Fake diplomas are a serious problem in the academic sector. A simple Google search for "buy fake university diploma" turns up thousands of results. Some service providers even promise to deliver fake diplomas within 24 hours.
Today, university diplomas can be edited with a few clicks, including sensitive data like grades or the names of graduates. Fake diplomas can seriously damage the credibility of institutions and of a university education in general. In addition, potential employers are having to check with universities whether the diplomas they receive are genuine. For universities, these enquiries mean a considerable amount of administrative work, which can be eliminated with an up-to-date solution. SWITCH responded to the demand for a joint solution for Swiss universities by developing SWITCHverify.