ABSTRACT
Currently, business process management (BPM) and business process management systems (BPMS) play an important role in the functioning of educational institutions. They support and automate research, teaching, and administrative activities. BPMS are used not only in the management of internal processes, e.g. applications, notifications, or business trip documents, but also in external inter-organisational processes such as the procurement of materials and services, student exchange, and courses accreditation. Therefore, a question arises: How could blockchain technology streamline organisational processes and document workflows at higher educational institutions (HEIs)? The chapter presents how blockchain technology, in general and smart contracts, in particular, can lead to the optimisation of internal and external processes of HEIs. In particular, we discuss public tenders as an example of procurement processes and accreditation as an example of inter-organisational activities that utilise blockchain and optimise collaboration in the network of organisations. The latter example also refers to the streamlining of the administrative processes related to the recording and distribution of awarded ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits.
