Designing A Secure Higher Education Credentials Authentication Framework Using Cloud Computing Concept In Ethiopia

Abstract

Hiring Employees Based On A Set Of Selection Parameters Is A Common Practice All Over The World. Education Qualification And Training Credentials Are The Most Widely Used And Essential Requirement During Recruitment Of Employees. In Ethiopia, Due To The Need To Hire Educated Manpower Has Increased, The Number Of Higher Education Institutes And Graduates Have Increased Dynamically. However, A Number Of Public Services Reported To Have Hired Employees With A Fake Academic Credentials. Prospective Employer Companies Have Been Hiring Unqualified Employees. This Leads To A Big Socio-Economic Failure. Therefore, There Is Need To Ensure The Validity Of Employees?�? Credential Across The Country. However, There Is No Common Platform For Detecting The Legitimacy Of Higher Education Credentials. The Current Authentication Method Has Not Any Mechanism To Detect Fake Credentials. This Research Study Conducted A Detailed Investigation On The Current Methods And Challenges Of Authentication For Higher Education Credentials, How A Secure Cloud Based E-Authentication Can Be Designed, Developed, And Tested. Therefore, The Aim Of This Research Is To Develop A Secure Eauthentication Prototype On The Cloud Technology By Using A Digitally Signed Quick Response (Qr) Code In Order To Help Higher Education Relevance And Quality Agency (Herqa) In The Authentication Of Higher Education (He) Credentials For The Prospective Employers In Ethiopia. Qr Code Scanning Mobile And Cloud Web Applications Were Developed To Save Time, Effort And Provide Convenience For Stakeholders That Participate In The Credentials Authentication Process. The Study Used Questionnaire, Interview, And Observation Data Collection Techniques And The Developed Prototype And Proposed Framework Were Evaluated By Different Users And Information Technology (It) Professionals. The Result Of This Research Work Was The Design And Development Of A Secure Private Cloud Based Framework And Web Application Software As A Service For Higher Education Credentials (Hecs) Using Mobile Application. Moreover, Majority Of The Respondents Indicated Very Good (4) On The Potential Of The Developed Prototype To Solve The Integrity And Security Of Hecs. Finally, A Systematic Study On A More Effective Technologies For Ensuring The Integrity And Security Of Higher Education Credentials And The Development Of Fully Automatic Authentication Method That Supports Both Offline And Online Verification Were Recommended.