The University of the Southern Caribbean marked a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, when two senior officers represented the institution at the national launch of VerifyTT – Trinidad and Tobago’s first Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) verification platform. Hosted by iGovTT through the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, the event signalled a decisive shift away from the era of manual paperwork and physical document queues toward a modern, citizen-centred digital framework.
Mrs Sherri-Lyn Legall-Nelson, Dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, attended as the President’s Representative, while Nordian C. Swaby Robinson, Director of Institutional Research, was present in the capacity of USC’s designated liaison to the VerifyTT initiative. Their participation reflects the University’s proactive stance in national digital transformation efforts.
What Is VerifyTT?
Described as the first platform of its kind in the Caribbean, VerifyTT is designed to give citizens instant, secure access to official records – replacing the traditional “brown envelope” process that has long characterised interactions with government offices. At the launch, the Honourable Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, emphasised that the platform places citizens first and directly addresses the everyday challenges people face in obtaining verified documents. Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed at the event, bringing together the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs, and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. The platform will support the digital verification of birth, death, and marriage certificates, as well as certified land records. A panel discussion at the VerifyTT launch explored the platform’s implications for public services, education, and national development.
Why This Matters for USC
The Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Professor Prakash Persad, outlined the transformational impact VerifyTT will have on the higher education sector. The platform will replace manual verification processes with a secure digital system, enabling students and graduates to access verifiable digital credentials through a digital wallet. These credentials can be shared with employers locally and internationally, enhancing graduate mobility and strengthening the global recognition of qualifications earned in Trinidad and Tobago. Minister Persad positioned VerifyTT as the intended national standard for managing and validating academic and skill-based credentials.
For USC, the implications are substantial. Digital credential verification will strengthen the integrity and security of USC-issued qualifications, improve operational efficiency within the Registrar’s Office, and enhance the portability of our graduates’ credentials across borders. Early adoption also positions the University as a progressive institution aligned with national goals and the evolving expectations of accrediting bodies.
USC’s Commitment: Already at Work
USC’s engagement with VerifyTT is not limited to attendance at the launch. The University has already formalised a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with iGovTT, effective April 2026, committing to full participation in the platform. A dedicated institutional liaison has been
designated to coordinate all technical and administrative aspects of the onboarding process, and USC has proactively drafted a future use cases document exploring applications of the platform beyond initial credential verification.
These early steps demonstrate that USC is not simply responding to a national initiative – the University is actively shaping its role within it.
Looking Ahead
As VerifyTT moves from launch to implementation, USC remains committed to prioritising the onboarding process and exploring expanded applications of the platform in support of our strategic goals for digital innovation, student services, and data governance. The University looks forward to being among the first tertiary institutions in the nation to deliver verifiable digital credentials to its graduates.
