In the future, Turku University of Applied Sciences will award electronic degree certificates
Starting from 2 May 2022, Turku University of Applied Sciences will introduce an electronic degree certificate. The renewal responds to the challenge of digitalization and improves the reliability of certificates.
From students’ perspective, the electronic certificate improves information security and management of their own data and speeds up the process of obtaining the certificate.
The electronically signed certificate is official and original. The electronic signature of the Rector is carried out with a certificate issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency which is the strongest certificate available and is accepted throughout the EU. The certificate conforms to the eIDAS (EU) 910/2014 Regulation and fulfils the requirements for an authorised electronic signature.
After the renewal, printed certificates will no longer be issued. Graduates themselves can print out paper copies of the electronic certificate, but they should keep in mind that the paper copy does not correspond the official certificate.
“With the electronic degree certificate, Turku University of Applied Sciences takes a tangible step towards a more digital world. The electronic certificate will facilitate the reliable visibility of the experts who graduate from Turku UAS in both Finland and abroad”, says Rector Vesa Taatila from Turku University of Applied Sciences.
Benefits include information security and speed
From students’ perspective, the electronic certificate improves information security and management of their own data and speeds up the process of obtaining the certificate. The electronic certificate does not require separate verification. The certificate can e.g., be sent to authorities or attached to a job application as such, and if the certificate is lost, a new, equivalent certificate can easily be obtained.
The electronic certificate is also an act for the environment and a step towards carbon positivity of Turku University of Applied Sciences, as papers and folders are no longer required for the certificates and archival copies and sending them by post is renounced.
In total, the reliability of the certificates increases with the electronic signature, as the electronic certificate cannot be copied. The electronic certificate provides a modern way for verifying the signatory’s identity.
A validation service, www.tuas.fi/certificate , will soon be available on the website of Turku University of Applied Sciences. With the service, the signature of the certificate can be verified. The authenticity of the certificate can also be checked in the verification service on the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.