Leveraging Blockchain Technology to Enhance Academic Data Security and Transparency

Abstract

The increasing digitalization of higher education has created growing demands for secure and transparent academic data management. As a background, conventional academic information systems remain vulnerable to data manipulation, unauthorized access, and difficulties in verifying the authenticity of academic records. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the role of blockchain technology in enhancing academic data security and transparency within higher education institutions. The method employed in this research is a quantitative approach using a survey questionnaire distributed to 173 respondents consisting of students, academic staff, and administrative personnel from various higher education institutions. The collected data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships between blockchain technology adoption, academic data security, and academic transparency. The results reveal that blockchain technology has a significant positive effect on academic data security by providing decentralized data storage, cryptographic protection, and immutable transaction records. In addition, blockchain implementation significantly improves academic transparency by enabling reliable verification, traceability, and authenticity of academic information and credentials. The findings suggest that blockchain technology can minimize the risk of data tampering while strengthening stakeholder trust in academic information systems. In conclusion, blockchain technology serves as an effective solution for improving academic data security and transparency, contributing to the development of a trustworthy and data-driven governance framework in higher education institutions.