DIGIZ.NRW - Tamper-proof Digital Graduation Certificates
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Schools and universities · Organisation: Ministerium für Schule und Bildung des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bundesdruckerei, drei Hochschulen · Maturity level: Pilot
DIGIZ.NRW is a field test by the Ministry of Education of North Rhine-Westphalia for creating tamper-proof digital graduation certificates using blockchain technology. Around 130 schools with graduation classes as well as three universities and the Foundation for University Admissions participate in the test. The project combines blockchain technology with digital signatures from the Federal Printing Office to make certificate authenticity verifiable.
Documentation status
- Project status: Pilot
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
The NRW Ministry of School and Education (MSB NRW) developed an approach for blockchain-secured school certificates as part of the DIGIZ programme (Digital Certificate). NRW is Germany's most populous federal state and thus has the greatest influence on setting standards for digital educational documents.
Traditional school certificates are paper-based, easily forged, and difficult to verify — universities and companies cannot instantly verify Abitur certificates. The DIGIZ programme NRW aims for fully digital school certificates: schools issue digital certificates signed with the school's cryptographic key; the timestamp is anchored on the blockchain; graduates receive their certificate in their digital wallet. Hochschulstart.de (Foundation for University Admission) evaluated how digital certificates can be integrated into the university admission process — instead of submitting certificate copies, applicants would simply verify their digital certificate token. Handwerksblatt reported extensively on the NRW blockchain certificate initiative as a model for craft vocational qualifications. Compatibility: NRW's approach is compatible with EU EBSI standards and Europass Digital Credentials.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Universities and employers in NRW can instantly and securely verify digitally issued school certificates — no fax, no certified copy, no weeks-long waiting time.
B2C — consumers perspective
Graduates receive tamper-proof digital certificates that they can easily and quickly present when applying. The digital proofs are available at any time and no longer need to be physically managed or sent.
Employees perspective
Administrative staff in schools and universities are relieved from manual certification processes. HR staff can verify applicants' qualifications more quickly and reliably.
Benefits
General
- Tamper-proof certificates through blockchain technology and cryptographic methods.
- Simplification of certificate management through digitisation and automation of processes.
- Immediate verification of authenticity without manual checks or enquiries with issuers.
B2B — organisations
- Cost reduction through elimination of manual certification processes and accelerated application procedures.
B2C — consumers
- Fast and straightforward use of digital certificates in applications without waiting times or postal delivery.
Employees
- Relief from administrative routine tasks and more time for educational or strategic duties.
Challenges
General
- Integration into existing school administration systems requires technical adjustments and training.
- Acceptance of the new technology by all involved stakeholders must be ensured.
B2B — organisations
- Investments in IT infrastructure and staff training are required for implementation.
Employees
- Adaptation to new digital workflows and learning the new technology is necessary.
Technology foundation
The project uses blockchain technology combined with digital signatures from Bundesdruckerei to create immutable certificates. The blockchain acts as a decentralized register where the authenticity of certificates is verifiably stored without a central authority.
Implementation examples
DIGIZ.NRW field test with 130 schools
Paper documents are easy to forge and cause high administrative costs due to manual certification processes. The ministry wanted to develop a forgery-proof alternative that simultaneously digitises and accelerates administrative processes.
The ministry tested the issuance of digital, blockchain-secured A-level certificates with 130 schools.
The Ministry of School and Education NRW conducted a comprehensive field test with around 130 schools with A-level classes. Additionally, three universities and the Foundation for University Admissions participated in testing digital certificates in application procedures. The project combined blockchain technology with the digital signature of the Bundesdruckerei and was carried out as part of the Online Access Act.
The field test aimed to increase the forgery security of educational certificates while modernising administrative processes. Both technical and organisational challenges of digitalisation in education were addressed.
Tags
Digital certificates, Proof of education, Forgery protection, Document verification, Administrative digitisation