## 6 Conclusions and Next Steps
However, it can be concluded that the process of certificate verification through blockchain requires the participation of the school in its entirety, connection of databases between the school and QualiChain, and the provision of specific APIs so that QualiChain can be connected with the official processes of the school. Future steps of the pilot regarding this will concern the verification of students' certificates also for post-graduate education programs offered by the university, or for a Ph.D. position. This action will provide the opportunity to validate this functionality (that was already validated under the context of public sector pilots) in a university setting. Participation of the school's stakeholders in the execution of the pilot was very satisfactory with 90 students and 11 professors. Several workshops were organized and as such, the pilot was successful in engaging early users and showcasing the offerings of QualiChain. Based on the answers of the questionnaires, most users were satisfied with the functionalities catered to them and excited to see the application of innovative technologies, such as blockchain and data analytics, in a technical solution that is specifically catered to their needs. However, one question that needs to be answered is whether society at large is ready to accept and use blockchain solutions. Based on our research, the integration of blockchain into education and human resource management seems to face several obstacles. Specific barriers we identified are technological immaturity, lack of knowledge and understanding, concerns for privacy, limited scalability, and lack of interoperability. Apart from these, there are also challenges that relate to cost, lack of infrastructure, need for training, security issues, and difficulty integrating blockchain with existing and often deprecated systems. At the organizational level, challenges such as lack of skills, financial barriers, and lack of commitment need to be tackled, especially in public universities that are characterized by a resistance to change. To address these challenges, one solution could be the creation of programs, courses, and vocational training activities so that learners can acquire the skills to develop blockchain applications and the knowledge to use them properly. Furthermore, cooperation between educational institutions, employers, and public authorities is essential to create a single certificate verification system. Despite the initial cost, implementing blockchain technology is considered to be a strategic investment with potential benefits in security, transparency, and efficiency. As a new technology, financial resources are required for research, development, and training, while funding is essential to create awareness and effectively promote the technology. As far as the next steps regarding this pilot are concerned, the following actions will be followed:  
* We will continue to promote the QualiChain project among students of the ECE School so that more students understand how the platform could benefit them. It is also believed that word-of-mouth dissemination of QualiChain from the early users of the platform will also help with its promotion. * We will approach more professors that could be willing to test the component that provides recommendations for the restructuring of the school's curriculum. * Additional research will be performed to align the technological offerings of QualiChain and the results of the platform with current technological advancements and policy documents that are published by the European Commission. Furthermore, employers and recruiting organizations are currently looking for indications of skills that reveal the ability to efficiently work remotely. The same is true for green skills that represent a growing need for future workers and towards combatting climate change. The QualiChain platform could facilitate the assessment of candidates regarding such skills since it supports the award of smart badges.