Universiti Malaysia Pahang has emerged as the first public university in Malaysia to use Blockchain Technology for its UMPValid8 and Mobile Wallet UMP XChain. UMPValid8 is a new application designed to validate the authenticity of degree certificates using QR Code. Specifically, each certificate will be embedded with a unique QR Code to ensure that it is original. When the QR Code is scanned, the student’s details such as picture, full name, programme and graduation year will be shown. UMP students’ education records and peronal data will be stored in this system. As a result of a collaboration between IBM Centre of Excellent (IT experts), UMP Alumni and Faculty of Industrial Management (Supply Chain experts), and Bank Muamalat (consultants), this system is planned to be used in this coming 2018 convocation ceremony.
Besides UMPValid8, with the launch of Mobile Wallet UMP XChain, UMP is introducing a new cashless culture for the campus community, whereby with this app, students and staffs will no longer need to bring money for any transaction made in the campus areas. According to the Vice-Chancellor of UMP, Mobile Wallet UMP XChain is a blockchain-based application that enables students and staffs to pay for the stuff they buy using their mobile phones at selected outlets that take part in this project.
“Each and every transaction data is safely kept and not easily hacked. Payments are made by scanning QR Code or Near Field Communication (NFC), which enables a two-way communication between devices. The use of QR Code and NFC in all Android and iOS devices, including Apple Watch, makes this mobile wallet app much easier to use,” he elaborates further.
One of the special features of this technology lies in data storage, whereby the application data is not kept in a single location, but is encrypted and stored in various locations using the concept of Distributed Ledger. With the experts in house, UMP is ready to offer Blockchain Certificate Authentication service to any institutions or agencies, local or abroad that are interested to collaborate.