Building Trust Across Borders: EU Credentials Infrastructure for the Ulysseus Alliance

At a recent workshop with our Ulysseus University Alliance partners, I introduced the possibilities of the EU Digital Credentials Infrastructure (EDCI) and led discussions on how we could establish our own cross-border credentialing ecosystem. As this is both my research focus and personal passion, it was an opportunity to combine academic vision with practical implementation.

Why This Matters

Our goal is to create a system where students' achievements can be instantly and securely verified (anywhere in Europe and beyond) while ensuring trust, interoperability, and accessibility for all stakeholders. This means:

• Students gain portable, verifiable proof of skills and qualifications.

• Employers can validate competencies quickly and reliably.

• Universities streamline recognition across borders, strengthening mobility and collaboration.

Current Status

We are now in the planning and architecture phase, working closely with the IT teams of all partner universities to design an interoperable system for the Alliance. Two main EDCI-aligned solutions are under consideration:

• Europass: leveraging the European Union's official digital credentialing framework.

• Blockchain EU solution, European Blockchian Infrastructure (EBCI) enabling secure, tamper-proof verification with decentralized trust.

As the lead for testing, analysis, and scenario development, I am evaluating how each approach could be implemented in the higher education sector, with a particular focus on collaboration with external partners to ensure real-world applicability.

Key Points from the Workshop

• Interoperability is non-negotiable: systems must speak the same language across countries, sectors, and platforms.

• Trust frameworks are as critical as technology: credentials must be verifiable, transparent, and compliant with data protection standards.

• Employer engagement is essential: aligning credential formats and metadata with hiring processes ensures adoption beyond academia.

Next Steps

• Complete the comparative analysis of the two EDCI solutions.

• Pilot credentialing workflows with selected programs across the Alliance.

• Develop governance and trust agreements among partner institutions.

• Engage industry partners to align credentialing with skills demand.

Digital credentials are not just a technical upgrade - they are an investment in global talent mobility, academic recognition, and employer trust. By building a shared infrastructure now, we are ensuring that our graduates' achievements carry weight wherever their careers take them.