Together with more than 100 EU-organizations the University of Twente actively contributed to the European project DC4EU (Digital Credentials for Europe). In the Netherlands we worked closely with our colleagues at SURF, DUO, Saxion and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. In this project we explored how digital identities and credentials can be safely and seamlessly exchanged across EU member states. As a piloting agent our university tested two different wallet technologies together with students, lecturers, and staff. These wallets allow users to securely store and share digital certificates – for example your name, birthday, diplomas, diploma supplements, micro-credentials and edubadges, to apply for admission to another university within the EU.
Beyond higher education, the European wallet will also be used in sectors such as finance, travel, insurance, mobility (e.g. driving licenses), and payments. The initiative is rooted in the eIDAS regulation, which requires each EU member state to provide a free and secure digital wallet for all its citizens by the end of 2026. The test-wallets were developed according to the principle of privacy by design, ensuring that users remain in full control of their personal data and only share what is strictly necessary. The first wallets will be available by the end of 2026 and will fundamentally change the way credentials are exchanged across borders in the (near) future.
For universities, these developments means that from 2026 onwards, more and more students will present their official qualifications directly through a digital wallet when applying for a study programme. This not only simplifies international admissions a lot (less time consuming), but also makes flexible learning for students and professionals more transparent and strongly supports lifelong learning.
For students, the impact will be very visible. Imagine being able to:
- Apply for a programme abroad and instantly share your secondary education and/or bachelor diploma through the wallet.
- Prove your language proficiency with a verified certificate instead of sending paper documents.
- Register for internships or jobs with digital credentials that employers across Europe can trust.
- Keep track of micro-credentials and short courses, making flexible and lifelong learning visible through the verified credentials the wallet.
For our university and other (higher) education institutions, the benefits are just as significant, for example:
- Streamlined admissions processes thanks to instant, verified credentials.
- Reduced administrative workload, since documents no longer need to be manually checked and translated.
- Increased trust and security, as credentials are much harder to falsify.
- Improved support for flexible learning pathways, where students can combine modules, micro-credentials, and degrees across institutions.
- A stronger European academic ecosystem, where recognition of qualifications becomes seamless.
The University of Twente, through its TELT, CELT, CES and LISA departments, has also contributed to clarifying the governance structure (who determines which entities are authorized to issue which credentials), shaping the design of these digital certificates, ensuring that they will contain all that is needed to be recognized across Europe and started the discussion with SURF and DUO about their possible new roles in the future. Actually, DC4EU is much more than a project, it is the start of a truly digital Europe.
