The digital alternative

Digitisation could play a role in preventing document fraud in various ways. This chapter is framed in the context of the Council of Ministers recommendation on countering education fraud (Council of Europe 2022b), with particular reference to point 12 of the appendix, “Use of digital solutions”. It focuses on preventing and minimising qualification fraud, looking at ways to ensure authenticity of educational documents and student data (for example, diplomas, degrees, certificates, transcripts). Their authenticity is also the focus of this study and constitutes at the same time its limitations. In other words, this chapter does not explore highly relevant issues such as the use of digital tools to determine the identity of students (see eIDAS 2014) or the use of databases to determine whether an institution is bona fide or not. These latter topics are complex and deserve separate attention beyond the scope and remit of this study.