Moladh na Comhairle 2022/C 243/02

Sainmhínithe

Micridhintiúr

A record of the learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of learning. These learning outcomes have been assessed against transparent and clearly defined criteria. Learning activities leading to micridhintiúir are designed to provide the learner with specific knowledge, skills and competences that respond to societal, personal, cultural or labour market needs. Micridhintiúir are owned by the learner, are shareable and portable. They may be standalone or combined into larger credentials.

Foinse: Moladh na Comhairle an 22 Meitheamh 2022

Micridhintiúr

Proof of having acquired specific skills — what someone can do. A substantive concept, independent of formáid.

Digital credential

A specific technical formáid (e.g. EDC) — how the micridhintiúr is issued, sealed and verified.

The terms "micridhintiúr" and "dintiúr digiteach" are sometimes used interchangeably, although they mean different things — the first refers to the ábhar, the second to the formáid. You may also encounter "micro-qualification" — it is a synonym for micridhintiúr.

European Commission

Dintiúir Dhigiteacha Eorpacha don Fhoghlaim

Caighdeán an AE do dhintiúir dhigiteacha foghlama

EDC is the European standard for digital educational credentials, built on W3C Verifiable Credentials. Developed by the European Commission as part of the Europass platform, it provides a unified system for issuing, verifying and recognising credentials, supporting the mobility of learners, students and workers across the entire EU.

A European Digital Credential for Learning (EDC) is a verifiable digital version of a traditional document issued by an educational institution to a learner to document their learning. It can be a diploma, a training certificate, a micridhintiúr, a certificate of attendance, etc. European dintiúir dhigiteacha are issued in all teanga an AE and languages available in the Europass system and are signed with an séala leictreonach (a type of digital signature made by a trusted institution).
ELM — Samhail Eorpach Foghlama — a standardised description of qualifications, skills and experience
Idir-inoibritheacht — institutions and employers in 27 countries understand and recognise the same credentials
Comhlíonadh eIDAS — qualified signatures and séala leictreonachs provide legal force

Foinse: europass.europa.eu — EDC

Caighdeán difriúil

Open Badges

Caighdeán domhanda suaitheantais dhigitigh — lasmuigh de chreat rialála an AE

Open Badges is a standard developed by 1EdTech (formerly IMS Global). Version 3.0 uses the W3C Verifiable Credentials data model — the same technical foundation as EDC. Despite this common element, Ní hionann Open Badges agus EDC agus difríonn siad i bpríomhghnéithe.

EDC

Éilíonn a séala leictreonach cáilithe (qSeal) compliant with eIDAS. Uses the Samhail Eorpach Foghlama (ELM). Recognised under EU regulations. Issued via Europass infrastructure.

Open Badges

Ní éilíonn a séala leictreonach cáilithe. Uses its own metadata model. Not covered by EU regulations or mentioned in Council recommendations or regulations.

Rioscaí a bhaineann le Open Badges a chur i bhfeidhm in ionad EDC

No Comhlíonadh eIDAS — without a séala leictreonach cáilithe (qSeal), credentials do not have legal force equivalent to EDC in the EU
Imirce riachtanach — if EU regulations or institutional partners begin requiring EDC, existing Open Badges will not be compatible — data migration and infrastructure changes will be necessary
No EUDI Sparán integration — the EUDI Sparán (European Digital Identity Sparán) under eIDAS 2.0 is designed for EDC, not Open Badges
Samhail sonraí dhifriúil — Open Badges do not use the Samhail Eorpach Foghlama (ELM), which means limited interoperability with systems based on the Europass infrastructure

Open Badges is not a "bad" or prohibited standard — it is widely used globally, especially in non-formal education. However, in the context of EU regulations, Comhlíonadh eIDAS and future integration with the EUDI Sparán (European Digital Identity Sparán), ní rogha mhalartach ar EDC é.

Sources: 1EdTech — Open Badges · EDC vs Open Badges — Skills4EOSC analysis (2025)

EU Regulation

eIDAS

Ríomh-aitheantas agus seirbhísí iontaoibhe

The eIDAS Regulation provides the legal and technical foundation on which Dintiúir Dhigiteacha Eorpacha don Fhoghlaim are built. Here are the three key pillars:

1

Sínithe agus séalaí cáilithe

EDC uses qualified electronic signatures and seals compliant with eIDAS. This ensures that credentials are ceangailteach go dlíthiúil and recognised in all EU member states.

2

Seirbhísí iontaoibhe

EDC relies on trust services defined in eIDAS — creation, verification and preservation of electronic signatures. This increases the slándáil agus sláine of dintiúir dhigiteacha.

3

Comhtháthú le eIDAS 2.0

The eIDAS 2.0 Regulation (EU 2024/1183), in force since May 2024, introduces the EUDI Sparán (European Digital Identity Sparán), which will also store digital educational credentials — with full EDC integration.

Foinse: Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 of 11 April 2024 (eIDAS 2.0) — in force since 20 May 2024.

The future

Cén fáth a roghnófá córas atá i gcomhréir le EDC?

The eIDAS 2.0 Regulation (EU 2024/1183) obliges member states to provide the EUDI Sparán (European Digital Identity Sparán). National implementations will enable storage and management of EDC dintiúir dhigiteacha.

Comhlíonadh caighdeán

EDC meets the technical and legal requirements of eIDAS / eIDAS 2.0 — interoperable and recognised across the entire EU.

Sparán import

Existing EDC credentials can be iompórtáilte go díreach into the EUDI Sparán (European Digital Identity Sparán).

Security

Advanced cryptographic technologies — eIDAS signatures and seals guarantee authenticity and immutability.

EUDI Sparán (European Digital Identity Sparán)

The EUDI Sparán is being developed as the official European digital identity wallet compliant with eIDAS 2.0. Each EU member state will provide its own national implementation. The wallet is planned to support storage of diplomas and educational certificates — users will be able to import and manage EDC credentials directly in the app.

EUDI Sparán — European Commission

An mian leat dintiúir dhigiteacha a eisiúint?

Bí páirteach leis na hinstitiúidí atá ag úsáid Credentium cheana féin — córas micrea-dhintiúir atá i gcomhréir le caighdeáin Eorpacha.

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