DQF.eu standards establish and rule the application of EQF principles and ESCO references to the digital badge technology using the record addressed to the certification alignments.

This approach to the digital badge technology makes the DQF.eu to effectively implement the European education framework which is

• competence-based,

• clearly documented and understandable,

• concretely implementable, and

• accessible by anyone.

The DQF.eu standards are a quality enhancement of any digital badge because, without adding any technological change to the open badge technology, they establish a standard for populating the open badge fields requiring the alignment of the badge contents with the European approach to skills and competences which is developed with the European Qualification Framework, the Europass system, that includes the European Digital Credentials for learning requirements and the  ESCO  database which identifies and categorises skills, competences, and occupations relevant for the EU labour market and education and training.

The adhesion to the DQF.eu standards is free and the platform provide all the necessary information and definitions to apply the required procedures and criteria.
It can be done by anyone interested in aligning the digital credentials to the European definitions on skills and competences to ensure the wider understanding of the issued digital credentials in employment, education or lifelong learning. Issuer interested in providing a second level accreditaiton, can receive the  audit and certification by the DQF.eu platform.