Communicating what a person knows and can do—whether as part of a college admissions process, a job application, or getting credit for prior learning—has always been a challenge. Sharing information across the education and employment ecosystem, which comprises education institutions, employers, and training providers who support skills development and the individuals that obtain those skills, is complicated, particularly when the accuracy and security of these records is important. And historically, ownership of these records has resided with institutions, not individuals.
Emerging technologies hold the potential to improve communication between and among education institutions, individuals, and employers. Blockchain in particular has the potential to center all transactions around the learner, empowering them to control their identity and leverage the skills they have learned throughout their life to expand economic mobility.
The U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology began its exploration of blockchain through the
Education Blockchain Action Network to better understand how rapidly evolving distributed ledger technology could be applied to rethink our educational system. Building on that work, and recognizing increased interest and newly formed efforts to utilize blockchain education, the Department contracted with the American Council on Education to lead the Education Blockchain Initiative (EBI). ACE is uniquely positioned to mobilize and foster innovative, high-quality practice to connect education and the workforce. Since World War II, ACE has been committed to building an inclusive, dynamic, and resilient postsecondary education sector, and that starts with creating systems that recognize and work for all students.
Launched in February 2020, the EBI was designed to help identify and evaluate ways that blockchain technology can improve the flow of data among educational institutions and employers while empowering individuals to translate educational outcomes into economic opportunity.
The initiative also funded four projects through the Blockchain Innovation Challenge (BIC). The BIC was designed to explore how blockchain can connect or create ecosystems, empowering individuals—especially those currently most underserved—to gain more control over their learning to access economic opportunity. Information on project winners can be found on the Blockchain Innovation Challenge page.
Initiative Timeline