Eco-System
V1.0
These guidance documents are targeted at holders, issuers and application hosters who use or host the Credentials Web Wallet, Credentials Mobile Wallet and the Credentials Issuer applications to manage digital credentials.
What are Digital Credentials
Digital credentials are issued to holders who demonstrate their achievements. They are machine-readable and are secured by cryptographic methods to maintain confidentiality and integrity. They are shareable utilising the technology available and portable as they can be interchanged among computer systems without any modifications.
Roles in the Digital Credentials Eco-System
Issuer
An issuer is an organization or person that issues a digital credential to a holder who has demonstrated achievement in a particular area or skill.
Holder
A holder is a person that receives a digital credential for their achievement from the issuer.
Verifier
A holder will share their digital credentials with verifiers to check their validity and make a determination on the holder’s achievement, eg. for employment. Verifiers can include employers.
Application Hosters
An application hoster is an individual, organization or government agency that hosts the Credentials Web Wallet or Credentials Issuer applications either internally for their employees or externally for the general public.
Specifications
W3C Verifiable Credentials (VCs)
The W3C Specification for Verifiable Credentials outlines the technical specification that the digital credentials must comply with. It is an internationally recognized specification that ensures the digital credentials are secure, easily shared, authentic and verifiable.
Open Badges 3.0 (OBs)
The Open Badges 3.0 specification is aligned to the W3C Specification for Verifiable Credentials and provides a data model and interchangeability mechanisms for digital credentials among computer systems.
W3C Decentralized Identifier (DID)
The W3C Decentralized Identifier is a specification to identify entities such as the holders and issuers of digital credentials. It provides the entities with a unique identification for greater security and validity.
Applications
Credentials Web Wallet
The web wallet is a web application used by holders to store and share their digital credentials with verifiers.
Use Cases
Organization
An organization can host a web wallet for it’s employees as part of its human resource or internal training system.
Sectors and Industry Groups
A sector group or association can host a web wallet for it’s sector. Employees can store and share their digital credentials with companies within the sector.
Governments or Territories
A government can host a web wallet for the general public to store and share their digital credentials with private companies and government agencies within a country.
Training Providers and Apprenticeships
Training providers and apprenticeships can host a web wallet for its learners and apprentices to store and share their credentials with potential employers.
Credentials Mobile Wallet
The credentials mobile wallet is a native mobile application where holders can store and display their credentials both on-line and offline.
Use Cases
Security and Safety or Gate Access
Individuals can present their digital credentials on a mobile phone to gain access to a facility. Examples : competence credentials, health and safety credentials, security credentials, employment identity to enter a industrial plant or organization.
Student or Learner Passes
Learners can present their digital identity/registration credentials to access a school, university or training institution’s lab, library, compound or resources.
Offline Credential Display
Individuals can display digital credentials on site with their mobile phones to their customers, contractors or other clients who will be able to view and verify the credentials.
Credential Issuer
The credential issuer application is used by issuers to issue digital credentials to holders.
Use Cases
Organizations
Organizations can use the application to issue credentials to their employees.
Individuals
Individual experts in specific skill areas can use the application to issue credentials to their learners.
Training Providers and Apprenticeships
Training and apprenticeship providers can use the application to issue credentials to their learners and apprentices.