Many colleges and universities are now providing students digital credentials in response to demand for more flexible, portable, and readily available certifications of learning.
One of the primary challenges higher education institutions face in this area is credential fraud, and many schools have been slow to change over to digital certification because of this.
However, students often have a difficult time arranging for copies of their own credentials from their credentialing departments, and are pressing schools to use digital certificates as a better solution. Currently, most institutions encourage students to not post their degree certificates on social media because it’s easy for fraudsters to use them for their own purposes.
Both credential and resume fraud are significant problems for both institutions and employers. In a recent survey of 1,051 Americans by Resume Lab, 93% of respondents reported they knew someone who lied on their resume, according to a new report.
However, many graduates complain that the manual credential ordering process is frustrating and outdated. Both students and institutions are searching for easier, safer to protect, and more convenient certifications that can improve the process for everyone. Digital certifications could be the answer.
Benefits for Institutions
From the institution’s perspective, there are many benefits to using digital credentials:
- Verification takes seconds
- Those that are written to the blockchain are fraud-proof
- Access from multiple devices
- Easy to share online
- Can be batch updated by the issuer
- Can be automated post course-completion
- Hosted on a secure platform
- Low cost to design, create, & deliver
- Issuer retains control of the credentials
- Can include lots of detail in an easy-to-use format
Benefits for Learners
The primary benefits for learners are the portability and shareability of digital credentials. With 80% of the world already using smartphones, learners always have proof of their education, certifications, and eligibility for work. Digital credentials can be easily shared with recruiters or potential employers and posted on LinkedIn profiles.
Considerations as Institutions Decide to Buy or BuildAs with all technology investments, institutions have to consider more than the present moment in designing solutions and changing years-old practices. This list of questions may be helpful as higher education leaders consider this move:
- Is the budget available for ongoing development to fix security flaws, accessibility updates, and any new errors or bugs?
- What current integrations are required for connecting LMSs (learning management systems) or LXPs (learning experience platforms)?
- Do future integrations need to be considered if the institution should switch?
- Are developers going to be inhouse (removed from other projects), hired for a build (with an ongoing contract for amendments). Or outsourced (requires additional management)?
- Is additional investment available for ongoing outsourcing or keeping a contractor involved if the project takes longer than expected?
- Is there a deadline for initial launch?
- What about security? GDPR, EU model clauses, and worldwide data protection rights?
- What about compatibility with assistive technologies, recipient access to credentials, and access to third-party qualifiers?
- Are credential triggers likely to change in the future, for example completing a module, course, an exam, or for surpassing a specific threshold?
Building or hosting a digital credentialing solution allows institutions to expand how they certify student learning as these digital files do not just replace PDF or physical certificates. There are benefits to these badges that make them difficult to replicate and use fraudulently and can also be granted for more singular or stand-alone achievements in addition to the traditional degree programs. As graduates use the digital badges, they help institutions market themselves as state-of-the-art institutions, at a time when interest and enrollment in colleges are in decline.