Getting a degree is hard work. It takes a lot of preparation to research and apply for the right program. When you get accepted you must secure the funds to pay for it. And then you must study for years to come before being awarded solid credentials for all your hard work. This rite of passage has been a staple in making economies and communities thrive.
Faking a degree, on the other hand, does not take a lot of work. Simply write down on your resume that you received such a degree, and hope that nobody ever runs a background check. Many companies do not. As it turns out, the fake degree industry is alive and well. Everything from fake sheets of paper, to fake universities, have been a boon for those looking for a shortcut to get ahead. One study reports there are 40,000 legitimate doctorates awards in the US each year, and over 50,000 spurious ones. With the potential gains high, and the repercussions for getting caught low, people cheat to get jobs or promotions. A few legal cases against diploma mills are not enough to deter the masses from trying to rig the system in their favor. The phrase “it’s just a sheet of paper” takes on a literal meaning, when all someone really did was buy a sheet of paper.
Giving organizations and institutions new power to fight the endemic problem of charlatans and imposters, is Accredible. It’s a software solution for degree granting organizations that provides an easily verifiable certificate. What once was a manual process of mailing out copies of credentials, can now be completely automated.
Accredible’s main offering is digital certificates. These are customized with their certificate designer with the logo of the issuing institution, along with the degree, name of the recipient, and other relevant information. It integrates seamlessly with an organization’s existing process making transferring to their system easy. Their API and numerous integrations give universities and companies alike the opportunity to streamline their process. Credentials can be given an expiry date, revoked at any time, be set up with stackable credentials, and renewed, among many other useful features. Once issued they can be embedded on a website, included in one’s signature, or exported to a PDF. Their white-label system allows organizations to build their brand while protecting it from fraud.
Equally appreciative are those who are tasked with confirming the credentials of job applicants. They can simply confirm the certificate is valid in Accredible’s system either manually or programatically. What once we a time consuming process is now a simply check.
Another newer product offering from this credentialing company is their badge designer. This free tool allows you to create a badge for minor but noteworthy accomplishments. You can issue them to top performers, those who contribute to charity, or other activities you’d like to reward. While similar to certificates in nature, likely their role will be more of a managerial tool to promote positive behavior, while the digital certificates are to prevent being defrauded.
The workplace can be challenging and people take advantage wherever they can. Much is lost when the cheaters prosper and those who worked hard lose out on opportunities. The days of the degree fakers are coming to an end, thanks to the good work of the people at Accredible.
