Secure, Efficient, and Student-Centric: My eQuals at Griffith University
Overview
Griffith University, a leading Australian institution with a strong focus on vocational learners, has been at the forefront of digital credentialing since adopting the My eQuals platform in May 2017. As the second institution to go live with My eQuals, Griffith embarked on a transformative journey to streamline processes, enhance student and staff experiences, and elevate its operational efficiency. With approximately 10,000 graduates annually and over 254,000 credentials issued since implementation, Griffith’s integration of My eQuals has set a benchmark for digital credentialing in higher education.
Key Challenges and Drivers
Prior to My eQuals, Griffith faced logistical and operational challenges tied to its paper-based credentialing system:
Transition to a December Graduation Model: The shift to graduating students within weeks of final grades introduced tight timelines for printing, packing, and mailing documents, adding pressure to staff workloads.
Demand for Immediate Documentation: Students, particularly international learners, expressed frustration with delays in accessing essential credentials for further education or employment.
Fraud Prevention: Increasing instances of fraudulent documents and manual verifications highlighted the need for a secure, reliable system.
The decision to implement My eQuals aligned with Griffith’s commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring the authenticity of credentials.
Implementation and Benefits
1. Enhanced Student Experience
Griffith transitioned to issuing digital credentials upon course completion rather than at conferral ceremonies. This shift enabled students to access verified documents promptly, reducing complaints and addressing immediate needs.
Seamless Access: Students receive transcripts digitally, eliminating the reliance on postal systems, especially critical for international students.
Positive Feedback: The transition saw a sharp decline in complaints. Students valued the convenience, speed, and global recognition of My eQuals credentials. Very few students complained about the switch from physical to digital certificates.
2. Operational Efficiency
Staff Wellbeing: The platform alleviated significant workloads. Staff no longer needed to manage labour-intensive printing and packing processes, allowing a focus on high-quality graduation events.
Streamlined Processes: Griffith moved to rolling conferral rounds, reducing bottlenecks and expediting credential delivery.
3. Fraud Prevention and Global Recognition
My eQuals provided a secure, globally recognised platform for credential verification. This was particularly valuable for Griffith’s international cohorts and partner institutions, ensuring trust in shared documents.
4. Enhanced Admission and Credit Processing
As a pathways university, Griffith processes high volumes of admissions and credit applications. My eQuals has been a game-changer in this domain:
Verified Credentials: Students share their documents via My eQuals, expediting verification and application turnaround times.
Peace of Mind: Verified documents from global networks and international students ensure authenticity and competitiveness in international recruitment.
5. Promoting Career Readiness
Griffith actively promoted My eQuals’ Curated Profiles feature to graduating students and alumni. This tool enables users to curate and share relevant credentials and badges, enhancing their marketability to employers.
Rapid Adoption: Over 1,000 profiles were created within weeks of launch.
Strategic Outreach: Collaborating with the alumni team, Griffith integrated My eQuals into newsletters and other communications to maximize uptake.
Outcomes
Over 70,000 students have been serviced by My eQuals since 2017.
Credential complaints are virtually non-existent.
Administrative processes have been significantly streamlined, saving time, reducing costs and improving staff wellbeing
Griffith’s reputation as a student-focused, innovative institution has been strengthened.
Conclusion
Griffith University’s early adoption of My eQuals underscores its commitment to innovation and excellence in student services. By leveraging digital credentialing, Griffith has enhanced its operational efficiency, ensured secure document verification, and positioned its graduates for success in an increasingly digital and globalised world.