Centralization of data
Diplomas and registrations are often stored in silos managed by institutions or national bodies. This makes switching or combining learning pathways complex and bureaucratic.
Introduction.
The digital transformation of education is accelerating rapidly. Learning is becoming more flexible, happens increasingly outside traditional classrooms, and the call for lifelong learning is stronger than ever. At the same time, institutions, students, and employers struggle with a pressing question: How can learning outcomes be captured and shared in a reliable, privacy-friendly, and widely applicable way?
The NGDIL project (Next-Generation Digital Identity in Learning) was initiated by Koning Willem I College (KW1C), in collaboration with UNESCO Learning City Oss, Impierce Technologies, and Auvo Digital (formerly TangleLabs). NGDIL demonstrated that by using Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), Verifiable Credentials (VCs), and interoperable wallets, a new foundation for learning and work in the 21st century can be built.
From the outset, NGDIL adopted a clear motto: don't just talk, act. Instead of endless vision papers without application, the project created tangible demonstrations that policymakers, managers, teachers, and learners could experience. This hands-on approach turned NGDIL into a leading Dutch pilot and a source of inspiration within the wider European context.
Partner Organizations
The Problem.
The current system of diplomas, registrations, and centralized databases no longer meets the needs of a learning society.
Key challenges include:
Lack of learner control
Students cannot manage or selectively share their records. They are dependent on the policies and pace of institutions.
Mismatch with labor market needs
Employers increasingly seek up-to-date, verifiable evidence of skills rather than only final diplomas.
Platform dependency
Existing solutions are often tied to specific vendors or proprietary platforms, limiting interoperability.
Trust and privacy concerns
Learners are frequently forced to share more personal information than necessary, undermining trust and inclusivity.
NGDIL sought to address these issues by showing how open standards, decentralized infrastructure, and privacy-first principles could offer an alternative.
Objectives.
The objective of NGDIL was to design and demonstrate an open and interoperable ecosystem…
NGDIL aimed to show there is a realistic pathway toward seamless learning and working through decentralized digital identity.
Empowering Learners
Enable students and professionals to manage their own learning and work credentials in a wallet of their choice.
Interoperable & Open Standards
Commit to international standards such as W3C VCs, DIDs, and OpenID4VC (VCI/VP) and SIOPv2, ensuring cross-wallet compatibility.
Practical demonstrations
Showcase the value of digital identity in real-world use cases: registration, access scanning, and issuance of diplomas or badges.
Strategic Embedding
The NGDIL demonstrations are directly linked to KW1C's educational strategy and embedded within national and international initiatives.
European Relevance
Position NGDIL as a forerunner anticipating eIDAS 2.0 and the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet, which EU member states are mandated to roll out by 2026.
In short, NGDIL's mission was to prove that a wallet-agnostic, protocol-first approach works both technically and strategically, while empowering learners and meeting European policy requirements.
History and Origins
2021
From vision to action
NGDIL was founded on the idea of building instead of talking. The project began forming its consortium - connecting education, technology, and regional partners to explore digital identity and skills recognition.
2022
Designing trust and interoperability
Technical foundations were developed using open standards such as W3C Verifiable Credentials and OpenID for Verifiable Presentations. First prototypes showed how learners could own and share their verified achievements.
2023
Demonstrating the future of learning
NGDIL came to life through live demos at MBO Digitaal, Open Badges NL, and SURF Onderwijsdagen. Educators, policymakers, and tech partners saw interoperability in action - connecting education, skills, and the labour market.
2024
Inspiring national adoption
The NGDIL proof-of-concept inspired EduWallet (Npuls) and contributed to European discussions like DC4EU. Its impact shifted digital identity in education from theory to practice.
Timeline.
The objective of NGDIL was to design and demonstrate an open and interoperable ecosystem…
NGDIL aimed to show there is a realistic pathway toward seamless learning and working through decentralized digital identity.
In short, NGDIL's mission was to prove that a wallet-agnostic, protocol-first approach works both technically and strategically, while empowering learners and meeting European policy requirements.
By combining strategic vision, institutional support, and practical demos, NGDIL established the foundation for becoming both a local innovation and an internationally recognized case study.
The Functional Demo
NGDIL didn't just talk about digital identity—it built it.
The team created a fully functional, interactive demo platform that showcased how digital identity transformed education. This wasn't a concept or a vision paper—it was a working system that people could touch, use, and experience firsthand.
Interactive Demo Journey
Technological Deep Dive
The power of NGDIL lay in its deliberate commitment to open standards and a protocol-first approach.
Verifiable Credentials (VCs)
Digital attestations such as diplomas, registrations, or tickets, always cryptographically signed and instantly verifiable.
Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)
Unique identifiers not controlled by any central authority, enabling self-sovereign ownership.
OpenID4VC family
Protocols describing issuance (VCI), presentation (VP), and self-issued identity (SIOPv2). These ensure cross-wallet interoperability.
Wallets
NGDIL tested two independent wallets: UniMe (Impierce) and Vira (Auvo Digital). Both functioned seamlessly, proving interoperability and user choice.
Open Badges v3
NGDIL bridged existing educational badge infrastructures (like SURF edubadges) with SSI technology. OBv3 is compatible with VCs, allowing badges to work both inside institutional platforms and in SSI wallets.
Privacy by design
Verification required only proof of validity — not disclosure of personal details. For example, event access checks displayed a simple green tick without exposing names or birthdates.
By aligning with W3C, 1EdTech, and OpenID standards, NGDIL showed that SSI in education is not only theoretical but ready for practice today.
Practical Demonstrations
The strength of NGDIL was in hands-on demonstrations, which made the abstract concepts tangible for stakeholders.
Technology Day (20 September 2023)
NGDIL was presented to a broad audience across sectors (education, healthcare, defense, national initiatives). The day combined live demo flows with technical deep dives (eIDAS 2.0, OpenID) and panel discussions on interoperability and inclusion.
Significance: The official Dutch launch moment, proving the value of protocol-based interoperability.
Conferences (MBO Digitaal, SURF Education Days, DBC Meetup)
Across these conferences, NGDIL gained visibility and credibility. - At MBO Digitaal, it was positioned as a key enabler of barrier-free lifelong learning. - At SURF Education Days, the connection to cross-institutional edubadges was made. - At the DBC SSI Meetup, NGDIL was recognized as a national example in the skills and SSI landscape. Together, these demonstrations showed that NGDIL was more than a technical experiment, it was a practical and strategic proof-point for the future of digital identity in education.
SonicBee Demo (13 December 2023)
Participants received an enrollment credential in their wallet prior to the event. At the entrance, validity was checked using a Verifiable Presentation; the scanner returned only "valid" or "invalid." After the event, each participant received a participation badge.
Lesson learned: Attendees intuitively grasped the difference between proof of enrollment and proof of participation, while experiencing privacy-preserving verification.
Barista Training (30 January 2024)
Invitation by email → enrollment credential in wallet → access verification → issuance of an official KW1C Barista Basic badge upon completion.
Impact: This showed NGDIL's direct applicability in everyday educational practice, not just conferences or policy arenas.
European & International Context
UNESCO & Learning Cities
NGDIL connects directly to UNESCO's Lifelong Learning (LLL) vision. UNESCO emphasizes that cities and regions should act as ecosystems where schools, governments, employers, and citizens collaborate. The UNESCO Learning City Oss exemplified this approach: linking KW1C's educational strategy with a regional lifelong learning agenda. NGDIL turned this vision into reality by showing, through live demos, how learners could manage and reuse their credentials themselves. This gave UNESCO's LLL principles tangible form: empowerment, accessibility, and inclusivity.
Skills & HR: Toward a Skills Economy
NGDIL responded to the shift from a diploma-driven to a skills-driven labor market. Employers increasingly demand verifiable, up-to-date evidence of specific competencies. NGDIL's model demonstrated: - Trustworthiness through cryptographic signatures. - Privacy through data minimization (only "valid/yes" outcomes shown). - Portability through wallet-agnostic design. The Barista Basic badge is a simple yet powerful example: a skill that is often informal, but now digitally recognized and verifiable for employers.
Education: Edubadges & Open Badges v3
The Netherlands already uses SURF edubadges for micro-credentials. NGDIL integrated this ecosystem with Open Badges v3 (OBv3), which is fully compatible with VCs. This bridge meant: - Teachers could continue issuing badges in existing platforms. - Students could reuse the same badges outside the institutional context, e.g., in SSI wallets for job applications. NGDIL thus proved that cross-institutional badges can be recognized and applied beyond the borders of the issuing institution.
Europass EDC
The European Digital Credentials for Learning (EDC) infrastructure is a European Commission initiative to issue and verify credentials across borders. NGDIL shares its core principles—authenticity, privacy, and interoperability—but differs by focusing on wallet-native usage. Both approaches are converging. NGDIL demonstrated that Europass credentials can also be aligned with SSI wallets, making European frameworks more learner-centric.
EU Policy Framework: eIDAS 2.0 & EUDI Wallet
The revised eIDAS 2.0 regulation obliges EU member states to roll out a European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet by 2026. These wallets will become the standard way for citizens to identify themselves and use official credentials. NGDIL prefigured this future by working with the same standards: W3C VCs, DIDs, and OpenID4VC protocols. This made NGDIL not just a local pilot but a practical testbed for Europe's digital identity ambitions.
DC4EU (Digital Credentials for Europe)
DC4EU is a major European project to pilot credentials across education and employment sectors. NGDIL aligns directly with its objectives: cross-border mobility, interoperability, and learner empowerment. Though national in scope, NGDIL positioned itself as an international forerunner. Its demonstrations feed directly into the type of use cases DC4EU is designed to implement.
Technical Notes
- VC (Verifiable Credential): a digital certificate signed by a trusted issuer, instantly verifiable.
- DID (Decentralized Identifier): a unique ID not controlled by any central authority.
- OpenID4VCI, OID4VP, SIOPv2: internet protocols that standardize how credentials are issued, presented, and managed.
- Protocol over platform: NGDIL deliberately avoided lock-in by focusing on standards first, ensuring users can always choose their wallet.
Strategic Adoption
Institutional Level (KW1C)
Executive Board (29 August 2023): Leadership endorsement transformed NGDIL from an experiment into a supported initiative.
Koersday (19 December 2023): NGDIL was presented to KW1C's full management, embedding it within the institution's strategy on modularization, flexibility, and lifelong learning.
National Level
SURF Education Days (November 2023): Linked NGDIL to edubadges and micro-credentials.
DBC SSI Meetup (February 2024): Positioned NGDIL as a national reference case in SSI and skills.
Skills Ambassade & TNO: Connected NGDIL with broader labor market initiatives such as the skillspaspoort.
Regional Level
Through the partnership with UNESCO Learning City Oss, NGDIL became a regional showcase for aligning municipalities, colleges, and employers in a lifelong learning ecosystem.