et al., 2023; Queiroz et al., 2024). There is also a lack of empirical work regarding the creation and evaluation of blockchain-based diploma tokenization systems in higher education institutions in the Philippines. Blockchain has yet to be implemented to issue and verify diplomas in CSU-TMC and there has been no existing empirical work assessing the effectiveness of such a system using any form of standard software quality models, such as the ISO/IEC 25010 System and Software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE) Model.

According to many scholars, the implementation of blockchain technology can guarantee that digital documents will indeed prove to be secure and verifiable due to its unique characteristics (Gupta et al., 2020; Juan et al., 2023). It also provides efficient transaction management making it possible for blockchain technology to be used in certificate issuing systems (Buldas et al., 2022; Dutta, 2020). The self-sovereignty of identities and the use of smart contracts will allow for the autonomous control of credentials by the students.

Nevertheless, the fact that the above-mentioned research works had been conducted in international universities rather than at Philippine institutions signifies that little has been done concerning the application of such blockchain technology in the Philippines. Hence, there appears a significant discrepancy between theoretical concepts of its usage and practical application in Philippine institutions. Therefore, a proposal is to carry out an investigation on designing and testing blockchain-based tokenized diplomas at CSU-TMC.

The current research work offered designing and developing a blockchain-based tokenized diploma system with smart contracts for safe diploma token issuing and verification. There were three key concepts used in this study: security, authenticity, and verification. The former will be responsible for the issuing of the tokenized diplomas by administrators, the latter two will refer to the process of graduates’ diplomas accessing, managing, and verification by employers.

As it was mentioned before, the research will contribute significantly to the body of knowledge concerning the use of blockchain technology in educational systems by offering a localized approach to its application based on the standards presented in the ISO/IEC 25010 framework.

Theory/Manual Operation

The important feature, which characterizes the nature of the diploma tokenization based on blockchain, lies in distributed ledger technology used, where all academic diplomas will be registered, verified, and controlled with the help of decentralized and tamperproof technology. In this way, the diploma will become an electronic token, which contains key information regarding the identity of the owner of this diploma, educational program, date of graduation, as well as hash code, which is necessary to ensure the uniqueness of the document.

From the perspective of system synthesis and functioning, the process of diploma tokenization begins with encoding of the data of all graduates, who graduated from the given educational program, by the registrar. Then, the automatic generation of the digital token takes place by the system itself.

While the system integrity is maintained by the IT professionals/system administrators, they also watch out for the transactions in the blockchain network in order to see to it that everything has been done systematically without any disruptions. Meanwhile, the employers/verifiers enter the system through the verification interface where the QR code/token ID number of the credential details can be seen on the blockchain.

Generally, the process undertaken manually provides an easy flow of events from data encoding to verification of the academic credentials of the student or learner.

The operational framework illustrates how the diploma tokenization system, based on blockchain technology, works at Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus. In the Input phase, the requirements of the entire system were gathered to identify its specifications. For the frontend, React 18, TypeScript, Vite, TailwindCSS, shadcn/ui, wouter, TanStack Query v5, and framer-motion were utilized for routing, fetching data, and creating animated UIs, respectively. As for the backend, the stack used was Express 5, Passport.js with local strategy and express session for authentication purposes. Database operations were handled with the help of PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM for efficiency and proper structuring. Blockchain implementation entailed the utilization of Ethereum Sepolia testnet via ethers.js wherein the diploma hash was stored. Some of the features of the system include pdf export using jsPDF and jsPDF-autotable, excel export using exceljs, and qrcode creation using qrcode.react. Lastly, the hardware requirement for the project entails any computer (PC/Laptop) that can access the internet.

In terms of the procedure, the application is subjected to several steps, including Requirements gathering; System design; Implementation; Testing and Verification; Deployment; and Maintenance. This guarantees that the system will be able to handle the necessary functionalities and security measures, particularly for blockchain transactions.

Figure 1. Diploma chain operational framework

The Output phase involved developing the system for blockchain-based diploma tokenization that improves diploma security, validity, and verification in CSU-Trece Martires Campus.

Statement of the Problem

The main objective of this study was the design and development of a diploma tokenization system using blockchain technology that would enhance assurance concerning the security, authenticity, and verifiability of academic records.

This study aimed to answer the following research questions:

1. What problems and threats exist in the current process of diploma issuance and validation in Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus?
2. What requirements must be met to provide sufficient security, authenticity, and verification for a diploma tokenization system using blockchain technology?
3. How should a diploma tokenization system using blockchain technology be designed and developed to resolve these problems?
4. How acceptable and effective is the system designed and developed from the perspective of IT specialists and end-users in terms of the ISO/IEC 25010 software quality characteristics:

4.1 Functional Suitability
4.2 Performance Efficiency

4.3 Interaction Capability
4.4 Reliability
4.5 Security and
4.6 Safety?

Assumptions of the Study

The research relied on the following assumptions:

1. The blockchain technology provides a secure, decentralized, and tamper-proof method of storing electronic documents.
2. The application of smart contracts ensures efficient and accurate issuing and verifying of diplomas.
3. The tokenization of diplomas in the blockchain environment increases the reliability, security, and authenticity of educational documents.
4. Administrators, graduates, and employers possess enough digital literacy to operate in the proposed system without any difficulties.

Scope and Delimitation

                          The research focused on the design and development of a blockchain diploma tokenization system for Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus. The design aimed to mitigate the security risks associated with the management of diplomas. The functionalities of the system include issuing diplomas via smart contracts, recording the diplomas using blockchain technology, and verifying their data through token IDs. It had role-based access, which gave admin, graduates, and employers different dashboards to perform tasks such as managing, accessing, and validating data. This project was evaluated based on the ISO/IEC 25000 software quality model. The parameters included functionality, performance, usability, reliability, security, and safety.

                          This study was limited to Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus only. It excluded other universities that have branches in Cavite City. It did not cover any other external academic institution either. In addition, the study involved the issuance and verification of diplomas, not transcripts of records and certificates of grades. Finally, the study mainly relied on expert validation and selective user feedback for its evaluation.

Significance of the study

Conclusions made based on the results of the research will prove to be important for many interested parties involved.

For graduates, the solution guarantees possession of the diploma without any risk of damage, since the electronic document is safely stored on the blockchain technology. In such a way, they will be able to verify their diploma anytime they need, thus improving their chances on the job market and making their education recognized.

For the University and Registrar’s Office, the new system represents a modern innovation in diploma management and issue that significantly increases its credibility and eliminates risks of falsification. Thus, the employees will be able to save time by not verifying papers manually.

For employers, other universities, and even for students themselves, the system will ensure quick and trustworthy verification of the candidate’s educational history and documents, guarantee authenticity and eliminating the risk of making a wrong choice during hiring process.

In terms of contribution to the research community, this research contributes significantly to the literature surrounding the application of blockchain technology to education, specifically in the Philippine context where concrete implementation is still in its early stages. This study provides insight on how blockchain technology can be applied locally to help solve the issues surrounding credential verification for academic purposes, which will be helpful for further research or projects.

Lastly, to the next developers or IT professionals out there, this research is an actual example of applying blockchain, tokenization, and smart contracts to academic-related activities.

Definition of Terms

For purposes of clarity and uniformity, the following terminologies were operationally and conceptually defined as used in this study. These terms emanate from the Statement of the Problem and the Research Methodology.

Authenticity implies the genuineness of a digital credential and its source issuance authority (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). Authenticity means the degree to which the diploma token recorded on the blockchain accurately represents the graduate’s achievements and is tamper-free.

Blockchain is a technology whereby records are maintained through distributed ledgers among multiple nodes that cannot be altered retroactively (Nakamoto, 2008). In this research, blockchain is the underlying technology that facilitates storing, protecting, and validating diploma tokens.

Compatibility implies a measure of the effectiveness of a computer system in working well with other computer systems and environments without problems (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). In this study, compatibility will be considered regarding the system functioning under diverse browser, device, and blockchain conditions.

Diploma Token implies a distinct electronic representation of an educational certification that is issued using blockchain technology. In this study, the diploma token will refer to the token generated by the smart contract, which holds the verified credentials of the student, and recorded on the blockchain ledger.

The employer or verifier is an individual or organization tasked with verifying the academic qualifications of applicants. For this research, the employer is an authorized user whose role involves verifying the authenticity of the applicant’s diploma through checking the token record via the system.

Functional Suitability is a measure of the extent to which a system possesses functionalities necessary to address explicit and implicit needs in certain circumstances (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). For this study, it will determine how effectively the diploma token system executes its functions.

Graduates are individuals who have completed all the academic demands of an institution. In this research, graduates are former students who hold a diploma tokenized on the blockchain.

Maintainability is the ease of modification and upgrade of a system (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). For this research, it pertains to the ability of the developers to change or update the blockchain diploma system.

Performance Efficiency is the effectiveness of system performance in terms of adequate response times and resource usage in certain conditions (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). For this research, it pertains to transaction speed, the period it takes to issue the diplomas, and verification response time.

Portability is the measure of ease of movement of a system from one setting to another (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). In this case, portability relates to the ease of adaptation of the system to different platforms or prospective institutional deployments.

The registrar is the officially designated department within a university that deals with academic records and the issuance of diplomas. In this study, the registrar takes on the role of the administrator that authenticates academic records and initiates the issuance of diploma tokens using smart contracts.

Reliability is the capability of the system to provide the intended function under given conditions (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). In this study, reliability concerns the consistency and stability of the diploma issuance and verification processes.

Security is the protection of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and data from threats such as breaches or tampering (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). In this study, security relates to the cryptographic mechanisms of the blockchain platform.

A smart contract is an algorithmic mechanism embedded in the blockchain that automatically implements the terms and conditions of a predetermined rule set once certain events occur (Szabo, 1997). In this study, smart contracts automate the process of issuing and validating diplomas.

Tokenization involves changing tangible or intangible assets into digital tokens that are held and controlled using a blockchain infrastructure (Gupta et al., 2020). In this research, tokenization represents the transition of traditional paper diplomas to secure digital diplomas. Usability represents the degree to which a system can be used productively, effectively, efficiently, and satisfyingly by users (ISO/IEC 25000, 2011). In this research, usability represents the ease of use of the system by administrators, graduates, and employers.

Verification entails verifying the legitimacy of the credentials. In this research, verification represents the validation of diploma tokens through blockchain, which relies on results provided by the system.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The following chapter provides selected research studies and literature that will be the basis for the conceptual framework that will serve as the foundation for designing the blockchain-enabled diploma tokenization system. The selected literature includes concepts related to blockchain technology, tokenization, smart contract, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and digital credentialing systems.

Blockchain Technology for Tokenizing and Preventing Diploma Fraud

In their research paper, Gupta et al. (2020) investigated the use of blockchain technology for real estate tokenization and identified its utility in decreasing fraud through immutable recordkeeping. Their conclusions underscore the importance of blockchain technology’s immutability and decentralized verification methods in preventing any changes to digital assets. While their study did not consider academic credentials, these two issues are similar in that diploma validation is essential.

Juan et al. (2023) similarly explored the topic of tokenized markets and argued that blockchain technology can develop secure, transparent, and efficient digital representations of tangible and intangible assets. Their analysis confirms the idea that tokenization is beneficial because it provides traceability and credibility, which is relevant in diploma tokenization programs aiming to produce permanent documentation.

Finally, Joshi and Choudhury (2022) also showed how blockchain technology decreases fraudulent behaviors by enabling reliable ownership tracking. When applying this solution to diploma authentication, it ensures that academic credentials are not falsified or duplicated.

Scalability and Infrastructure for Tokenized Systems

Nevertheless, scalability is still a key criterion for the adoption by organizations that issue vast amounts of credentials every year. Buldas et al. (2022) suggested a super-scalable framework for blockchain which can sustain high transaction volume for asset tokenization platforms. The results prove that blockchain technology can be implemented in scalable environments thus providing the ability to use the technology for university diploma storage and processing.

Tian et al. (2021) examined blockchain tokenization technology within financial infrastructures and identified two important properties of such technologies: immutability and transparency which promote trust within transactions.

Token Classification and Standardization

Freni, Ferro, & Moncada (2022) developed a morphological classification system for tokens in the blockchain. The article is pertinent to the diploma tokenization process since it outlines the steps involved in designing structured tokens. Structured tokens promote interoperability among various systems, making them more accessible to institutions and organizations.

Wang & Nixon (2021) examined the legal and theoretical underpinnings of token creation, specifically regarding smart contract security and consensus protocols. These results are crucial in ensuring that the diplomas issued via blockchain networks comply with technical and regulatory standards.

NFT-Based Credentials and Patent Developments

The recent advancements in the use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have made it possible to apply blockchain technology to credentials management. NFTs are non-exchangeable digital assets that uniquely identify and track ownership. In a study by Zhuang et al. (2023), it was shown that the integration of self-sovereign identity (SSI) with NFT tokenization can be used to provide users with full control and sharing capabilities over their digital credentials without having to depend on central institutions. This approach would enable decentralized ownership and authentication of diplomas.

In addition to the research, the concept of NFTs is being developed through patent filing. Patents recently filed for blockchain technologies include systems and methods to issue, store, and validate digital credentials through NFTs, which ensure authenticity and immutability. Patent filings for such innovations highlight cryptographic hash functions, distributed storage, and automated certification processes, such as diploma issuance based on smart contracts.

Wang & Lin (2021) also came up with digital badges powered by blockchain technology. The concept is almost identical to diploma tokenization since both processes seek to create permanent and verifiable digital credentials.

Smart Contracts in Academic Credentialing

Smart contracts are integral to automation within blockchain systems. Anderson & Park (2022) proposed an application of blockchain technology to automate the issuance and validation of academic credentials.

According to their results, smart contracts are effective in eliminating manual involvement, reducing human error, and enhancing operational efficiency.

Kopp & Orlovskyi (2022) also emphasized the importance of decentralization and the application of smart contracts to ensure transparency and traceability within educational credentialing systems.

Tokenization and Blockchain Tokens Classification: a morphological framework

The IEEE (2020) scholarly article gives a brief account on the application of blockchain technology to authenticate educational credentials, stating how blockchain technology is useful in developing a safe and decentralized storage method for educational credentials. According to the study, blockchain technology removes all middlemen associated with the management of these educational credentials, making it easier to authenticate them.

Review of blockchain tokens creation and valuation. Future Internet

Use of blockchain in education was reviewed by Alammary et al. (2023). From the study, it is evident that blockchain technology can be used as an efficient, trustworthy, and decentralized system for managing academic credentials. First, there is no doubt that the use of blockchain technology will guarantee maximum integrity in the system due to its immutability nature. Secondly, this kind of technology makes the process of storing and verifying academic credentials simpler and faster.

Tokenized markets using blockchain technology: Exploring recent developments and opportunities. Information

Research by Khan et al. (2023) on the application of blockchain technology to address the issue of verification of degrees in educational institutions was carried out. The authors note that traditional techniques to handle such an issue could prove time-consuming and expensive, and even fraudulent sometimes. It means that Khan et al. have proposed that employing a blockchain-enabled framework could be helpful for solving such issues.

The findings indicate that blockchain provides high-level protection to information due to the use of an immutable ledger and cryptographic hash functions. In addition, the application of this innovative technique would allow verifying degrees effectively and securely without cases of fraud.

The art of tokenization: Blockchain affordances and the invention of future milieus. Media Theory

A study carried out by HAL (2020) concerning the implementation of blockchain technology in the management and validation of academic diplomas observed that the traditional method of managing and validating credentials was inefficient, involving manual processes, delays, and vulnerability to hacking. Therefore, the authors suggested the adoption of a blockchain mechanism whereby the details of the diploma will be stored safely and cannot be altered, and there is no requirement of an intermediary authority to validate the document.

According to the research, blockchain technology fosters data integrity and transparency since the data provided cannot be tampered with. This implies that the verification process is faster and reliable for educational organizations and prospective employers, demonstrating that blockchain technology is one of the best methods for protecting academic credentials.

Token Valuation: A Systematic Literature Review and Empirical Analysis.

From the results obtained from the research carried out at Politecnico di Milano (2025), blockchain technology helps to address critical issues facing existing systems, particularly trust issues, transparency, and management issues. By using blockchain technology, a decentralized system can easily be created where smart contracts and tokens will give room for participation by users, provide increased transparency, and enhance system security. It is also clear that blockchain technology enhances system reliability since there are verifiable transactions without over-dependence on central organizations.

Thus, from this research finding, it can be stated that blockchain technology provides an effective solution to existing problems in the systems such as inefficiencies and lack of trust.

Blockchain in cultural heritage: insights from literature review. Sustainability,

According to Bucea-Manea-Țoniş et al., (2022), the application of blockchain technology would enhance the current higher education system since it would ensure that there is an assurance that there is a safe and decentralized system in the management of academic records. This is because it was found that using blockchain technology makes it certain that data would not change due to the immutability aspect of the technology.

The authors noted further that the application of blockchain technology makes it easy to validate credentials, and this does not require centralization; consequently, this makes the process swift. Indeed, the application of blockchain technology can be viewed as an effective method that can help achieve the objectives of this research.

Tokenization, blockchain and web 3.0 technologies as research objects in innovation management. International Journal of Innovation.

It could be stated that the blockchain technology is a safe way of securing academic credentials because it guarantees the protection of academic degrees against tampering. The following are some problems associated with the verification of diplomas that can be solved with the help of the blockchain technology.

Blockchain technology implies using a decentralized model, meaning that the provided data cannot be modified in any way (Caramihai & Severin, 2023). Additionally, the process of verifying credentials becomes more effective since the verification is possible independently of the institutions that issue the diploma. Smart contracts could make the process automated, reducing human interference (Chaniago et al., 2021).

Overall, blockchain enhances the protection and verification of academic credentials.

Tokenization on blockchain. In Proceedings of the 14th IEEE/ACM international conference on utility and cloud computing companion 

There is a lot of research that indicated that it was possible to verify educational documents based on blockchain technology. As reported by Heredia and Barros-Gavilanes (2021), the technology provides multiple levels of verification carried out in a decentralized manner, thus implying that the process is not controlled by a particular institution.

As was seen from the study discussed earlier, the same findings can be found in the current one, as the use of blockchain ensures immutability of educational documents and instant verification, which minimizes the risks of fraud as once the document has been validated, any changes cannot be made to it. In addition, the use of smart contracts automates the entire verification procedure.

The tokenization of everything: Towards a framework for understanding the potentials of tokenized assets.

Blockchain technology has attracted considerable interest around information systems to increase trust, transparency, and verifiability in digital environments. In the context of academic credentials, centralized models have resulted in inefficiencies and vulnerabilities such as forgery of documents, delays, and other issues.

As per Dela Cruz and Ramos (2021), the systematic way of verification with distributed data implies a lesser reliance on central institutions and increased data security. Hence, blockchain could help design a safer system with decentralized verification and better data security.

Regarding the challenge of diploma validation, blockchain solutions would enable securing the documents electronically and ensuring their veracity. Accordingly, blockchain technologies could help build trust among graduates, employers, and other stakeholders and reduce administrative efforts. Based on a review of previous literature, it seems that blockchain technologies offer more efficient and safe verification methods compared to conventional approaches.

Synthesis of the Reviewed Literature

From the literature, blockchain technology can serve as a channel through which digital credentials can be stored and authenticity of such digital credentials can be verified. There is abundant literature suggesting that the blockchain technology would ensure authenticity by reducing the chances of fraud while making sure that there is transparency. Gupta et al. (2020), Juan et al. (2023) believed conceptually that through the nature of the blockchain, which is decentralization and irreversibility, security and authenticity could be ensured when managing credentials. To put differently, there is the possibility of issuance and verification of academic credentials through the blockchain technology.

Buldas et al. (2022) and Dutta (2020) also demonstrated that due to the ability of the blockchain technology to manage many transactions effectively, it becomes relevant to use it in universities where thousands of diplomas are issued. Additionally, Tian et al. (2021), and Zhuang et al. (2023) argued that self-sovereign identity and smart contracts can allow graduates to maintain ownership of their credentials while at the same time ensure authenticity and trustworthiness.

In general, there is sufficient literature available about the application of blockchain technology in providing a secure and efficient way of managing diplomas. Nonetheless, this is seen in other parts of the world. There is still a lack of studies, including application studies, regarding this approach in Philippine universities. This study aims to bridge that gap through presenting an innovative diploma tokenization platform using blockchain technology for the Cavite State University-Trece Martires Campus.

Gap/s Bridged by the Present Study

As the interest in blockchain technology continues to grow worldwide and as more people become involved in exploring its application within the context of issuing academic credentials, very few practical applications of such technology have been attempted by public universities located in the Cavite region, particularly Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus.

Majority of existing literature pertaining to blockchain technology in academia focuses only on theoretical discussions about the use of such technology without considering the real-life problems of local students, such as diploma fraud, inefficient verification process, and accessibility issues. Because of this, the development and evaluation of blockchain technology to enhance efficiency, security, and authenticity in local universities become very necessary to be done.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

            The method of research is discussed in this chapter whereby the researcher describes the process of data collection used to accomplish the goals of the study. It covers research design, data sources, population and sampling, research instruments, data collection and analysis.

Research Design

Descriptive developmental research was used by the researcher to develop, test, and evaluate the performance of the computer system for issuing the tokenized diploma services, thus contributing towards the improvement in the aspect of the security, authenticity, and verification of the issuance of credentials at Cavite State University-Trece Martires Campus. This kind of research is relevant for this topic as it considers not only the problems associated with the current situation regarding the issuance and verification of the diploma but also provides the practical solutions for those issues. Four steps may be expected from the organization of this study, including the following ones:

1.         What problems and risks exist when it comes to the process of the issuance and verification of diplomas in the Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus?

2.         What kind of requirements must be provided for making sure that a blockchain-based diploma tokenization system would have an adequate level of security, authenticity, and verification?

3.         What should be done to provide the development of the computer system based on blockchain that would solve the problems mentioned above?

4.         How could the computer system developed be evaluated by the experts and tested by users?

Figure 2: Waterfall Software Methodology

                        The process of developing the diploma tokenization system via blockchain was carried out following the Waterfall approach, which implies linearity and sequence of the processes performed. Thus, each phase needed to be accomplished before proceeding to the next step.

Requirements Analysis. As part of the current phase, all the requirements for creating the system were gathered. Stakeholders including registrars, IT specialists, and employers were recognized at this stage and their expectations such as issuing and verification of diplomas and requirements concerning security of the system were considered. It should be noted that specific technical requirements for building the system were formulated including the use of React 18, TypeScript, Express 5, PostgreSQL, and Ethereum Sepolia testnet.

System Design. The development of the system was conducted as a web application stack, where the blockchain technology was employed. For the front-end side, architecture design has been made with React, TailwindCSS, and shadcn/ui libraries. In terms of back-end development, Express.js along with the Passport.js authentication library has been used. The database design was performed based on PostgreSQL and Drizzle ORM, whereas smart contracts were designed to store diploma hashes in Ethereum blockchain.

Implementation. The development phase in our project was conducted according to the specification created before. The front end of the system was implemented using React library and TypeScript library for back-end APIs implementation. For data storage, PostgreSQL has been used; moreover, ethers.js library has been employed for blockchain interaction purposes (with Ethereum Sepolia testnet). Additionally, the system supports PDF generating (using jsPDF) and Excel spreadsheets exporting (using exceljs).

Testing. Testing of the created application is crucial for assessing its reliability and security features. The unit testing was performed to test different API endpoints, database operations, and working with blockchain as well. Verification of correctness of registering of diploma hashes in blockchain and verification through QR codes is included in the verification process.

Deployment. Following completion of the testing process, the created product was deployed in the required environment. App production and making it available for registrars, students, and external verifiers was performed. Checking the connectivity with blockchain on the testnet was also made.

Maintenance. Maintenance of the app included providing its reliability and upgrading of the system to avoid any future problems.

System Architecture

                  The use case diagram highlights the Blockchain Diploma Issuance and Verification System (CvSU-TMC). This includes interaction between three key stakeholders: Registrar, student, and employer/verifier within the system. The Registrar oversees user account management and generates blockchain-based diplomas to ensure that academic documents are stored securely and are immutable. On the part of the student, he or she can create an account, view the generated diplomas, and review transaction history in the blockchain. Additionally, the student can forward diplomas to potential employers. Lastly, the employer/verifier verifies the validity of the diploma by employing either of the two approaches; one involves verifying the ID of the document while the other involves scanning of QR codes.  

Figure 3. Use case diagram of development of a blockchain-based diploma

Sources of Data

The primary sources of data in this research are the stakeholders who directly engaged in the issuing and validating of the academic credentials in the university – Cavite State University, Trece Martires campus. This includes the admin whose responsibility is to maintain and certify the student’s academic records, the graduates who got tokenized diploma, and the employers who validated the credentials provided by the applicant. The feedback from these parties played an important role in determining the efficiency and effectiveness of the system being developed.

Secondary data were collected from various readings, literature, journal articles, and relevant studies on blockchain technology, tokenization, smart contracts, and blockchain technology in higher education institutions’ credentialing. These sources served as the theory and the technical aspect of the system.

Population of the Study

This study was participated in by 50 people who were purposefully selected among the Cavite State University -Trece Martires Campus and its partners. Participants comprised three categories made up of 30 graduate students, 10 university IT personnel and registrars, and 10 employers. This categorization enabled the researchers to collect feedback from all people that took part in the issuance, authentication, and utilization of the diplomas.

Purposive sampling technique was used for the selection of research participants based on specific criteria according to the objectives set for this study. The technique involved the participation of individuals who had the appropriate experience to provide valuable insights concerning the blockchain-based tokenized diplomas.

According to the research researcher, there were three main criteria for inclusion of graduate students in the study, namely: (i) recent graduation, (ii) previous exposure to academic records, and (iii) readiness to undergo the evaluation of the system. Their responses would be very important during the evaluation of the system’s usability, accessibility, and verification capabilities.

University staff / Registrars were identified based on the following criteria: (i) directly involved in diploma generation and record management processes, (ii) aware of current systems of verification processes within the institution, and (iii) ready to give their feedback regarding the efficiency of the system’s security functions.

Employer and industry stakeholders were chosen by applying three factors that included qualification verification, their work experience, and knowledge regarding digital verification of records as well as their willingness to test the system. The researchers relied on their professional knowledge and skills to test three major features of the blockchain-based diploma tokenization system, such as usability testing, authentication, and reliability evaluation.

In terms of testing, the blockchain-based diploma tokenization system was tested comprehensively due to the presence of three groups of respondents involved in the process, including end users and system implementers and verifiers of the system’s functionalities.

Instrumentation and Validation

A survey questionnaire will be used by the researcher to determine the quality and effectiveness of the smart security system based on the software quality measurement model developed by ISO/IEC 25010:2011. The instrument was specifically created to measure six major quality attributes of software products, namely: functionality, performance, interaction, reliability, security, and safety.

Instrumentation

A structured questionnaire was used as the primary research instrument for the data collection process in this study. Based on ISO/IEC 25010:2011 software quality standards, the tool had been designed to gauge the degree of the acceptability and success of the application using the six software quality characteristics such as functional suitability, performance efficiency, interaction capabilities, reliability, security, and safety. These characteristics were assessed using statement evaluations based on the Likert scale that ranged from Poor (1) to Excellent (5).

Content validation of the research tool was conducted in relation to the relevant experts depending on their specialization and designation. IT specialists (software developers) validated items addressing issues of safety, security, maintainability, compatibility, and flexibility regarding ISO/IEC 25010:2011 software quality standards. Business administrators and human resource personnel validated items addressing functional suitability, performance efficiency, compatibility, and interaction capability to prove their appropriateness in relation to business operations and security practices.

Modified Questionnaire

The revised questionnaire was created to test the newly proposed diploma verification system based on blockchain using the ISO/IEC 25010 software quality model framework. It employed a 5-point Likert scale to rate users’ opinions on various parameters including but not limited to functionality, performance, usability, reliability, and security. Other aspects such as safety were also considered. This tool enabled the researchers to examine whether the system is efficient and secure enough to meet the user expectations.

Validation

The validation of the survey tool was performed to confirm the accuracy and efficacy of the assessment of the blockchain-based diploma authentication system that was created. To do so, the modified questionnaire according to the ISO/IEC 25010 framework underwent content validity analysis by information technology specialists and system developers. The specialists assessed whether each indicator was relevant, understandable, and pertinent to the research purpose.

Improvements were made regarding the indicators’ wording, structure, and applicability according to the recommendations. The process was aimed at ensuring that all dimensions, including functional suitability, performance efficiency, usability, reliability, and security, were adequately considered.

Evaluation and Scoring

The acceptance and performance of the designed smart security system using the blockchain technology were analyzed using a Likert scale of five points, following the ISO/IEC 25010:2011 recommendations for assessing software quality. Respondents had to rate their level of agreement regarding each statement where the value 1 stood for “Poor” and the value 5 for “Excellent.”

The evaluation of the software quality in the research was performed according to six characteristics: functional suitability, performance efficiency, intractability, reliability, security, and safety. The average weight of each quality was estimated, allowing for measuring the acceptance and performance of the system under consideration. Descriptive ratings scales were applied in assessing the outcome.

Scoring Framework

This study adopted a rating methodology that made use of a five-point Likert Scale in measuring the acceptability and efficacy of the smart security system developed for the study. The individual items were rated in line with the respondents’ level of agreement with each item, and numeric scores were allocated accordingly.

Individual items were assigned ratings ranging from Poor (1) to Excellent (5). These average ratings were then interpreted using the following scale:

5 – Excellent (4.20 – 5.00)

4 –Verry Good (3.40 – 4.19)

3 – Good (2.60 – 3.39)

2 – Pair (1.80 – 2.59)

1 – Poor (1 – 1.79)

Numerical Ranges and Verbal Interpretations

The responses were categorized based on their assigned point values, as shown below:

Assigned Point	Numerical Range	Categorical Response
5	4.20 – 5.00	Excellent
4	3.40 – 4.19	Very Good
3	2.60 – 3.39	Good
2	1.80 – 2.59	Fair
1	1.00 – 1.79	Poor

Data Gathering Procedure

            Three major procedures were employed in the data gathering process. These are Requirement Assessment and System Evaluation and Validation and Feedback, which were the core components of the study. The blockchain-powered diploma tokenization system was subjected to such tests to evaluate its software quality properties, such as functionality, performance, usability, reliability, security, maintainability, compatibility, and scalability, as per ISO/IEC 25010 standards. Permission to conduct the research was acquired from the Dean’s Office, where consultations were made with concerned individuals at Cavite State University-Trece Martires Campus for organizing data gathering with the help of registrars and administrators and graduates and prospective employers. Initial discussions revealed issues that hampered the issuance and verification of diplomas and record safety. These discussions provided information on system requirements that would guide the design of the blockchain tokenization system.

The researcher went ahead and developed their data gathering instruments to collect data for their research work. The researcher developed questionnaires and interviews that followed ISO/IEC 25000 guidelines for assessing the diploma tokenization system based on its features including issuance and verification mechanisms and its use of blockchain-based transactions. The instruments were professionally validated by experts working in areas such as blockchain and IT systems development as well as academics. To validate the instruments, the researchers piloted the tool by collecting data from a few individuals, and the data collected tested the tools for attributes such as clarity and reliability and relevance.

The research study adopted semi-structured interviews as the main data collection approach for collecting qualitative data related to the system performance and security as well as verification of diplomas. Interviews were conducted either face-to-face on campus or via phone for individuals unable to make themselves physically available to participate in the interviews. The Validation and Feedback phase involved the process of data collection and data analysis.

Ethical Consideration

The researcher followed proper ethical procedures for conducting research by making sure that all subjects undergoing the intelligent security system were accorded dignity, privacy, and full protection. Prior to beginning data collection, the researcher will obtain the necessary clearance from the board of researchers and first receive approval from the Cavite State University-Trece Martires City Campus.

All the participants, that is, small business owners, registrar/staff, and IT professional participated in the research on a voluntary basis. All the participants were told of the nature of the research and informed of their right to terminate their participation anytime without any form of penalty. The researcher obtained information consent from the participants before administering the questionnaires and interviews.

Confidentiality was assured during the entire course of the research. Personal data was not collected, and responses were made anonymous to protect the privacy of the subjects. The information obtained was solely for academic purposes and was kept in safe custody, available only to the researcher and academic personnel involved.

It should also be noted that the participants of the study were not put into conditions that could cause them physical, emotional, or psychological harm. Research tools will be checked for clarity and neutrality to prevent any invasive questions. Moreover, participants were chosen according to their relevance to the purpose of the study, and there is no prejudice based on age, gender, socio-economic background, or personal history.

All these principles of ethics guarantee the integrity of the study and equal treatment of participants.

Statistical Treatment of Data

A weighted mean was employed to establish the level of acceptability and usability of the software application through an ISO/IEC 25010:2011 software quality assessment model, which was comprised of the following six parameters: functionality suitability, performance efficiency, interaction capability, reliability, security, safety.

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

The following chapter discusses the data collected during the investigation and interprets the findings in terms of their significance with respect to the implemented blockchain-based tokenization framework used to ensure the security, validity, and authentication of the diploma certificates at Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus. The data was gathered from experts in IT, registrar office, university graduates, and employers, considering various software quality factors.

Challenges and Risks in the Current Diploma Issuance and Verification Process

Based on the findings above, the existing diploma issuance and verification processes are manual and centralized, thus posing numerous challenges that render the process highly inefficient and insecure. First, the existing diploma issuance and verification process suffers from the potentiality of forgery and counterfeiting. The traditional paper-based diplomas fail to provide adequate measures that can protect them from being forged or counterfeited.

Secondly, because of the existence of manual methods in the issuance and verification process, there is a lot of time involved. When a request for verification is made, it requires a personal visit to the registrar who will respond after some time, thus making it very inconvenient for the requestor.

Thirdly, because of the existence of centralized data storage in the system, there exist various challenges regarding the protection of the data from any kind of losses.

System Requirements for Security, Authenticity, and Verification

Apart from the advantages of blockchain, there are other requirements that need to be addressed for the system to fulfill the demands for high security, authenticity, and verification. The requirements have been developed by considering the problems associated with the existing diploma issuance procedure.

The first requirement concerns establishing a mechanism for authentication and authorization. The introduction of this requirement implies the implementation of an authentication and authorization procedure like role-based access control. With the help of this requirement, users who have roles in the system can perform certain actions. To ensure the authenticity of the data, it is necessary to introduce a requirement to use blockchain technology in which the information about diplomas will be stored in hashed data form.

Smart contract is another requirement of the system as its use will automate the issuance and validation procedures thus reducing errors. It is also required to implement a system that includes a secure backend with the necessary features for session and database management.

Another requirement for the system concerns implementing real-time verification methods like QR code and token verification.

Design and Implementation of the Blockchain-Based Diploma Tokenization System

To address the issues related to traditional management of credentials, the authors proposed and developed the decentralized platform for blockchain diploma tokens issuance. Within this framework, the full-stack architecture model was considered, which included such components as the front-end, back-end, database, and blockchain.

For developing the front-end, react 18, TypeScript, and TailwindCSS programming languages were used. As for the back end, the authors decided to use the following libraries: Express.js and Passport.js. For storing information effectively, PostgreSQL and Drizzle ORM tools were adopted.

Moreover, for interacting with blockchain, the Ethereum Sepolia test network and ethers.js library was chosen. Furthermore, the smart contracts were created to store the hash of diplomas in the blockchain. Every document issued by the registrar became tokenized on the blockchain.

Finally, for more interactive engagement with the system, the QR code generation was realized. Thus, users would be able to check their credentials either via QR code scanning or entering a unique identifier.

Interpretation of Results

Table 1: Functional Suitability

User	Functional Suitability	Verbal Interpretation
IT Expert	4.80	Excellent
Registrar	4.80	Excellent
Employer	4.90	Excellent

An assessment of the analysis of the system’s functional suitability according to the rating provided by the IT Experts, Registrars, and Employers is presented in Table 1 below. From Table 1 above, IT Experts and Registrars gave an average score of 4.80, implying that the performance of the system is “Excellent.” Employers, on the other hand, gave the best score of 4.90, meaning the performance is “Excellent.” From the above rating, it can therefore be deduced that the system has performed well according to its functions.

Regarding the process, the IT Experts’ rating implies that the operations carried out in the back-end systems, such as validation, processing, and integration of the data were done efficiently. This therefore means that the architecture of the system was appropriate in ensuring efficient data processing. In addition, the rating of Registrars also shows that data input and validation were executed successfully, indicating that both the data encoding and validation processes were accurate.

Lastly, from the Employer rating, one can deduce that the accuracy, reliability, and authenticity of system output was good, showing that the process of delivering results to the employers was successful.

Table 2: Performance efficiency

User	Performance efficiency	Verbal Interpretation
IT Expert	4.80	Excellent
Graduates	4.83	Excellent
Employer	4.87	Excellent

Performance efficiency assessment of the system was performed by rating of IT Experts, Graduates, and Employers. The mean score obtained by IT Experts for the performance efficiency of the system is 4.80 which was regarded as “Excellent” level of performance. On similar grounds, the average scores of 4.83 and 4.87 for Graduates and Employers, respectively, were regarded as “Excellent” rating of the system in terms of performance efficiency. It is observed from the obtained results that the system had been highly efficient in performance concerning the speed and responsiveness criteria.

In terms of system process view, the “Excellent” rating from IT experts shows that the system had performed transactional requests very effectively and with minimal usage of system processes. As a result, it was observed that the system performed efficiently during all its operation processes. In case of the “Excellent” rating of graduates, it means that the system was able to perform effectively and quickly whenever users were using it.

Furthermore, the “Excellent” rating of employers indicates that the system performed effectively and quickly in generating and retrieving system outputs. To conclude, it can be stated that the system is efficient regarding its performance efficiency criterion.

Table 3: Interaction capability

User	Interaction capability	Verbal Interpretation
IT Expert	4.87	Excellent
Graduates	4.83	Excellent

The interaction capability evaluation from IT experts and graduates is presented in Table 3. From the evaluation table, it is evident that the mean score from IT experts for interaction capability is 4.87 and it can be classified as excellent while the mean score from graduates for interaction capability is 4.83 which is also excellent. Therefore, the interaction capability of the system gives the best user experience.

Considering the process of the system, the excellent interaction capability implies that the interaction capability of the system has made the process of navigation through different modules of the system easy and it is also able to give an excellent command. In this case, it means that there is excellent interaction capability which allows communication between the user and the system processes regarding the input, command, and output operations. On the other hand, the excellent rating by graduates shows that the system is easy to interact because of convenience of the interface.

To conclude, the interaction capability evaluation implies that the system has excellent interaction capability.

Table 4: Reliability

User	Reliability	Verbal Interpretation
IT Expert	4.88	Excellent
Graduates	4.78	Excellent
Registrar	4.88	Excellent

Analysis based on the reliability of the system conducted by IT Experts, Graduates, and Registrars is shown in Table 4. In particular, the average scores of IT Experts and Registrars were both 4.88, which means that the system has “Excellent” reliability. The average score of Graduates was 4.78, and thus the system also has “Excellent” reliability in their opinion. These results mean that the system could perform all its tasks properly and consistently.

From the perspective of process running in the system, the ratings given by IT Experts and Registrars confirm that the process was stable, and therefore the system behaved correctly and could successfully perform transaction, data processing, and operate consistently and without any interruptions. Additionally, such a high rate given by the Registrar indicates that the system could handle record management and verifications operations reliably.

As for Graduates, the obtained rating indicated that the system behaved correctly while working with users, which means no interruptions, stability, and correct performance during generating output. To summarize, the system demonstrated itself to be very reliable while executing all kinds of its functions.

Table 5: Security

User	Security	Verbal Interpretation
IT Expert	4.84	Excellent
Graduates	4.78	Excellent
Registrar	4.84	Excellent
Employer	4.84	Excellent

The security aspect of the system assessed by the experts of IT Professionals, Graduates, Registrars, and Employers is indicated in Table 5. IT Professionals, Registrars, and Employers reached the mean value of 4.84, and this value was considered “Excellent”. In addition, Graduates received the average score of 4.78 which was also considered “Excellent”. These results prove the fact that high security of the system was provided for various types of users and situations.

Analyzing the operation of the system, it can be stated that the security of the system is provided by the process of the system’s functioning together with the use of access control and other required procedures. Blockchain processes help ensure security of information. Consequently, this means that information was secured while being processed, stored and retrieved in the course of work.

On the other hand, considering the opinion of the graduates, the security of the system was provided at the interaction stage too. This means that users felt confident while working with the system as far as the security of information was concerned.

Table 6: Safety

User	Safety	Verbal Interpretation
IT Expert	4.90	Excellent
Graduates	5.00	Excellent
Registrar	4.90	Excellent

Evaluation of safety of the system by IT Experts, Graduates and Registrars is shown on Table 6 below. The mean rating received by IT Experts and Registrars is 4.90 (Excellent). On the other hand, Graduates had an excellent rating of 5.00 (Perfect). This implies that the system is very safe when compared to other systems in terms of user interface and processes involved.

About the safety of the system process, it was noted that the high rating of experts and registrars is attributed to the presence of proper system designs which provided security during data handling and processing within the system. This means that operational processes involving handling user data and transactions in the system have been put into consideration and are very safe.

On the contrary, the perfect rating given by graduates means that the system is extremely safe and does not have any form of risk associated with it. Hence, users did not experience any form of complications and problems when using the system processes.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter contains the results, conclusions, and recommendations of the study entitled “Development of Blockchain-Based Tokenization to Improve Diploma Security, Authenticity, and Verification at Cavite State University-Trece Martires Campus.” It includes the important results obtained from the analysis and the conclusions drawn from the results. Recommendations are also given based on the results and conclusions of this study.

Summary of Findings

The current research entailed designing a novel diploma tokenization blockchain system aimed at ensuring improved validity, credibility, and enhanced level of security related to corresponding diplomas. The major conclusions based on the system evaluation results should include the following ones:

First, the existing process of diplomas issuance and validation can be criticized in terms of such problems as inefficiencies including the need for the involvement of human resources leading to a higher probability of errors and a high level of risks related to the occurrence of fraudulent activities due to the nature of the existing system.

Second, based on the requirements analysis, the importance of implementing such elements of functionality and features as the use of cryptography techniques, Blockchain technology, smart contracts, role-based access control, and QR verification was revealed.

Third, during the design process, the full-stack application utilizing React, Express.js, PostgreSQL, and Ethereum Blockchain technologies was developed. This system enables efficient tokenization and storage of the hashes of the corresponding diplomas.

Finally, the evaluation results obtained by experts in Information Technologies, Registrars, Graduates, and Employers prove that all the qualities, i.e., functional suitability, performance efficiency, reliability, security, safety, and interaction capability, can be assessed as “Excellent”.

Conclusions

Taking into consideration the results obtained from the current research, there are several conclusions that can be made regarding the implementation of the diploma tokenization system using blockchain technologies at Cavite State University – Trece Martires Campus.

1. The classical model of managing academic diplomas is rather inefficient due to the presence of potential issues such as delays in processing requests, as well as risks of frauds and other issues. In this case, a new solution needs to be developed to increase effectiveness, reliability, and security.

2. The evaluation of the designed system allowed concluding about the importance of system requirements for building a reliable and efficient diploma management system. This, in turn, proved the appropriateness and effectiveness of applying blockchain technology in this situation.

3. Evaluation of the developed application revealed high-quality metrics concerning suitability, performance, interoperability, reliability, and safety of the product under analysis. Hence, it can be suggested that the system will be well-received by the target audience.

4. Blockchain technology is highly effective for improving the validity and reliability of diplomas.

Recommendations

Recommendations based on the above findings include the following:

1. System Integration within the University System. The proposed system can be integrated within the official systems used by Cavite State University-Trece Martires Campus to provide added security and efficiency to the process of diploma issuance and verification.

2. Feedback Mechanism for Users. A feedback mechanism can be incorporated in the system, which will allow the users to give suggestions and comments for system improvement.

3. System Integration with Other Institutions. This system can be expanded for cooperation with other institutions for wider coverage and better functionality.

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