Digitizing Academic Credentials with Microsoft Entra Verified ID
Education organizations can leverage Entra Verified ID to create a platform for issuing, managing, and verifying digital academic credentials that can be stored in the GOVUK Wallet.
The UK Government has announced plans to launch a Digital Wallet as the identity foundation for interfacing with their online digital services.
This will first address use cases like a digital drivers licence, and this article explores how it could then be expanded to also add credentials for scenarios like Education, by using Microsoft Entra Verified ID.
Gov UK Wallet
Scheduled for launch in summer 2025, the GOV.UK Wallet is a digital identity wallet that allows UK residents to store government-issued documents, such as digital driving licenses and Veteran Cards, on their smartphones. It is underpinned by GOV.UK One Login, which provides secure identity verification. The wallet aims to support additional credentials, including those from certified third parties, by 2027.
The GOV.UK Wallet is designed to provide a secure, convenient way for UK citizens to store and access government-issued documents on their smartphones, to simplify interactions with government services by allowing users to digitally store credentials, reducing reliance on physical documents and streamlining processes like proving identity, age, or eligibility for services.
Other credential scenarios includes Education, where students can receive digitized academic certificates, for storing in their wallet and sharing with potential employers to validate their eligibility for the work.
Verified ID for Education
Education organizations can leverage Microsoft Entra Verified ID, a decentralized identity management solution, to create a platform for issuing, managing, and verifying digital academic credentials that can be stored in the GOV.UK Wallet.
This is a verifiable credential service built on open standards, enabling organizations to issue digital credentials that users store in digital wallets. These credentials are cryptographically signed, ensuring security, privacy, and verifiability. It supports user-owned identity scenarios, allowing individuals to control what data they share and with whom.
