Barriers Affecting Higher Education Institutions’ Adoption of Blockchain Technology: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Despite the many benefits of blockchain technology in higher education, this technology is not widely adopted by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Therefore, instead of providing additional motives for adopting blockchain technology, this research tries to understand what factors discourage HEIs from merging blockchain with their procedures. The methodology used for this research is based upon qualitative research using 14 interviews with administrative and academic staff from the European Union (EU) and Canada. Our findings based on our empirical data revealed 15 key challenges to blockchain adoption by HEIs that are classified based on the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework. Theoretically, this study contributes to the body of knowledge relating to blockchain technology adoption. Practically, this research is expected to aid HEIs to assess the applicability of blockchain technology and pave the way for the widespread adoption of this technology in the educational field.

Blockchain Education: Current State, Limitations, Career Scope, Challenges, and Future Directions

“…Update significant portions of their blockchain syllabi every semester, which would demand multiple learning modules beyond a semester or two to fulfill the current industry workforce demand [35]. Moreover, most HEIs focus on basic-level studies in the blockchain area and do not pay attention to high-demand fields like developers, engineers, system designers, and solution architects [36]. Moreover, several non-academic organizations such as Blockchain Council, Udemy, and many others have started offering short-term training courses with limited activities.…”

Using expertise as an intermediary: Unleashing the power of blockchain technology to drive future sustainable management using hidden champions

“…Expertise is a valuable resource that encompasses specialized knowledge, skills, and experience in various domains related to sustainability. In the context of sustainable management, expertise plays a pivotal role in informing decision-making, shaping strategies, and implementing effective solutions [ [77] , [78] , [79] ]. Experts bring deep understanding and insights into sustainability challenges, enabling stakeholders to navigate complex issues and identify opportunities for improvement.…”

“…Enhancing transparency, trust, and accountability through expert-driven blockchain solutions is a transformative approach that has the potential to revolutionize future sustainable management practices. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized and immutable nature, provides a robust framework for integrating expertise as an intermediary and addressing the transparency and trust challenges faced in sustainable management [ [78] , [79] , [80] , [81] , [82] ]. By leveraging the collective intelligence and domain-specific knowledge of experts, blockchain solutions enable stakeholders to access reliable and validated sustainability-related data.…”

“…This allows for the verification of sustainability claims, ensuring that products are sourced ethically and produced in an environmentally responsible manner. Additionally, blockchain can facilitate the integration of sustainability metrics and indicators into supply chain processes, enabling real-time monitoring and evaluation of sustainability performance [ [74] , [75] , [76] , [77] , [78] , [79] ]. By leveraging blockchain technology, renewable energy producers can create a decentralized marketplace where energy generation and consumption can be recorded transparently and verified.…”

“…, blockchain can support the sharing economy and collaborative consumption models. By creating decentralized platforms, blockchain can facilitate the sharing of resources, such as vehicles or accommodation, without the need for intermediaries [ [75] , [76] , [77] , [78] , [79] , [80] , [81] , [82] ]. This can reduce resource consumption, promote circular economy principles, and enhance sustainability in the transportation and hospitality sectors.…”