Digital Diplomas in the POL-On System: Centralised Verification and Governance in Polish Higher Education

13 pages•Published: June 18, 2026

Michał Doligalski, Emil Podwysocki and Marek Michajłowicz

Abstract

This article examines the architectural design and implementation of digital diplomas in Poland's higher education sector. Driven by the strategic vision and regulatory framework established by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSW), this nationwide digital transformation aims to fundamentally modernise academic credentialing. Developed and maintained by the National Information Processing Institute (OPI PIB) under the direct auspices of the MNiSW, the centralised Electronic Diploma Repository (RDE) operates as a foundational component of the national POL-on system. By evaluating the system's integration, data governance, cryptographic foundations, and cybersecurity protocols, this article highlights how the infrastructure ensures compliance with MNISW policies, maximises security, and enables seamless verification. Ultimately, this MNiSW-spearheaded initiative aims to eliminate credential forgery and to streamline administrative workflows for universities, employers, and graduates, setting a new standard for national public e-services.

Keyphrases: architecture, cryptography, diploma, e service, governance, mnisw, opi, repository, security

In: Laurence Desnos, Carmen Diaz, Janina Mincer-Daszkiewicz, Lazaros Merakos, Raimund Vogl, Stuart McLellan and Ulrike Lucke (editors). Proceedings of EUNIS 2026 Annual Congress, vol 109, pages 196-208.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/t5bh
	https://doi.org/10.29007/fjp8

BibTeX entry

@inproceedings{EUNIS2026:Digital_Diplomas_POL_System,
  author    = {Michał Doligalski and Emil Podwysocki and Marek Michajłowicz},
  title     = {Digital Diplomas in the POL-On System: Centralised Verification and Governance in Polish Higher Education},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of EUNIS 2026 Annual Congress},
  editor    = {Laurence Desnos and Carmen Diaz and Janina Mincer-Daszkiewicz and Lazaros Merakos and Raimund Vogl and Stuart McLellan and Ulrike Lucke},
  series    = {EPiC Series in Computing},
  volume    = {109},
  publisher = {EasyChair},
  bibsource = {EasyChair, https://easychair.org},
  issn      = {2398-7340},
  url       = {/publications/paper/t5bh},
  doi       = {10.29007/fjp8},
  pages     = {196-208},
  year      = {2026}}

Download PDF Open PDF in browser