Conceptual design of the Blockchain-based Student Identity Management System (BSIMS) model for higher education personal learning environments

This study proposes a Blockchain-based Student Identity Management System (BSIMS) to address critical challenges in current identity management systems in higher education, such as trust deficits, data confidentiality breaches, and lack of interoperability. BSIMS is designed to enhance the personal learning environment (PLE) in higher education by providing secure, reliable, transparent, and efficient identity verification and data management services. The model was developed based on insights from semi-structured interviews with seven ICT experts from both academia and industry, focusing on personal data confidentiality within the PLE. Thematic analysis identified key challenges, including data security, control, circulation, trust, user needs and experience, and system performance and scalability. BSIMS comprises modules such as PLE participants, platform, identity authentication, blockchain verification, shared learning content, blockchain technology, and a Learning Record Store (LRS) verification system. These modules are characterized by autonomy, security, flexibility, and efficiency. The study details the functionality and interactions of these components while acknowledging the model’s limitations and suggesting future research directions. This research highlights the potential of blockchain technology to create an autonomous, secure, and efficient identity management mechanism within higher education's PLE. The innovation lies in applying blockchain to the PLE's identity verification process and introducing a feature to record user behavior using blockchain, thereby enhancing personal data confidentiality and demonstrating blockchain’s potential in education.