IPST BFH

Digital Education Certificate as a Verifiable Credential

By issuing an IPST continuing education certificate as a Verifiable Credential, we demonstrated how digital credentials can be implemented on the E-ID trust infrastructure – providing added value for universities, students, and employers.

With the introduction of the E-ID, Switzerland gains more than just a state-issued digital ID: the trust infrastructure provides the foundation to make different digital credentials verifiable. Credentials such as medical prescriptions, diplomas, or certificates can in the future be issued and verified on the same infrastructure, offering a wide range of applications for authorities, institutions, and private individuals. Since the end of March 2025, E-ID use cases can be tested in the Public Beta environment. The Swiyu app, which allows the E-ID and other verifiable digital documents to be stored, managed, and displayed on smartphones, is already available in the app stores.

The Case

With a proof of concept (POC), the Institute for Public Sector Transformation (IPST) at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), together with ti&m, demonstrated how a digital credential in the education sector can be implemented. The case: the certificate for the continuing education program “Data Management & Open Government Data” was issued as a Verifiable Credential on the trust infrastructure and made available in the Swiyu app. The goal was to gain initial experience with Verifiable Credentials and showcase their potential for universities and students.

The Solution

The solution consists of two parts: the Verifiable Credential (the certificate) and a verifier solution to validate the credential.

For the POC, Accredify acted as the issuer on behalf of IPST, meaning the entity issuing the credential. It confirms that a person completed the “Data Management & Open Government Data” program and details its content. The issued certificates can be securely stored in the participants' Swiyu app with a simple QR scan or link click. ti&m developed the verifier solution as a web app, enabling employers or other organizations to easily check the validity of credentials. Using this web app, the employer generates a verification QR code for the entire certificate or selected details and sends it to the participant, who confirms the requested credentials using the Swiyu app.

Benefits

IPST

gain experience through a concrete use case for digital credentials on the E-ID trust infrastructure.

Students

manage their continuing education certificate in the Swiyu app according to the SSI principles, selectively sharing data with a verifier.

Employers

greater transparency and security when reviewing applications.

Value and Conclusion

With this visible proof of concept, which highlights IPST’s role as an innovator in the public sector, IPST tested a use case for the upcoming E-ID early on, benefiting other educational institutions. Students receive digital credentials they can manage independently and selectively share according to the SSI principle. Employers benefit from greater security and reduced effort when verifying applications.

The E-ID trust infrastructure and the Swiyu app are still in the beta phase; know-how, standards, and applications are still being developed. This makes it all the more important that this POC created a functional scenario that makes the benefits of SSI and the trust infrastructure tangible for universities, students, and employers.

“With the POC Verifiable Credentials for our Data Management program, we demonstrated how the new E-ID trust infrastructure can be practically used. For graduates, it is a major benefit to store their continuing education certificate in the Swiyu wallet, keeping all data secure and always accessible.”
– Prof. Dr. Matthias Stürmer Head of Institute for Public Sector Transformation

Head of eGov & Industries

Magdalena Koj

Are you ready for e-ID? Start using it today to explore its potential for your business.