Introduction
SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is one of the leading private education and lifelong learning institutions in the region. It provides innovative learning experiences designed for higher education, professional development, and corporate excellence through over 120 academic programs, from diploma to master’s degree programs, in partnership with universities from Australia, Europe, UK, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 16,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners hailing from over 40 countries. Its holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with the knowledge, industry skills, and competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed in a fast-changing, technologically-driven world. Here’s how SIM GE further enriched its services through the transformation of its education credential management processes with Accredify Passport.
1) Transforming education credential management
“…the benefits of verifiable, tamper-proof digital credentials were so closelyalignedwithSIMGE’s strategic objectives, which are to create a first-in-class,student-centric learning experience, that it made the decision to partner with Accredify, to provide digital credentials to its learners as a value-added service…“
Digital transformation in the area of credential management brings an entirely new suite of benefits to an educational institution – ranging from improved operational efficiency and enhanced user experience to greater reputational safety. In fact, the benefits of verifiable, tamper-proof digital credentials were so closely aligned with SIM GE’s strategic objectives, which are to create a first-in-class, student-centric learning experience, that it made the decision to partner with Accredify, to provide digital credentials to its learners as a value-added service, on top of the usual issuance of the physical certificates and transcripts. TheadoptionofAccredify’sverifiabledigital a credential management solution was supported by application programming interface (API) integration, which enhanced the operational efficiency of digital credential management for SIM GE. By integrating SIM GE’s Student Management System (SMS) with Accredify’s system, SIM GE can transmit data directly to Accredify’s solution, which will automatically generate the required certificates for the Examination Administration (EA) department to review, approve, sign, and distribute to their learners. The creation of such an automated workflow eliminates both the manhours required for this process and any possibility of human error.
The three key benefits of verifiable digital credentials are:
1) Tamper-proof
Accredify-issued blockchain-based verifiable digital credentials cannot be tampered with as verifiers are able to identify if a certificate has been edited in any way. By adopting such technology, SIM GE not only ensures its learners’ certificates are always trusted by third parties but also protects its own brand against cases of fraudulent certificates made in their name.
2) Instantly verifiable
Digital credentials issued by Accredify are instantly verifiable by either a simple QR code scan or via a drag-and-drop online verifier portal. This means learners with a certificate awarded by SIM can confidently present their credentials without third parties ever doubting the authenticity of their achievements. In addition, SIM GE no longer has to assist third parties with authenticating the certificates of their learners, since this verification can be performed by that third party.
3) Portable
Learners will always have on-demand access to their SIM credentials with Accredify Passport, previously known as the Recipient’s Dashboard. Accredify Passport is a web app that allows learners to securely store, access, and share their SIM credentials conveniently, all in one place. This means learners no longer need to worry about the hassle of filing and archiving paper-based credentials, or the possibility of losing or misplacing them.
2) Putting learners in charge of their own education records
With Accredify Passport, SIMGE puts its students at the center of their own educational achievements and data.
Enhancing learner mobility
by ensuring learners always have on-demand access to their instantly verifiable and tamper-proof education documents with Accredify Passport, SIMGE’s students enjoy greater learner mobility by being able to easily apply for any job or for any opportunities to further their education – even across country borders. With Accredify Passport, SIM’s digitally verifiable education transcripts and certificates will never be misplaced or lost by their learners and can be produced for and verified by third parties in seconds, thus opening door to global opportunities across the world. To support enhanced learner mobility, Accredify Passport also enables SIM GE learners to share their education credentials directly from the app. Learners can share their achievements on social platforms, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, social messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp, email, a direct link, or even a QR code. If learners share their certificates on LinkedIn, they will be able to seamlessly add the credential to their LinkedIn profile’s Licenses & Certifications.
Ensuring data security and protection
While easy sharing and access seem convenient, SIM GE is also mindful of personal data privacy and security. Accredify is ISO 27001 certified and has received the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)’s Data Protection Trustmark certification. Accredify also conducts regular Infosecurity audits, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT), and is compliant with Singapore’s national PDPA requirements. This gives SIM GE the assurance that Accredify and its solutions, including Accredify Passport, meet SIM GE’s high standards for data protection and security.
Providing full data ownership
With Accredify Passport, learners are empowered to determine who, and what, to share with third parties. From setting access expiry dates to withholding sensitive personal information like NRIC and Home Address, Accredify Passport ensures individuals have full control over the sharing of their data – before, during, and even after their data has been shared.
3) Current and future plans.
From as early as November 2020, SIM GE has been issuing digital, verifiable education certificates and transcripts as part of its strategic initiatives to leverage digital solutions to provide value-added services to their learners and streamline its verification processes. The transformation of SIM GE’s credential management with the deployment of Accredify Passport was in tandem with the Singapore Government’s digital initiative to provide a common standard for digital, verifiable certificates. In addition to the IT systems and digital solutions SIM has implemented, SIM GE continues to explore new pedagogical methods made possible through technology. Plans that are already in the works include self-paced e-learning, an online proctoring and assessment system, a unified feedback management system, a student mobile application, and the use of big data and predictive analytics to design student-centric programmes. These initiatives will bring SIM a step closer to its digitalisation goals, and enhance the student-centric learning journey for SIM GE’s student and alumni community.
About Accredify
Accredifyispioneeringtheworld’stransitiontoverifiabledata.Headquarteredin Singapore and founded in 2019, Accredify is Asia Pacific’s leading service provider for the issuance of verifiable documents and has processedover 12 million verifications on 1.7 million issued documents, known as “Accredified documents”, to date. By enabling automation and secure information exchange, Accredify has empowered nearly 600 users in nine markets to simplify complex processes and discover new frontiers of efficiency. With a dedicated team that embraces the highest standards of customer service, security, and privacy, Accredify’s mission is to be the foremost verification solutions provider for moments when trust matters most. For more information, visit www.accredify.io and follow us on LinkedIn @Accredify.
About the Singapore Institute of Management
The Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) is one of the region’s leading education and lifelong learning institutions, recognised for empowering individuals and enterprises to thriveacrosslifestagesthroughlearning.SeededbytheSingaporeEconomic Development Board in 1964, SIM has, for close to 60 years, been leading in the development of work and industry skills for Singapore’s growth. Through harnessing new knowledge, skills and technology, SIM provides skills-based learning experiences that enable students, professionals, and enterprises to Learn for Life and Thrive for Life. SIM achieves this through SIM Global Education (SIM GE) and SIM Academy. SIM GE focuses on higher education pathways and SIM Academy focuses on Professional Development (PD) and Enterprise Solutions (ES) for career transitions and advancements, and integrated learning solutions for enterprises. FormoreinformationontheSingaporeInstituteofManagement,visit https://www.sim.edu.sg.
About SIM Global Education
SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is one of the leading private education institutions in the region. It offers more than 120 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes, to Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Europe, United Kingdom and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 16,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 30% are international students hailing from over 40 countries. SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed in a fast-changing, technologically driven world. For more information on SIM Global Education, visit https://www.sim.edu.sg/ge.
Awards and Certifications
SIM GE has attained the EduTrust Star certification award effective from 20 August 2022. It isamongstthethreeoutof125EduTrust-certified,or314EnhancedRegistration Framework-registered private education institutions to have been accorded this award as of 7 September 2022. The EduTrust Star certification award is accorded to private education institutions (PEI) in Singapore for attaining a commendable level of performance in managing their institutions and providing an outstanding quality of education and welfare for their students. It is also a symbolic recognition for outstanding achievement in their field of work. The EduTrust Star certification award is the highest tier of award under the EduTrust Certification Scheme, a quality assurance scheme administered by the Committee for Private Education, part of SkillsFuture Singapore, for PEIs in Singapore
