Issues and concerns with digital degree certificates at Linköping University

Comments

#1

I am signing as a PhD student, involved in the working group and representing PhD students in various instances.

Klervie Toczé (Linköping, 2022-11-21)

#2

I fully agree with the petition

Shashi Nagarajan (Linköping, 2022-11-22)

#5

I'm signing as a PhD student, and chair of LiUPhD doctoral organization.

Lucija Batinovic (Linkoping, 2022-11-22)

#9

I am signing as a PhD Student Representative in the Board of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Institutional Board at the Department of Management and Engineering.

Selma Mujkic (Linköping, 2022-11-22)

#13

I am signing as a PhD student at LiU

Kenna Sim (Norrköping, 2022-11-22)

#16

This is a real concern for someone from a country where digitalisation is moving at a much slower speed when compared to Sweden and people love paper documents!

Viktor Werner (Linköping, 2022-11-22)

#18

I'm signing because I am a PhD student in LiU.

Kaifeng Niu (Linköping, 2022-11-22)

#21

Official documents, such as University degrees, cannot only be delivered electronically. Basis knowledge! Should be changed immediately even without a petition.

Richard Almgren (Stockholm, 2022-11-22)

#26

At Lund University this is no problem at all. If LiU also wants to be regarded as a top research university paper degree certificates are a must. /PhD Student at LU.

Sebastian Pfaff (Malmö, 2022-11-22)

#28

I'm a PhD student in LiU and a member of DoStuC. I'm concerned about the state of the degree certificate as is, the lack of information around the authentication process, and the difficulty in communicating the relevant issues with the university administration.

Nikolaos Giochalas (Linköping , 2022-11-22)

#31

I see the importance on having a paper degree. As PhDs we are almost expected to work in other countries to agregate value to our academic carriers. In many countries (and companies in Sweden) it is important to have a physical certificate of the completed studies. It is not always accepted in a digital format. I think LiU could save paper, contribute to the environment and increase its digitalization in many other ways before changing degrees (legal documents) to digital formats.

Priscilla Navarro (Linköping, 2022-11-22)

#37

I'm a PhD student and worry that I will face disadvantages and hassles in application and bureaucratic processes, especially as my home country works much more with paper and less with digital documents/bureaucracy than Sweden.

Law-making applicable to the digital field is much slower than the pace that LiU attempts with this rapid, radical transition to digital-only degree certificates, and I fear that this will lead to questionable or unsolvable situations.

Moreover, I know from dedicated specialists on the field of digital signatures that they deem this technology not ready for such widespread use, due to the lack of global standards.

Overall, this has potential to affect my study motivation as I don't know if what I get will be a usable certificate. Under the current circumstances, I cannot recommend others to start studies at LiU.

Claudia Schnitter (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#41

I'm signing as a PhD Student and as the chair of the Doctoral Student Council at IFM. I believe the consequences of this big change to digital degrees were not investigated enough before introducing it and there are clearly issues that need to be addressed and accounted for.

Marian Arale Brännvall (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#42

I’m signing because I am a PhD student that will graduate any time soon and I do not attend to stay in Sweden to work afterwards. PhD degree is the most rewarding for young researchers and it means a lot for people to have a real diploma. Not a cheap paper version not recognized as such by compagnies and so on…

Marion Pichon (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#45

... students should not have to run into trouble when applying for jobs in countries that have not had the same digital progress as here in Sweden and where paper certificates still are the norm. A proper paper certificate would also be something that you can hold in your hands and that symbolizes an achievement to be proud of after years of hard work - a pdf does not give the same feeling. Also, I do not understand why universities (not only LiU) refuse to issue proper degrees on paper amongst others for environmental reasons while at the same time doctoral theses are still being printed with 100 copies each and handed out physically to associates. Time to reconsider!

Sabrina Brunner (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#48

I am a PhD student, and I am concerned that not having an official-looking, physical degree certificate that I have full control of might become a problem in applying for jobs outside of Sweden. I also feel a bit cheated my hard work here will not even be rewarded by a nice looking degree. It would have been nice to know that before I accepted the position.

Pernilla Helmer (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#49

I am signing because I think getting a doctoral degree is a precious honor which needs a ceremonial certificate.

Xiuyue Shan (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#53

I'm signing because I don't think this should be a problem. It needs to get a solution as soon as possible.

Anna Danielsson (Norrköping, 2022-11-23)

#55

PhD student

Anna Wehlin (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#57

I finished my PhD studies as a shared project between a German university and LiU. For my job applications, I have only used the certificate issued by the German university due to several of the issues mentioned in this petition. This is a pity, since LiU was my main university and LiU projects paid my whole salary as a PhD student. These circumstances cannot be in the interest of a university who wants to be/ become a global player.

Marius Rodner (Waldmohr, 2022-11-23)

#58

I am signing the petition, since I have personal experience from my postdoc when a printed stamped and signed original of the PhD certificate was needed to even apply for a postdoc abroad (in my case in Italy). PhDs from LiU should obviously have the right to get such a printed, stamped and signed certificate!

Eva Blomqvist (Jönköping, 2022-11-23)

#59

I'm signing this because I see how the pdf-routine worries the PhD students in their future possibilities of verification of degree, as well as it seems very poor to not get a nice, proper, paper certificate after 4-5 years (or more) of hard studies.

Anne Moe (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#66

PhD student at Liu

Kajsa Emanuelsson (Göteborg, 2022-11-23)

#68

I am signing as a Ph.D. student and I agree with the concerns regarding the digital certificates.

Md Fahim Sikder (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#74

I am signing as a PhD student who is concerned with the difficulties that can rise from only having a digitally verifiable degree certificate. Digitalization without taking into account the context of its application introduces more problems than it solves.

Iulian Emil Tampu (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#76

The digital documents are not trusted by most other organizations and are therefore not fit for purpose.

Jon Dybeck (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#78

I'm a recipient of the university's first half-baked attempt at issuing digital PhD degree certificates. My complaints have been completely ignored. The amateurish look of the degree does not match the quality I associate with the university, and I worry the certificate's validity will be put into question by other universities and companies alike.

Daniel de Leng (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#84

Digital administration procedures should always have an analog backup.

Krzysztof Bartoszek (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#85

I was disappointed to see the design of the digital diploma. It felt so amateurish and hastily made, even though it takes years to acquire it.
The environmental reason to switch to a digital diploma felt symbolic at best, as we still use a large amount of print paper at LiU.
If it costs too much, let us at least have the option to pay for the diploma ourselves! It feels like our commitment to completing our studies isn't appreciated by the faculty, but not even having the option to pay for it feels like a letdown.

Johan Fallström (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#86

I am a PhD student at Linköping University

Roland Plaka (Linköping , 2022-11-23)

#87

I'm signing because I need the original Diploma to to register and use it in my home country (Ecuador). The requirement of the apostille is defined by the country where you want to use the document, not the institution that issued the document, I understand it is the same for countries that are part of The Hague Convention. In Ecuador, it is mandatory to have the Diploma legalized in the National Undersecretariat of Higher Education of Ecuador, this procedure is the only way they make sure the diploma is legit and hence gives the possibility to apply to jobs in public institutions (which are many of the Universities, and research is done in Universities or other public institutions and not Industries like it is the case in Sweden), many other companies also have it as a requirement by default. In other countries they also have the Apostille as a requirement, Netherlands, for example, requires legalized diplomas if you graduated in Sweden, and perhaps it is the same in many other countries.

Stephanie Cordova (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#90

A physical and official-looking certificate is essentially necessary in some countries (e.g. Japan).

Filip Strömbäck (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#96

The university should help our students ... This was a bad idea from the start, and it is time for group X at the university to correct its mistake (whatever X is).

Niklas Carlsson (Linkoping, 2022-11-23)

#98

A global university should definitely consider the global norm. Digitally secure certificate is forward-thinking but paper certificates are still needed even in most other "developed" countries.

Even our highly digitized Skatteverket of Sweden uses the original marriage certificate to verify aboard marriage. This shows that an "internationally normal-looking" certificate is definitely not a pointless thing.

Hao Chi Kiang (Linköping, 2022-11-23)

#104

I appreciate the university's ambition to be progressive, but I believe that this implementation is not fit for its purpose. Digitalization has no value in itself.

Olle Vidner (Linköping, 2022-11-24)

#105

Looks much more professionell to have a physical degree. Both regarding security and legitimacy

Magnus Malmström (Linköping , 2022-11-24)

#124

Scripta manent..
Written words remain!

Vasileios Oikonomou (Norrköping , 2022-11-24)

#129

As a PhD student at Linköping University, and in light of the numerous issues raised by the LiUPhD and DoStuC working group, I have to wonder whether the implications of issuing digital-only degree certificates have been thoroughly considered before such a policy was implemented. For an institution that aspires to international relevance such a decision seems to be out-of-touch with worldwide practices, as well as with the difficulties it will cause to alumni seeking certification or employment in other countries, such as myself.

David Abramian (Linköping, 2022-11-25)

#132

As many places in the world still require paper certificates, having those in addition to digital ones would be necessary.

György Barabas (Linköping, 2022-11-25)

#135

I am signing as a Phd student and LiuPhd member. Not having access to original certificate after graduation is unacceptable as the owner of certificate every phd graduates has right to request having the original document.

Maryam Rafati (Linköping, 2022-11-26)

#136

As a PhD student at Liu I have heard people having problems with the trustworthiness of the digital certifierat, and it feels very unnecessary!

Julia Morat (Linköping, 2022-11-26)

#150

I'm signing because I am a PhD student at Linköping University

Hanna Zanatta (Norrköping, 2022-11-29)

#152

PhD student at IFM, LiU.

David Martínez Enguita (Linköping, 2022-11-30)

#153

Doktorand på IDA

David Bergström (Linköping, 2022-11-30)

#156

PhD Graduate from LiU

Samuel Lienemann (Norrköping, 2022-11-30)

#161

My main problem here is with the way digital signatures are used. A general problem with such signatures is that they constitute a "single point of failure": if the signer's private key is ever leaked/stolen, then anyone could create a counterfeit signature, effectively rendering all previously signed documents worthless! THIS IS THE REASON why digital signatures have an expiry date! Expiry time is typically at most a few years. As a degree certificate is supposed to be valid for the lifetime of the student, using digital signatures for this purpose is highly dubious.

Ulf Kargén (Linköping, 2022-11-30)

#162

I am signing because I am a PhD fellow at LiU and in future I need my original degree to be available in hand. It is important for my own record and also that I can produce my PhD degree to my future employers in case if they don't process the digital degrees.

Aatika Sadia (Norrköping, 2022-11-30)

#168

I fully agree that the digital certificate is sub par.

Johanna Heimonen (Norrköping, 2022-12-01)

#171

I'm a PhD student at IFM, and I share many of the concerns regarding the perceived legitimacy of the digital degree when applying for jobs in other countries.

William Stenlund (Linköping, 2022-12-01)

#173

Doktorand på ITN

Derya Akbaba (Norrköping, 2022-12-01)

#180

I am signing as a PhD student at LiU. An original documental certificate is entirely meaningful to all PhD students. At least in the next decades, a paper certificate is still the mainstream format around the world. A digital certificate would trouble the alumni of LiU more than the convenience.

Muyi Zhang (Linköping, 2022-12-02)

#182

I'm signing because I am concerned about only having digital verification of my degree. The same was done for my master graduation certificate due to covid-19 and I currently do not trust that a digital certificate is a reliable verification for an international community we researchers are involved in, at least in the way I have been informed of.

Oscar Bulancea Lindvall (Linköping, 2022-12-02)

#183

I'm signing because I, as a Ph.D student at Linköping university, share the concerns about what impact a digital certificate might have on my chances for applying to international jobs in the future.

Amanda Ehn (Linköping, 2022-12-02)

#184

I am a former student, with my master degree as a digital document and I want to be sure that I can present my degree in ten years time if needed.

Maria Alfredsson (Linköping , 2022-12-03)

#185

In my capacity as a Ph.D. student at Linköping University, I fully support the petition's goals.

Alireza Mohammadinodooshan (Linköping, 2022-12-03)

#187

I'm signing because official certificate is necessary for both students and the university. The job market is still under development to finally accept the digital certificate, so such situation will not only give students more problems in seeking jobs and apply official documents like overseas visa, but also disconnect LiU with students in the future.

Yu Wang (Linköping, 2022-12-03)

#192

I'm signing because I received a digital degree certificate for my PhD from Linköping University and I had some troubles getting it accepted by german employers who would have prefered a printed and signed document.

Michaela Socher (Pliezhausen, 2022-12-05)

#197

I am concerned about the ease of forging a digital certificate that does not have any digital signature or any other layer of security and authentication at the back-end. Moreover, digital certificates have a very limited validity period and are not accepted everywhere worldwide.

Donatella Puglisi (Linköping, 2022-12-07)

#198

I am signing as a PhD student because I am worried how these digital certificates will be accepted when applying for positions abroad.

Karl Rönnby (Linköping, 2022-12-07)

#199

I'm signing because I believe in the concerns pointed out and may damage LiU's reputation.

Rodrigo Ronchi (Linköping, 2022-12-08)



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