What is EDC?

European Digital Credentials for Learning is a European standard for digital educational credentials, established by the European Commission to harmonise and standardise the issuance of certificates across the European Union.

Why is it important?

• Recognition across the EU: EDC-compliant micro-credentials are automatically recognised in all Member States.
• Interoperability: Easy exchange and verification between different systems and institutions
• Future-proof: EDC will become the mandatory standard in the EU
• Employer trust: European employers prefer certificates that comply with official EU standards

The American Open Badges standard, although popular, does not guarantee compliance with European regulations and may not be recognised by all institutions in the EU.

What is eIDAS?

eIDAS (electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services) is an EU regulation governing electronic identification and trust services. A qualified electronic seal is the highest level of security for electronic documents.

Why is it important?

• Guarantee of authenticity: Confirms that the document originates from a verified organisation
• Data integrity: Any changes to the document are immediately detectable
• Legal validity: Equivalent to a traditional seal in all EU countries
• Protection against forgery: Virtually impossible to counterfeit
• GDPR compliance: Meets the highest data protection standards

Without such security, micro-credentials may be more easily counterfeited or challenged.

What does this mean?

The ability to independently create and modify micro-certificate templates without the need to involve the system provider.

Why is this important?

• Flexibility: Customise the appearance and content to suit your organisation’s needs.
• Speed: Make changes immediately without waiting for the supplier
• Cost savings: No additional fees for each modification
• Brand consistency: Full control over visual identity
• Diversity: Different templates for different types of training and certificates

Systems without this feature require contacting the supplier each time, which prolongs the process and generates additional costs.

What do the different statuses mean?

Ready to use: A fully tested and implemented product used by customers.
Test phase: A product under development, with possible bugs and functional limitations.

Why is this important?

• Stability: Ready-made solutions are tested and reliable.
• Support: Full documentation and technical support
• No surprises: All functionalities and limitations are known
• Immediate implementation: You can start working right away
• References: Can be verified with existing users

Solutions in the testing phase may change drastically or even be withdrawn.

What is ELM?

The European Learning Model is a European model for data on learning outcomes, which is part of the EDC standard. It defines how skills, competences and educational achievements are described.

• Detail: Precise description of acquired skills and competences
• Comparability: Easy comparison of qualifications between countries
• Value for employers: Clear information about what exactly the certificate holder can do
• Integration with AI: Recruitment systems can automatically analyse competences
• Development paths: Easier planning of further education

Micro-credentials that are not ELM-compliant may be less valuable and more difficult to interpret.

What is Europass?

Europass is a European career and skills management platform used by millions of Europeans to showcase their qualifications.

Why is it important?

• One profile: All qualifications in one place
• Professional mobility: Makes it easier to work and study in different EU countries
• Visibility: Employers often search for candidates through Europass
• Automatic update: Micro-credentials appear automatically in your profile
• Multilingualism: Automatic translation into EU languages

Lack of integration means that certificates must be added manually, which is time-consuming and can lead to errors.

The difference between a commercial solution and a research project

Commercial solution: A product developed by a company with a long-term business plan.
Research project: A scientific initiative, often temporary and dependent on grants.

Why is this important?

• Continuity: Commercial solutions have guaranteed funding.
• Development: Regular updates and new features
• Support: Professional technical support and SLA
• Accountability: The company is accountable for the system’s performance
• Data migration: In case of problems, it is easier to transfer data to another system

Research projects may be terminated once funding runs out, leaving users without support.

What is an API?

An API (Application Programming Interface) enables automatic communication between different IT systems, allowing for seamless data exchange without the need for manual export/import.

Why is this important?

• Automation: Automatic issuance of certificates upon completion of the course
• LMS integration: Connection to e-learning platforms (Moodle, Canvas, etc.)
• HR systems: Automatic updating of employee profiles
• Time savings: Elimination of manual data entry
• Error reduction: No mistakes when rewriting data
• Scalability: Support for thousands of certificates without additional work

Credentium’s advantage

Direct integration with Examena and Erudis means ready-made, tested connections to popular exam and education platforms. This saves time and implementation costs!

Systems without an API require manual data export/import, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, especially with a large number of students.

What does this mean?

This dedicated solution is a system designed from scratch specifically for issuing, managing, and verifying educational micro-credentials, as opposed to general document platforms.

Why is this important?

• Specialised features: Every feature designed with educational needs in mind
• Intuitive: Interface tailored to the certification process, no need to adapt a general system
• Ready-made templates: Predefined templates for different types of training and courses
• Educational integrations: Connections to LMS platforms and university systems
• Expert support: The team understands the specifics of micro-credentials and education
• Learning paths: Ability to build development programmes
• Educational reporting: Analyses tailored to the needs of training institutions

General document platforms treat micro-credentials as “just another type of document,” which means a lack of specialised features, the need for independent configuration and customisation, and a lack of understanding of the specifics of education.

Different technological approaches

EU-compliant: Technology that meets all EU requirements and standards.
Open Badges: American standard for digital badges.
Blockchain: Distributed ledger technology.

Why is EU compliance important?

• Regulations: Compliance with current and future EU legal requirements
• GDPR: Full compliance with personal data protection
• Interoperability: Cooperation with other European systems
• Trust: Public institutions prefer EU-compliant solutions
• Grants: Eligibility for European funding

Non-EU-compliant technologies may require costly modifications or may not be accepted by some institutions.

Plugin for automatic generation of micro-credentials with assessment