Agored Cymru takes a Digital-First approach to secure, sustainable certification. 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. "Its 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. Advanced Secure Technologies Ltd want every learner to have a record of their achievements that stays with them, supports their ambitions and helps open doors to new opportunities. Its 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. Its 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. Advanced Secure Technologies Ltd is proud to continue its 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(R) 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.

University of Fort Hare advances digital transformation with secure Digital Certificates(R). Advanced Secure Technologies partners with the University of Fort Hare to modernise qualification certification and verification, supported by integration expertise from Adapt IT. 1 October 2026 - The University of Fort Hare (UFH) has reached a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey with the implementation of Digital Certificates(R), Advanced Secure Technologies' secure digital certification and qualification verification platform, supported by integration from Adapt IT. The initiative forms part of UFH's wider digital transformation programme and contributes to the University's Strategic Objective 10: Digital Transformation of Business Processes. It is designed to modernise how qualification credentials are produced, accessed and verified, while enhancing the security and integrity of official University credentials. The project was driven by the University's ambition to provide greater protection for its academic credentials, create a more efficient qualification verification process and give graduates secure digital access to their credentials. The implementation also supports UFH's wider approach to secure certification, document verification and the integration of these services within its established academic administration environment UFH Acting Registrar, Mr Zwelidumile Mditshwa, described the implementation as an important institutional milestone: "This milestone reflects the University's commitment to embracing technology-driven solutions that improve service delivery, enhance governance, and protect the integrity of our qualifications." Secure digital credentials and verification. Through Digital Certificates(R), eligible UFH graduates can securely access their official digital credentials and share them with authorised employers, institutions and other relevant organisations. The platform also enables online verification of qualification authenticity, reducing reliance on manual processes and providing greater assurance in credentials issued by the University. Importantly, this digital capability complements UFH's existing official printed certification processes, providing a connected approach to credential management. The implementation also establishes a foundation for secure digital transcripts and other verification documents as the University continues to develop its digital credential ecosystem. Integration with University of Fort Hare's academic administration environment. A central consideration for UFH was ensuring that Digital Certificates(R) operated effectively within the University's existing systems and governance framework. Adapt IT, as the University's ITS Integrator and ERP technology partner, supported integration with the relevant student and graduation processes. The project extended beyond the deployment of secure, branded digital portals. UFH's Registrar's Office, ICT Division and Academic Administration teams worked collaboratively with Advanced Secure Technologies and Adapt IT across requirements definition, data preparation and validation, systems integration, testing and implementation readiness. This coordinated approach helped ensure that the digital certification service aligned with UFH's academic administration requirements while maintaining appropriate controls around the integrity, security and governance of qualification data. Supporting the 2026 Spring graduation. The project has been delivered in preparation for UFH's 2026 Spring graduation, with Digital Certificates(R) going live in October 2026. The initial phase focuses on supporting the University's current graduating cohort, providing eligible graduates with secure access to their official digital credentials while establishing the capability for wider adoption as UFH's certification programme evolves. A foundation for continued digital transformation. For UFH, the implementation represents a further step towards a more digitally enabled qualification lifecycle. With Digital Certificates(R) in place, the University has established a foundation from which to expand digital access to credentials and enable authorised third parties to verify qualifications remotely with greater ease. Beyond the immediate operational benefits, the initiative demonstrates how secure digital credential technology can support institutional transformation while preserving the integrity and trust associated with academic awards. Kevin Bassett, Managing Director at Advanced Secure Technologies, commented: "Digital transformation is most valuable when it improves the users' experience alongside enhancing credential security. From the outset, UFH was clear that its digital certification strategy needed to combine accessibility with a high standard of security around its qualifications, processes and reputation. What has made this project particularly rewarding is the collaboration behind it. UFH's Registrar and ICT teams, Adapt IT and its own team working closely towards a shared objective: delivering a secure, modern certification experience in time for UFH's graduation." Through this partnership, UFH continues to advance its digital transformation ambitions, combining institutional expertise with secure certification technology to deliver a more accessible, efficient and trusted credential experience for graduates and the organisations that rely on their qualifications. About Advanced Secure Technologies. Advanced Secure Technologies specialises in secure certification, digital credentials, identity verification and fraud prevention. Its Digital Certificates(R) platform enables institutions to securely issue, manage, share and verify digital and printed credentials, bringing certification processes together within a single, integrated environment.