Systematic review of blockchain applications in the education sector of Bangladesh for advancing SDG 4

Key findings from this study

• The review identifies that blockchain applications span nine distinct domains within higher education, with five prioritized as feasible and urgent for Bangladesh's institutional context.
• The authors report that prioritized blockchain domains directly contribute to multiple targets of SDG 4, establishing measurable linkages between technology adoption and sustainable development outcomes.
• The study found that systematic assessment of blockchain feasibility requires context-specific evaluation of institutional capacity, regulatory readiness, and urgency within emerging economies rather than adopting developed-country implementation models.

Overview

This systematic literature review identifies and prioritizes blockchain application domains in Bangladesh's higher education sector to advance Sustainable Development Goal 4. The authors examined 39 peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and book chapters published between 2016 and 2024 from Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect databases. The review maps blockchain's potential across educational institutions while emphasizing feasibility and urgency within the Bangladesh context.

Methods and approach

The researchers conducted a systematic literature review using the PRISMA flow diagram methodology. Search strategies employed targeted keywords across three major academic databases covering an eight-year period. Screening processes eliminated irrelevant studies through systematic assessment of title, abstract, and full-text content. The final analysis incorporated diverse publication types including journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters examining blockchain applications in educational institutions.

Results

The review identified nine key domains where blockchain technology could benefit higher education. Following feasibility and urgency assessment specific to Bangladesh's context, five domains emerged as priority areas for implementation. These prioritized domains directly contribute to multiple targets within SDG 4. The identified applications span institutional governance, credential verification, student records management, and related educational infrastructure components.

Implications

The prioritization of five blockchain application domains provides actionable guidance for stakeholders implementing educational technology solutions. The systematic assessment of feasibility and urgency ensures recommendations align with Bangladesh's specific institutional and regulatory landscape. This evidence base enables informed decision-making regarding technology adoption timelines and resource allocation across higher education institutions. The findings establish measurable connections between blockchain implementation and SDG 4 achievement, supporting sustainability-oriented policy development. Policymakers and institutional leaders can reference this prioritization framework when designing blockchain integration strategies. The review identifies where regulatory bodies must establish standards or governance structures to facilitate secure blockchain adoption. Educators and administrators gain specific implementation domains rather than abstract technology applications, reducing deployment uncertainty.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.