Welsh awarding organisation Agored Cymru is embracing a new Digital-First approach to certification, working with long-standing technology partner Advanced Secure Technologies to make secure digital credentials the first choice for learners – while retaining print on-demand for those who want a secure physical certificate.
Agored Cymru has taken another step in its commitment to innovation by adopting a Digital-First approach to certification, creating a more immediate, flexible and sustainable experience for learners.
Through the approach, learners can access their secure digital certificates online, making credentials available when and where they are needed. Digital credentials can also be easily shared and verified, supporting learners as they progress into employment, further education or other opportunities.
By making digital the first choice, the approach can reduce the need for routine printing, postage, physical storage and replacement certificates, while helping to reduce the administrative effort involved in issuing and managing credentials. Where a physical certificate is required or preferred, it can still be securely produced through a print on-demand model.
Digital certificates provide learners with a secure, verifiable credential that can be accessed and authenticated digitally, helping organisations move beyond sole reliance on paper documents as evidence of achievement. When combined with secure printed credentials, organisations benefit from a holistic approach to credential security. As sophisticated technologies like AI make the creation of convincing fake credentials increasingly accessible, this additional layer of security helps organisations protect qualification integrity and deliver greater value to their learners.
A partnership built on innovation
Agored Cymru and Advanced Secure Technologies have worked together for many years, with the relationship continuing to evolve as the awarding sector embraces new approaches to certification.
The latest development reflects a shared focus on combining security, technology and practical innovation to create a better experience for learners, centres and awarding organisations.
“Our new digital certification platform gives learners secure, lifelong access to their qualifications and the freedom to share their achievements with employers, universities and training providers. We want every learner to have a record of their achievements that stays with them, supports their ambitions and helps open doors to new opportunities.
Our ambition is to keep innovating so that learners have the tools to demonstrate what they know, what they can do and what they have achieved, wherever their journey takes them.”
– Osian George, Director of Digital & Business Transformation at Agored Cymru
“Digital-First is a natural evolution of secure certification, bringing together the integrity and trust of traditional physical certificates with the accessibility, flexibility and efficiency of digital credentials.
Our long-standing partnership with Agored Cymru is built on a shared commitment to security, innovation and continuous improvement. Their move to Digital-First demonstrates how awarding organisations can modernise certification, reduce their environmental impact and improve operational efficiency whilst giving learners greater choice through secure digital access and secure print on-demand, where the additional security of a printed credential is required.
We’re proud to continue our partnership with Agored Cymru as they build on this progress, exploring new opportunities to enhance the learner experience and extend the value and security of their qualifications.”
– Kevin Bassett, Managing Director at Advanced Secure Technologies
As awarding organisations look for more sustainable and efficient ways to deliver certification, Agored Cymru’s Digital-First approach demonstrates how digital credentials and print on-demand can work together to create a more flexible model – putting the learner experience at the centre while maintaining the security and integrity of qualifications awarded.
About Advanced Secure Technologies
Advanced Secure Technologies is a market leader in secure certification and digital credential solutions, helping awarding organisations, universities and education providers protect the integrity of qualifications and improve how credentials are issued, managed and verified.
Combining extensive expertise in secure print, digital technologies and credential verification, the company delivers integrated solutions that bring physical and digital certification together. By connecting securely printed certificates with verifiable digital credentials, organisations can enhance protection against fraud, improve authenticity checks and provide greater confidence in the qualifications they issue.
Through its Digital Certificates® platform, Advanced Secure Technologies enables a Digital-First approach that gives learners secure access to their achievements, convenient sharing and verification capabilities, and the choice of physical certificates through print on-demand.
With security, innovation and long-term partnerships at its core, Advanced Secure Technologies helps organisations enhance the learner experience, improve operational efficiency and reduces the environmental impact of certification.
For more information, visit www.advancedsecure.co.uk.
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Advanced Secure Technologies
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www.advancedsecure.co.uk
