BlockMEDC: Blockchain Smart Contracts for Securing Moroccan Higher Education Digital Certificates

TL;DR

The paper addresses the challenge of securing and validating Moroccan higher-education digital certificates in a trustworthy, interoperable manner. It proposes BlockMEDC, a blockchain-based system built on Ethereum smart contracts and IPFS to automate certificate issuance, storage, and verification, enabling remote grade deliberation and real-time credential issuance. The key contributions include a seven-actor workflow, specialized smart contracts (MC_Authority, University, Institution, Certifs_Students, TranscriptCert, Certifs_Profs, Storage), and a demonstrator deployed on the Sepolia test network with detailed gas-cost analyses. The approach promises tamper-resistance, transparency, and interoperability aligned with Maroc Digital 2030 and Pacte ESRI 2030 goals, while acknowledging practical challenges such as transaction costs and privacy in a public blockchain. Overall, BlockMEDC provides a scalable, secure framework for digital credentials with clear paths to optimization and broader educational scope.

Abstract

Morocco's Vision 2030, known as Maroc Digital 2030, aims to position the country as a regional leader in digital technology by boosting digital infrastructure, fostering innovation, and advancing digital skills. Complementing this initiative, the Pacte ESRI 2030 strategy, launched in 2023, seeks to transform the higher education, research, and innovation sectors by integrating state-of-the-art digital technologies. In alignment with these national strategies, this paper introduces BlockMEDC, a blockchain-based system for securing and managing Moroccan educational digital certificates. Leveraging Ethereum smart contracts and the InterPlanetary File System, BlockMEDC automates the issuance, management, and verification of academic credentials across Moroccan universities. The proposed system addresses key issues such as document authenticity, manual verification, and lack of interoperability, delivering a secure, transparent, and cost-effective solution that aligns with Morocco's digital transformation goals for the education sector.

Figures (17)

• Figure 1: The stages of issuing digital certificates.
• Figure 2: A diploma electronically signed by the president and the dean.
• Figure 3: The key actors in our BlockMEDC system.
• Figure 4: BlockMEDC system flowchart.
• Figure 5: The workflow of the smart contract Authority along with the actors involved in Ethereum blockchain.