SKILL VERIFICATION SYSTEM USING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

Anuj Dhingra1*,Varun Negi2, Aman Chauhan3 , Dr. Sandeep Tayal4, Mr. Yogesh Sharma 5

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

1,2,3
UG Student, Dept. of Computer Science And Engineering, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, Delhi, India
4,5
Assistant Professor, Department of CSE, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, Delhi, India

Abstract - Many individuals make claims about their skills, which are often accepted as truth by organizations. This can
result in significant financial losses for companies that hire individuals with fake qualifications or the wrong skill set. To
address this problem, a skill verification system using decentralized consensus can be implemented to validate skills in
an objective and transparent manner.
Using blockchain technology, this system can greatly reduce the time and resources spent by recruiters on competency
and skills checks. It also increases confidence and productivity among management within an organization. By
recording and verifying skills on a secure and accessible network, employees are able to provide evidence of their
abilities that have been officially approved or endorsed by their previous managers or certificate providers.
A blockchain-based skills chain for employees also ensures transparency and accountability in the development of their
abilities. This can aid companies in making more informed hiring decisions and utilizing their staff to their fullest
potential for specific business requirements.

Index Terms - Skill Verification, Blockchain, DAPP, EVM.

1. INTRODUCTION

Blockchain is a decentralized, digital ledger technology Blockchain is gaining awareness through its most well
that is the foundation of digital currencies such as known application called Bitcoin. These are used in
Bitcoin. It is a database that records and tracks all exchanging digital currency on the internet. For
transactions and online activities in which multiple successful transactions over the internet using Bitcoin,
parties are involved. Every transaction is validated by the cryptographic evidence is used and a third-party is
network participants, and each record is stored in the removed from the process entirely [2].
ledger. This ensures that the data is accurate and Authorities often add user certificates first, after which
tamper-proof. The most widely known application of businesses or any other verifier can confirm the
blockchain technology is Bitcoin, which was first credentials using the user's Metamask Account Address
introduced to the world in 2008 through a white paper or certificate transaction ID. This ensures that none will
titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" be able to alter the data contained in a blockchain or add
authored by an individual known as Satoshi Nakamoto. new transactions with a backdate. The certificates are
Blockchain technology allows for a secure and afterwards verified using the created unique ID for each
transparent way to record and track transactions, making transaction. All firms are able to utilize this system to
it immune to manipulation or corruption. Any sale of give employee data and certifications more protection. It
something of value, such as real estate, buses, etc., may is possible to eliminate the issue of fraudulent
be documented on the blockchain [1]. certificates, and remove doubt about their validity [3].

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The issuer/organization uses a digital version of the Security: Blockchain technology is known for its
credential of the user and stores it on the blockchain. security, as it uses cryptography to protect the integrity of
When a user wants to verify their documents, they can the data stored on it. This means that the skill tokens and
provide the verifier with their secure, encrypted, public digital profiles stored on the blockchain would be
key that allows them to access their data on the difficult to alter or forge [7].
blockchain. The verifier can then use this key to retrieve Verifiability: The skill tokens issued on the blockchain
the credential from the blockchain and confirm that it is could be easily verified by other organizations or
valid. individuals, making it easier to confirm the authenticity
One of the key benefits of using a blockchain-based of an individual's skills or qualifications.
verification system is that the data stored on the Portability: Because the digital profile is stored on the
blockchain is tamper-evident. This means it is easily blockchain, it would be easy for individuals to take their
apparent to the verifier if anyone tries to alter the verified skills with them wherever they go, potentially
credentials. This lone feature ensures the integrity and making it easier for them to find employment or pursue
authenticity of the credential. Any of the other opportunities [8].
blockchain-based systems are easily scaled and accessed
by anyone with internet access [4]. This makes it a KEY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS PAPER
convenient and secure way to verify credentials for a The following are the paper’s main contributions:
wide range of purposes, which include user details, ➔ We propose to build a decentralized application for
education or even professional certification. verifying skills or knowledge.
The proposed system will take into account two main ➔ Improving upon existing methods for skill
authorities, that are employees and organizations. Both verification, such as by making them more accurate
these authorities will have to get themselves registered on and efficient.
the blockchain network through the approval of admin so ➔ Ethereum blockchain for traceability and added
that it is ensured that the authority is authentic and wants security along with immutability of data with proper
to use the blockchain network for relevant purposes. authentication.
A skill verification system using blockchain technology ➔ Presenting a case study of a skill verification system
could potentially be used to create a decentralized and in action, highlighting its strengths and limitations
secure way of verifying the skills or qualifications of ➔ Highlighting the potential of smart contracts to
individuals. The system could work by having automate the verification process, thus reducing the
individuals or organizations issue "skill tokens" on a time and costs associated with manual verification.
blockchain that represent a particular skill or ➔ Outlining the challenges that need to be addressed to
qualification. These skill tokens could then be verified develop and implement a blockchain-based skill
and added to the individual's digital profile, which could verification system and how they can be overcome.
be stored on the blockchain. This profile could be
accessed and validated by other organizations or
individuals who are interested in verifying the 2. LITERATURE SURVEY
individual's skills [5][6].
There are a few potential benefits to using a skill In higher education, most blockchain applications are
verification system based on blockchain technology: now in the experimental stage. Examples include its
introduction to facilitate degree management and help
Decentralization: Because the system is based on a with summative assessments. The use of blockchain in
decentralized network, it would not be controlled by a higher education can also help with formative assessment
single entity, making it more resistant to tampering and procedures. It is helpful for monitoring how kids are
fraud. progressing academically as well as the strategies used to
implement learning [9].

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The University of Nicosia was the first institution of and in-depth simulations to show the advantageous
higher learning to use Blockchain technology to organize features and work on Framework and Smart Contract for
diplomas that students acquire through MOOC Blockchain-Enabled, specifically Certificate Verification
programmes. In order to effectively store, verify, and System Using Robotics, was done by presenting a
validate credentials, the Massachusetts Institute of framework for the same which encompassed a blockchain
Technology (MIT) has since developed a credentials based certificate verification system using robotics
system called Blockcert that enables greater control over technology. People responsible for these framework and
students' certification without relying on third-party contracts are Nitima Malsa, Jyoti Gautam, Vaibhav Vyas,
intermediaries (universities or employers). The Ankush Ghosh and RabindraNath Shaw, which presented
well-known open platform system for analyzing digital Robotic cameras who have been included into the system
records consisting of certificates and reputation was to scan the certificates and store them on the cloud using
created by fusing trustworthy cryptography with an Arduino Uno connected to WiFi and will be stored as
Blockchain technology. The Knowledge Media is another blocks on a blockchain [10][11][12].
organization that has advocated the adoption of The survey provides us with an insight into smart
Blockchain technology. contracts used for validation of certificates on
Project Open Blockchain has been proposed by KMI. The blockchain, since the basics of smart contract drive from
Open Blockchain project's goal is to establish a network computational components leading to reliability of the
that will serve as the hub for all Blockchain initiatives in technology used [13]. Any enhancement of goals or
higher education. By using the blockchain as a reliable technology can be accomplished, and smart contract
ledger, KMI wants to raise the bar for online badging, redesigning could be built for better operations and scope
certification, and reputation. Additionally, Sony Global [14]. The development and testing of smart contracts
Education created a global assessment platform for the were done by Sublime Text3 and Remix Ethereum IDE,
management and preservation of degree proof using respectively. This smart contract made it possible for the
Blockchain technology. Last but not least, Turkanovic employees to store their endorsed as well as flagged
has proposed the EduCTX platform, a decentralized documents and for employers to access the stored
global network built on Blockchain technology and documents, making it simpler as well as faster to validate
intended for the management, storing, and sharing of the credentials of job applicants. Aspiring students,
digital certificates. Using the Blockchain technology in employees, companies, as well as academic institutions
higher education has been under consideration for some can make the most out of this smart contract.
time.
Liyuan Liu, Meng Han, Yiyun Zhou, and Reza M. Parizi
from Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia, 3. IDEA AND APPROACH
USA, have proposed Blockchain-Based Certification for
Education, Employment, and Skill with Incentive A blockchain-based system for skill verification can help
Mechanism in which they have proposed a novel reduce the time needed to search for users with
E2C-Chain, which is a two-stage blockchain to improve appropriate skills and also improve the skill management
education, employment, and skill verification. When a and resourcefulness of an organization. The skill
trust organization validates the candidate's educational verification system will help the employees to enlist their
and career history, the initial stage seeks to establish new skills and work experience details on the chain network
blocks. The issue of how to motivate users of the and their managers or employers in the previous
blockchain platform has been thoroughly addressed in the organization can endorse their skills. Therefore, the skills
second stage. A Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (VCG) incentive and degree of expertise of individuals can be asserted as
mechanism has been used to determine the Nash reliable with a chain built on the blockchain network.
Equilibrium and guarantee social cost minimization. Organizations can also see transparently which skills and
Additionally, they have provided theoretical justifications experience are endorsed or not endorsed.

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Additionally, this will assist firms in maximizing the use
of reliable staff which are officially verified, enhancing
their respective company output.
● The Metamask account handles authentication.
● Message feature to inform the user of an
incoming/ongoing request.
● Implemented barcode for faster connections.
● Send a notification to employees for certifications
and skill endorsements which can further be
accepted by the organization.
● Features such as endorsement ratings and dates are
displayed in charts and graphs on the employee
profile page generated by fetch API from the
internet.
● Employees and HR from specific organizations
can communicate using the chat feature. This
includes setting up an interview or requesting an
endorsement for a skill, qualification, or Fig. 2 High Level Diagram depicting functionalities of
experience. the Skill Verification System
● End to end encryption using the SHA-256
cryptographic hash algorithm.

4. ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Basic Block Diagram depicting functionalities

of the Skill Verification System Fig. 3 Use Case Diagram

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 proposed system. The environment of Infura includes
Goerli. DAPP (distributed application) development
takes place on the Goerli Test Network, after which it can
be tested and deployed on other ethereum clients like
Go-etherum. Truffle supports DAPP development,
testing, and deployment. One of the digital wallets for
storing and conducting ethereum transactions utilizing
ethereum based tokens is Metamask.

Features of the implemented prototype :

The application provides universities and organizations
with a secure platform to certify skills and validate
employee-provided credentials.

Any employee or institution wishing to be part of this

Fig. 4 Flow Diagram depicting Smart Contract on ecosystem must register on the platform in order to take
both the User’s and Organization’s end
advantage of it.

Fig. 6 Requesting Admin for a particular role

This distributed ledger (blockchain) tracks all academic

details of employees. It can be qualifications, skills, work
experience and even platform ratings on different coding
platforms.
Fig. 5 Flow chart An admin proves to be an authorization center for any
user to prevent multiple profiles as well as spams.
Only the authorized users can add details to the
5. IMPLEMENTATION AND RESULTS blockchain and request for endorsement. Diving into the
details provided, they are specifically provided with a
public hash as well as a private one so that skills are
Solidity, Goerli, Ethereum, Infura, and the Metamask
accessed by any organization but, keeping the user's
Chrome extension are all used to develop and test the
integrity and private ownership over his account.

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 The current employee in an organization provides an
additional feature to maintain a ledger of any particular
assigned employee for some specific endorsements.
These details will be private for the organization and
mutable.
This could provide a better verification management
system within an organization or online certification
company and possibly a separate department in the near
future.

Fig. 7 Employee page containing their details

6. EQUATIONS
The employee's credentials are appended to the issuing
organization's metamask address along with their name, ● IPFS assigns a unique base-58 encoded and
brand, and unique ID. SHA-2 hash code to each of its stored items.

Fig. 8 Request Organization toEndorse of Experience

● Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) refers to a suite
of cryptographic protocols and is based on the
If an organization wants to search for a specific employee
discrete logarithm problem, as in DSA.
based on a specific required skill like Google Cloud, a
search using the appropriate keyword in the search bar
will return all affected employees with that specific skill.
A list will appear and the company can connect. With the
desired candidate accordingly.

7. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

In future, this will not be included in skill documents

only, but can be expanded to guarantee integrity in any
sort of document, including the government and
education, as well as private sectors where a digital
document time stamp is necessary. The advantages and
disadvantages of establishing a blockchain utilizing the
Fig. 9 Organization Dashboard with details of Merkel tree approach and hash values from marked
organization and Employees

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