#PaiRED: Education is More Than Just School

Almost 50% of all jobs are at risk of AI transformation in the next few years. Big changes in the labor market are putting more pressure on traditional and new education providers. There are many moving parts: K-12, Higher Education, public workforce programs, employers, non-profits, for profits etc. The number of credentials being offered has skyrocketed. In the U.S. alone there are 7,133 credentials from MOOC providers, 370,000 from post-secondary institutions and 315,067 from nonacademic organizations. There is exponential growth across all providers but especially new and short-term education and training programs. Blockchain is a perfect solution for sharable human capital portfolios. Verifiable transcripts and CVs can match employers and applicants and include life experiences for the complex needs of both.

Blockchain offers connected educational ecosystems the benefit of trust. ODEM is a European network developed to match skills, competencies, qualifications and jobs to connect job seekers with job openings. Schools in Texas, Arizona and other states are creating education ecosystems because they offer connection. Dallas Community College District stands out in this effort and is an example of how blockchain can help us address social equity issues. Blockcerts is one of the first frameworks to offer a verifiable type of credential to blockchain. Developed in 2016 by MIT and Hyland Labs, it uses a QR code to verify credentials without reliance on the issuing institution.

The power of distributed ledger technologies for education lies in building trust. Trust framework policy can determine how data is managed, stored and verified. Common Education Data Standards (CEDS) facilitates sharing data between programs, institutions, districts and states. DCC (Digital Credentials Consortium) is a multi-university project focused on storing, displaying and verifying digital credentials. And this is only the beginning.